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Salary comparison

Public Relations Managers vs. General and Operations Managers: Who Earns More?

Public Relations Managers out-earn General and Operations Managers by $41K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Public Relations Managers land at $146,910 and General and Operations Managers at $105,770. The education gap is real: public relations manager programs typically require bachelor's degree, while general and operations manager programs require bachelor's degree. Top-paying state for Public Relations Managers is District of Columbia ($197,600); for General and Operations Managers it's New Jersey ($173,690).

Public Relations Managers
General and Operations Managers
Median salary
$146,910
$105,770
Hourly rate
$70.63/hr
$50.85/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$82,410
$50,090
Senior level (90th %)
$284,990
$253,390
Education required
Bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
U.S. employment
74,850
3,503,020
Job growth (10-year)
5%
4.4%
Category
Management
Management
Top-paying state
District of Columbia
New Jersey

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Public Relations Managers median pay.

State
Public Relations Managers
General and Operations Managers
District of Columbia
$197,600
$168,000
New York
$180,880
$130,860
Virginia
$176,340
$122,080
New Jersey
$174,980
$173,690
Massachusetts
$171,740
$127,220
California
$167,980
$124,390
Colorado
$162,870
$131,840
Washington
$159,440
$133,750
Rhode Island
$156,080
$117,380
Connecticut
$154,210
$137,220
Delaware
$153,010
$137,220
Maryland
$149,380
$117,930
New Hampshire
$132,660
$124,680
Alaska
$120,920
$116,630
Wisconsin
$113,980
$118,730

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

Common questions

Who earns more, Public Relations Managers or General and Operations Managers?

Public Relations Managers earn more nationally. The median is $146,910 for Public Relations Managers versus $105,770 for General and Operations Managers, a difference of $41K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, Public Relations Managers or General and Operations Managers?

Public Relations Managers has the better 10-year outlook at 5% projected growth, compared to 4.4% for the other field. Both are from BLS Employment Projections.

Which requires more education, Public Relations Managers or General and Operations Managers?

Public Relations Managers typically requires bachelor's degree. General and Operations Managers requires bachelor's degree. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.

Where do Public Relations Managers get paid the most?

District of Columbia is the top-paying state for Public Relations Managers at $197,600/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does Public Relations Managers vs. General and Operations Managers pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In District of Columbia, Public Relations Managers earn $197,600 vs. $168,000 for General and Operations Managers. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Public Relations Managers salary breakdownView →Full General and Operations Managers salary breakdownView →Best cities for Public Relations Managers by take-home payExplore →Best cities for General and Operations Managers by take-home payExplore →How to become a public relations managersGuide →How to become a general and operations managersGuide →