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Salary comparison

Public Relations Specialists vs. Graphic Designers: Who Earns More?

Public Relations Specialistss out-earn Graphic Designerss by $12K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Public Relations Specialistss land at $74,750 and Graphic Designerss at $62,960. The education gap is real: public relations specialist programs typically require bachelor's degree, while graphic designer programs require bachelor's degree. Top-paying state for Public Relations Specialistss is District of Columbia ($102,740); for Graphic Designerss it's District of Columbia ($87,920).

Public Relations Specialists
Graphic Designers
Median salary
$74,750
$62,960
Hourly rate
$35.94/hr
$30.27/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$44,110
$39,520
Senior level (90th %)
$135,150
$104,910
Education required
Bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
U.S. employment
283,380
197,830
Job growth (10-year)
N/A
N/A
Category
Arts & Media
Arts & Media
Top-paying state
District of Columbia
District of Columbia

Pay by state

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

State
Public Relations Specialists
Graphic Designers
District of Columbia
$102,740
$87,920
Washington
$87,470
$72,710
California
$85,030
$75,130
Connecticut
$84,990
$72,700
New York
$81,250
$77,340
Colorado
$80,680
$66,330
Virginia
$80,380
$72,310
New Jersey
$80,130
$73,790
Massachusetts
$79,660
$76,710
Maryland
$79,560
$75,120
Rhode Island
$77,540
$78,220
Oregon
$74,900
$66,040
Nevada
$73,840
$62,890
Minnesota
$68,620
$63,860
Vermont
$66,060
$65,690

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

Common questions

Who earns more, Public Relations Specialistss or Graphic Designerss?

Public Relations Specialistss earn more nationally. The median is $74,750 for Public Relations Specialistss versus $62,960 for Graphic Designerss, a difference of $12K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, Public Relations Specialists or Graphic Designers?

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, Public Relations Specialists or Graphic Designers?

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

Where do Public Relations Specialistss get paid the most?

District of Columbia is the top-paying state for Public Relations Specialistss at $102,740/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does Public Relations Specialists vs. Graphic Designers pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In District of Columbia, Public Relations Specialistss earn $102,740 vs. $87,920 for Graphic Designerss. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Public Relations Specialists salary breakdownView →Full Graphic Designers salary breakdownView →Best cities for Public Relations Specialistss by take-home payExplore →Best cities for Graphic Designerss by take-home payExplore →How to become a public relations specialistsGuide →How to become a graphic designersGuide →