Skip to content

Social media

Public relations officer

Public relations (PR) officers manage the public image and reputation of organisations and individuals.

Annual Salary

£22,000 to £40,000

Average UK salary in 2022 was £33,200
(source Office for National Statistics)

Working hours

38 to 40 a week

You could work: evenings / weekends; attending events or appointments

2.4%
Future employment

There will be 2.4% more Public relations officer jobs in 2027.

Day to day tasks

As a public relations officer, you could:

  • plan and deliver PR campaigns for clients
  • monitor data to understand the public and media's opinion of your clients
  • attend events like photoshoots, conferences and press launches
  • develop good connections with the media to promote your clients
  • write and edit press releases, social media posts, policy statements and speeches

Working environment

You could work in an office or at a client's business.

You can get into this job through:

  • a university course
  • a college course
  • an apprenticeship
  • specialist courses run by a professional body
University

You can get into public relations (PR) with a degree in most subjects.

You could also do a degree or postgraduate course related to public relations. The Chartered Institute of Public Relations has a list of recognised university courses.

Courses include:

  • public relations
  • public relations and media
  • marketing and PR
  • PR and corporate communications

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree
  • a degree in any subject for a postgraduate course
For more information
College

You could do a college course, which might give you an advantage when looking for a trainee public relations role.

Courses include:

  • English
  • marketing
  • creative and digital media - social media option

For more information
Apprenticeship

You could work towards this role by doing a Public Relations and Communications Assistant Level 4 Higher Apprenticeship.

This takes a minimum of one year to complete.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship
For more information
Volunteering and work experience

You'll find it useful to get paid or unpaid experience of working in public relations. You could:

  • contact PR departments and consultancies for work experience
  • volunteer to promote local charities
  • write for student magazines, blogs and social media
  • work on student or volunteer radio services

Other routes

You could study for professional qualifications through the Chartered Institute of Public Relations.

These can be done online or at a training centre. Courses include:

  • Foundation Certificate for beginners
  • Professional PR Certificate, if you're a graduate or have at least 2 years of PR experience

Further information

You can find out more about a career in public relations from the Public Relations and Communications Association (PRCA) and the Chartered Institute of Public Relations.

More information

Showing jobs in:
View all vacancies in this region

With experience you could:become a PR manager, social media manager or head of communications; work freelance as a consultant; move into advertising, marketing or journalism

If you work for an agency, you could become a senior account executive or account manager with responsibility for a number of clients.

You could join the Chartered Institute of Public Relations and the Public Relations and Communications Association for training opportunities and to make industry contacts.

You can find out more about becoming a public relations officer from the Chartered Institute of Public Relations and the Public Relations and Communications Association.

Skills required and how your skills match up

What skills are required?

You'll need:

  • knowledge of media production and communication
  • knowledge of English language
  • to be thorough and pay attention to detail
  • excellent verbal communication skills
  • persistence and determination
  • the ability to work well with others
  • the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
  • the ability to use your initiative
  • the ability to sell products and services
  • to be able to use a computer and the main software packages confidently
My top 5 skills
Please sign in to compare your skills to this job. Sign in

To save or view your choices and results you must sign in or register (takes 1 minute).

Sign in Register