Career comparison
Fundraiser vs. Public Relations Specialist
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Public relations specialists earn more at the median ($74,750 vs. $72,550), while fundraisers usually get to work faster (4 years of training). Fundraisers raise money that powers nonprofits, schools and causes. Public relations specialists shape and protect the public image of organizations and people.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Fundraiser | Public Relations Specialist | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $72,550 ($34.88/hr) | $74,750 ($35.94/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $46,630 – $115,820 | $44,110 – $135,150 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +5.5% (faster than average) | +1.8% (slower than average) |
| Openings per year | 10,000 | 23,000 |
| Typical entry education | Bachelor's degree | Bachelor's degree |
| Training time | 4 years | 4 years |
| Key credential | Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) | Accreditation in Public Relations (APR) |
| Work setting | Fundraisers work in offices, at donor meetings and events, with some travel.. | PR specialists work in offices or remotely, with events and media appearances.. |
What each job does
Fundraiser
- Identify and research donors
- Build donor relationships
- Ask for gifts
- Plan events and campaigns
- Write appeals and grant proposals
Public Relations Specialist
- Write press releases and statements
- Pitch stories to journalists
- Manage social media and website content
- Prepare spokespeople for interviews
- Plan events and announcements
How they’re similar
Both careers involve working with people, creative work, and high-pay. They sit in different fields, community, social & government services and arts, media & design, but share transferable skills such as relationship building and communication.
Which should you choose?
Choose fundraiser if…
- I love building relationships
- I’m comfortable asking for money
- I write well
Choose public relations specialist if…
- I love writing
- I enjoy building relationships
- I stay calm in a crisis
Still torn? Take the Fundraiser fit quiz and the Public Relations Specialist fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, fundraiser or public relations specialist?
Public Relations Specialists earn more at the median: $74,750 versus $72,550 for fundraisers, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Fundraisers typically train faster (4 years) than public relations specialists (4 years).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects fundraisers to grow +5.5% from 2025–35, compared with +1.8% for public relations specialists.