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Salary comparison

Athletes and Sports Competitors vs. Public Relations Specialists: Who Earns More?

Public Relations Specialistss out-earn Athletes and Sports Competitorss by $8K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Athletes and Sports Competitorss land at $66,710 and Public Relations Specialistss at $74,750. The education gap is real: athletes and sports competitor programs typically require bachelor's degree, while public relations specialist programs require bachelor's degree. Top-paying state for Athletes and Sports Competitorss is New Jersey ($253,870); for Public Relations Specialistss it's District of Columbia ($102,740).

Athletes and Sports Competitors
Public Relations Specialists
Median salary
$66,710
$74,750
Hourly rate
$null/hr
$35.94/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$26,500
$44,110
Senior level (90th %)
$742,310
$135,150
Education required
Bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
U.S. employment
15,070
283,380
Job growth (10-year)
N/A
N/A
Category
Arts & Media
Arts & Media
Top-paying state
New Jersey
District of Columbia

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Athletes and Sports Competitors median pay.

State
Athletes and Sports Competitors
Public Relations Specialists
New Jersey
$253,870
$80,130
Missouri
$172,700
$61,130
Utah
$122,800
$62,670
Nevada
$119,780
$73,840
Texas
$80,510
$65,160
California
$79,040
$85,030
Florida
$78,610
$63,660
Georgia
$77,530
$73,200
Kansas
$63,630
$64,860
Virginia
$61,500
$80,380
Arizona
$50,090
$66,710
Maryland
$48,200
$79,560
South Carolina
$45,720
$62,730
Oklahoma
$44,110
$64,920
Ohio
$39,040
$64,840

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

Common questions

Who earns more, Athletes and Sports Competitorss or Public Relations Specialistss?

Public Relations Specialistss earn more nationally. The median is $66,710 for Athletes and Sports Competitorss versus $74,750 for Public Relations Specialistss, a difference of $8K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, Athletes and Sports Competitors 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, Athletes and Sports Competitors or Public Relations Specialists?

Athletes and Sports Competitors typically requires bachelor's degree. Public Relations Specialists requires bachelor's degree. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.

Where do Athletes and Sports Competitorss get paid the most?

New Jersey is the top-paying state for Athletes and Sports Competitorss at $253,870/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does Athletes and Sports Competitors vs. Public Relations Specialists pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In New Jersey, Athletes and Sports Competitorss earn $253,870 vs. $80,130 for Public Relations Specialistss. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Athletes and Sports Competitors salary breakdownView →Full Public Relations Specialists salary breakdownView →Best cities for Athletes and Sports Competitorss by take-home payExplore →Best cities for Public Relations Specialistss by take-home payExplore →How to become a athletes and sports competitorsGuide →How to become a public relations specialistsGuide →