Career comparison
Journalist vs. Public Relations Manager
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Public relations managers earn more at the median ($146,910 vs. $62,200), while journalists usually get to work faster (4 years of training). Journalists find, report and tell the stories that keep the public informed. Public relations managers shape how the public sees an organization and lead its communications team.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Journalist | Public Relations Manager | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $62,200 ($29.91/hr) | $146,910 ($70.63/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $36,240 – $144,140 | $82,410 – $284,990 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | -5.9% (a projected decline) | +5.7% (faster than average) |
| Openings per year | 3,400 | 6,100 |
| Typical entry education | Bachelor's degree | Bachelor's degree |
| Training time | 4 years | 5+ years of experience |
| Key credential | Journalism degree | APR |
| Work setting | Journalists work in newsrooms, remotely and in the field, often on deadline.. | PR managers work in offices, agencies and at events.. |
What each job does
Journalist
- Find and pitch stories
- Interview sources
- Research records and data
- Verify facts
- Write and produce stories
Public Relations Manager
- Set communications strategy
- Manage media relations
- Lead crisis communications
- Oversee campaigns
- Write executive messages
How they’re similar
Both careers involve working with people, creative work, and a fast pace. Both are part of the arts, media & design field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose journalist if…
- I’m curious about everything
- I love writing
- I can handle deadlines
Choose public relations manager if…
- I write well
- I stay calm in crises
- I like strategy
Still torn? Take the Journalist fit quiz and the Public Relations Manager fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, journalist or public relations manager?
Public Relations Managers earn more at the median: $146,910 versus $62,200 for journalists, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Journalists typically train faster (4 years) than public relations managers (5+ years of experience).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects public relations managers to grow +5.7% from 2025–35, compared with -5.9% for journalists.