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Salary comparison

Writers and Authors vs. Public Relations Specialists: Who Earns More?

Writers and Authorss out-earn Public Relations Specialistss by $2K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Writers and Authorss land at $76,910 and Public Relations Specialistss at $74,750. The education gap is real: writers and author programs typically require bachelor's degree, while public relations specialist programs require bachelor's degree. Top-paying state for Writers and Authorss is District of Columbia ($129,300); for Public Relations Specialistss it's District of Columbia ($102,740).

Writers and Authors
Public Relations Specialists
Median salary
$76,910
$74,750
Hourly rate
$36.98/hr
$35.94/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$44,310
$44,110
Senior level (90th %)
$139,870
$135,150
Education required
Bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
U.S. employment
47,940
283,380
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 Writers and Authors median pay.

State
Writers and Authors
Public Relations Specialists
District of Columbia
$129,300
$102,740
Maryland
$104,330
$79,560
Connecticut
$98,460
$84,990
California
$86,480
$85,030
Washington
$85,700
$87,470
Massachusetts
$85,260
$79,660
Virginia
$85,000
$80,380
New Jersey
$81,590
$80,130
Oregon
$80,540
$74,900
Colorado
$76,830
$80,680
Georgia
$74,710
$73,200
New Hampshire
$71,830
$73,280
Rhode Island
$70,190
$77,540
Illinois
$68,220
$76,380
Nevada
$63,910
$73,840

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

Common questions

Who earns more, Writers and Authorss or Public Relations Specialistss?

Writers and Authorss earn more nationally. The median is $76,910 for Writers and Authorss versus $74,750 for Public Relations Specialistss, a difference of $2K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, Writers and Authors 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, Writers and Authors or Public Relations Specialists?

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

Where do Writers and Authorss get paid the most?

District of Columbia is the top-paying state for Writers and Authorss at $129,300/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does Writers and Authors vs. Public Relations Specialists pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In District of Columbia, Writers and Authorss earn $129,300 vs. $102,740 for Public Relations Specialistss. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Writers and Authors salary breakdownView →Full Public Relations Specialists salary breakdownView →Best cities for Writers and Authorss by take-home payExplore →Best cities for Public Relations Specialistss by take-home payExplore →How to become a writers and authorsGuide →How to become a public relations specialistsGuide →