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Salary comparison

Art Directors vs. Public Relations Specialists: Who Earns More?

Art Directorss out-earn Public Relations Specialistss by $40K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Art Directorss land at $114,850 and Public Relations Specialistss at $74,750. The education gap is real: art director programs typically require bachelor's degree, while public relations specialist programs require bachelor's degree. Top-paying state for Art Directorss is Massachusetts ($149,320); for Public Relations Specialistss it's District of Columbia ($102,740).

Art Directors
Public Relations Specialists
Median salary
$114,850
$74,750
Hourly rate
$55.22/hr
$35.94/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$64,900
$44,110
Senior level (90th %)
$213,050
$135,150
Education required
Bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
U.S. employment
53,070
283,380
Job growth (10-year)
N/A
N/A
Category
Arts & Media
Arts & Media
Top-paying state
Massachusetts
District of Columbia

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Art Directors median pay.

State
Art Directors
Public Relations Specialists
Massachusetts
$149,320
$79,660
California
$137,780
$85,030
New York
$137,320
$81,250
Oregon
$133,840
$74,900
New Hampshire
$132,000
$73,280
New Jersey
$129,200
$80,130
Washington
$121,170
$87,470
Georgia
$110,430
$73,200
Illinois
$103,550
$76,380
Virginia
$101,150
$80,380
Colorado
$99,990
$80,680
Maryland
$98,400
$79,560
Nevada
$98,070
$73,840
Rhode Island
$72,550
$77,540
Connecticut
$71,900
$84,990

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Highlighted value is higher in each row.

Common questions

Who earns more, Art Directorss or Public Relations Specialistss?

Art Directorss earn more nationally. The median is $114,850 for Art Directorss versus $74,750 for Public Relations Specialistss, a difference of $40K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, Art Directors or Public Relations Specialists?

BLS Employment Projections data is not available for one or both occupations. Check the individual career pages for current outlook figures.

Which requires more education, Art Directors or Public Relations Specialists?

Art Directors typically requires bachelor's degree. Public Relations Specialists requires bachelor's degree. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.

Where do Art Directorss get paid the most?

Massachusetts is the top-paying state for Art Directorss at $149,320/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does Art Directors vs. Public Relations Specialists pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In Massachusetts, Art Directorss earn $149,320 vs. $79,660 for Public Relations Specialistss. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Art Directors salary breakdownView →Full Public Relations Specialists salary breakdownView →Best cities for Art Directorss by take-home payExplore →Best cities for Public Relations Specialistss by take-home payExplore →How to become a art directorsGuide →How to become a public relations specialistsGuide →