SalaryByCity

Public Relations Specialists vs Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive: Salary Comparison (2024)

Side-by-side salary comparison using 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

Public Relations Specialists

$69,780

Median annual salary

280,590 employed nationally

Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive

$46,290

Median annual salary

1,737,820 employed nationally

Which Career Pays More?

Public Relations Specialists professionals earn $23,490 more per year than Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive professionals — that's 50.7% higher. At the 90th percentile, Public Relations Specialists earns $129,480 compared to $64,150 for Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive.

Salary Range Comparison

Public Relations Specialists$40,750 – $129,480
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$31,600 – $64,150
$31,600$129,480

Detailed Salary Comparison

PercentilePublic Relations SpecialistsSecretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and ExecutiveDifference
10th Percentile$40,750$31,600+$9,150
25th Percentile$51,970$37,770+$14,200
Median (50th)$69,780$46,290+$23,490
75th Percentile$95,940$55,650+$40,290
90th Percentile$129,480$64,150+$65,330
Mean (Average)$80,310$47,640+$32,670

Employment Numbers

Public Relations Specialists

280,590

employed nationwide

Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive

1,737,820

employed nationwide

Top Paying Cities

Best Cities for Public Relations Specialists

CityMedian
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$101,200
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA$98,460
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV$95,370
Salt Lake City, UT$93,220
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$92,060

Best Cities for Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive

CityMedian
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$61,190
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA$60,320
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$58,310
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH$56,060
Hartford-East Hartford-Middletown, CT$53,960

Frequently Asked Questions

Who earns more: Public Relations Specialists or Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive?
Public Relations Specialists professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $23,490 (50.7% higher) as of 2024 BLS data.
What is the salary range for Public Relations Specialists?
Public Relations Specialists salaries range from $40,750 (10th percentile) to $129,480 (90th percentile), with a median of $69,780.
What is the salary range for Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive?
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive salaries range from $31,600 (10th percentile) to $64,150 (90th percentile), with a median of $46,290.
How many Public Relations Specialists and Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive jobs are there?
There are approximately 280,590 Public Relations Specialists positions and 1,737,820 Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive to Public Relations Specialists?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Public Relations Specialists has a median salary of $69,780 while Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive earns $46,290. Consider job satisfaction, growth prospects, required education, and work-life balance.

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Data verified March 2026 · Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS