How to become a public relations professional
Official title: Public relations professionals
Also called: Public affairs manager, Media relations manager, Media relations officer, Public relations adviser, Alumni relations manager, Public relations manager, Alumni relations officer, Public relations officer, Public affairs consultant, Public engagement manager, Public relations assistant, Public relations executive
Public relations professionals plan, organise and co-ordinate the activities that promote the image and understanding of an organisation and its products or services to consumers, businesses, members of the public and other specified audiences.
Main tasks
- Discusses issues of business strategy, products, services and target client base with senior colleagues to identify public relations requirements
- Writes, edits and arranges for the effective distribution of press releases, newsletters, social media and other public relations material
- Addresses individuals, clients and other target groups through meetings, presentations, the media and other events to enhance the public image of an organisation
- Develops and implements tools to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of public relations exercises
How to become one
Most entrants possess A levels/H grades and a degree or equivalent qualification. Further professional qualifications are available.
Ways in
- Apprenticeship (England): Digital community manager (level 4). England. Typically 24 months. Skills England standard ST0345.
- Apprenticeship (England): Public relations and communications assistant (level 4). England. Typically 14 months. Skills England standard ST0311.
- University: Communications & Media degrees, Offered by 24 universities in the UK
Pay · Outlook
- Median full-time pay: £37,563 a year The middle half earn £30,887 to £47,627.
- About 78,200 people work in this job now, and about 87,800 are projected by 2035. (+12.2%)
Related jobs
- Newspaper, periodical and broadcast editors
- Newspaper and periodical broadcast journalists and reporters
- Advertising accounts managers and creative directors
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Questions people ask
How do I become a public relations professional?
Most entrants possess A levels/H grades and a degree or equivalent qualification. Further professional qualifications are available.
How much does a public relations professional earn in the UK?
Median full-time pay is £37,563 a year (Office for National Statistics). The middle half earn £30,887 to £47,627.
Is a public relations professional a growing career in the UK?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 12% by 2035, from about 78,200 to about 87,800 people (Department for Education).
Do you need a degree to become a public relations professional?
Usually. 81% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Sources
- Office for National Statistics: Annual Population Survey: employment by occupation (April 2025 to March 2026), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Office for National Statistics: SOC 2020 Volume 1: structure and descriptions (2026-08-27 edition), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Department for Education: Skills Imperative 2035: employment projections by occupation (2021 to 2035 (Warwick IER / Cambridge Econometrics)), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Office for National Statistics: Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, Table 14 (2025 provisional), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
Updated 2026-10-03
Graduate outcomes: Discover Uni dataset, HESA (www.hesa.ac.uk), licensed under CC BY 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0). Aggregated by subject and adapted by Peernovo.