How Much Can a Publicist Make?
- The median annual income for publicists from across the United States was $51,960 as of May 2009, according to the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle 50 percent of U.S.-based publicists earned between $38,740 and $72,180 per year, but the top 10 percent earned annual wages in excess of $96,630.
- More publicists worked in California than in any other state as of May 2009, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. California-based publicists were among the highest paid in the nation. The top 10 percent of California-base publicists earned in excess of $107,780 per year. The top 10 percent of publicists in Alaska, Colorado, Idaho, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania and Virginia also earned in excess of $100,000 per year. The highest paid publicists in the country worked in the District of Columbia where the top 10 percent earned annual wages in excess of $166,000 per year.
- The advertising industry, public relations companies and related services provide the bulk of employment opportunities for publicists. Publicists who worked in these environments earned mean annual wages of $69,630 as of May 2009, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The petroleum and coal products manufacturing industry offered significantly fewer employment opportunities, but paid the highest mean annual wages for the job at $120,420.
- The Bureau of Labor Statistics anticipates growth in new job opportunities for publicists of 24 percent between 2008 and 2018, but notes that competition for entry level positions should be stiff. Candidates who hold at least a bachelor's degree in journalism, communications or public relations should have an advantage of those with less relevant educational backgrounds. There should also be good opportunities for publicists who have expertise in international studies and who are fluent in other languages.
