Career comparison
Journalist 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. $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 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
| Journalist | Public Relations Specialist | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $62,200 ($29.91/hr) | $74,750 ($35.94/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $36,240 – $144,140 | $44,110 – $135,150 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | -5.9% (a projected decline) | +1.8% (slower than average) |
| Openings per year | 3,400 | 23,000 |
| Typical entry education | Bachelor's degree | Bachelor's degree |
| Training time | 4 years | 4 years |
| Key credential | Journalism degree | Accreditation in Public Relations (APR) |
| Work setting | Journalists work in newsrooms, remotely and in the field, often on deadline.. | PR specialists work in offices or remotely, with events and media appearances.. |
What each job does
Journalist
- Find and pitch stories
- Interview sources
- Research records and data
- Verify facts
- Write and produce stories
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 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 specialist if…
- I love writing
- I enjoy building relationships
- I stay calm in a crisis
Still torn? Take the Journalist fit quiz and the Public Relations Specialist fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, journalist or public relations specialist?
Public Relations Specialists earn more at the median: $74,750 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 specialists (4 years).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects public relations specialists to grow +1.8% from 2025–35, compared with -5.9% for journalists.