Show Me the Money

$$$

10 Best Places for

Top Paying PR Jobs

Friday, October 14, 2011

Show Me the Money $$$ 10 Best Places for Top Paying PR Jobs
In our quest to nd the top money meccas for public relations, we started with the latest reported data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor to determine top salaries for PR professionals by key regions. We then considered not only top pay, but also the concentration of available jobs, based on a variety of online job search resources. And nally, we added a couple of international surprises just to keep you on your toes and to help you keep your options open. The result is this list of top 10 cities that reveals the exciting variety of opportunities available to upwardly mobile communications professionals. Be careful! Some of these hotspots might make you consider packing your bags and making a change right now. And some may simply reinforce that you made the right choice in where you currently practice PR. Regardless, we think youll enjoy the tour

Friday, October 14, 2011

1. Washington, D.C. (USA)

The Beltway Welcomes PR Pros
The U.S. capital and surrounding areas boast both the highest concentration of jobs and the highest salaries for Public Relations Specialists. No surprise, considering the concentration of PR jobs available in the political eld. A three-fold greater availability of PR jobs exists here compared to the national average. An abundance of PR jobs isnt the only draw heretop salaries are, too. The average mean salary is $81,000, compared to an overall national average of $46,000. We mentioned The Beltway in our recent 10 Social Media Meccas, with good reason. Now you have two more compelling reasons to give Washington, D.C. a close look.

Show Me the Money $$$ -10 Best Places for Top Paying PR Jobs
Friday, October 14, 2011

2. Toronto, Ontario (Canada)

Top Quality of Life
Torontos winters may be cold, but this is one hot city when it comes to opportunity and quality of life. In fact, Toronto is listed #2 in Price Waterhouse Coopers Cities of Opportunity survey. Torontos construction industry is booming, its air quality is high and its renowned for its creative denizens. PR opportunities also abound in Toronto. One great example is the multi-ofce FleishmanHillard, which opened its rst Canadian ofce in Toronto in 1994 and is one of the leading integrated strategic communications and public affairs rms worldwide. (A side note: PR can stand for permanent resident, an employment/immigration category here. Be sure to use the full words public relations instead of just PR to nd the most relevant job listings online.)

Show Me the Money $$$ -10 Best Places for Top Paying PR Jobs
Friday, October 14, 2011

3. Denver, Colorado (USA)

Take the Lift to Great Pay
The Mile High city delivers not only top salaries (avg. $62,000), but also one of the highest concentrations of jobs. How much of a concentration? The Denver area boasts nearly three times the national average. If you are comfortable with such a competitive market, Denver might be your spot. The best part is that Denvers want ads are not mere shing expeditions by employers seeking to churn workers. Colorado has the highest concentration of PR Specialists actually working, too. We are willing to admit that were also attracted to the recreation available on some of the most exciting powder slopes in the world. Can you blame us?

Show Me the Money $$$ -10 Best Places for Top Paying PR Jobs
Friday, October 14, 2011

4. Austin, Texas (USA)

Social Media & Live Music Capital
The vibrant environment here is fueled by it being a state capital with numerous entrepreneurial startups. Salaries for PR Specialists average near $60,000 in Austin, well above the national averagethanks in no small part to real growth in well-paying social media jobs in the area. But we picked this music hotspot because we think salary isnt everything. We also think you should have a great time where you work. Austin is located in central Texas, surrounded by area lakes and rugged hill country. Kiplinger listed it as the #1 city to live in for the next decade. Forbes listed is as one of the best job markets for nding work. We like the nightlife and the famous Austin bats. Be sure to tell Willie Nelson we sent you when you go visit!

Show Me the Money $$$ -10 Best Places for Top Paying PR Jobs
Friday, October 14, 2011

5. Boston, Massachusetts (USA)

Under-30 Crowd Unite!
Boston is ranked as one of the top metropolitan areas for PR Specialists. It is also home to Allen & Gerritsen, which AdAge named its 2011 #1 Place to Work. A smaller integrated communications, marketing and branding agency with 150 employees, the rm is recognized for its young and fearless staff. The agencys internship program is robust and illustrates the citys growing reputation as a magnet for millennial talent. Also indicative is the rms policy of supporting employees outside interests. As AdAge reports, for example, the agency and staff helped an employee raise money to volunteer in Haiti. In a classic city, companies like Allen & Gerritsen are keeping the industry vibrant.

Show Me the Money $$$ -10 Best Places for Top Paying PR Jobs
Friday, October 14, 2011

6. London (England)
Double Decker Growth
London tops many listsand for good reason. A quick glance at PRWeeks Top 150 PR Consultancies gives you a hint why the city makes this list, as well. The average growth rate of PRWeeks Top 150 agencies in 2010 was 9.24%, but multiple London-based agencies have comfortably surpassed this gure. London hosts some of the worlds top agencies like Ogilvy, Weber Shandwick, Edelman, Burson-Marsteller and Porter Novelli. Salaries are competitive and London is frequently listed as a top city to visitas well as to live and work in. If youre looking for big opportunities in international PR, then the home of Big Ben might be for you!

Show Me the Money $$$ -10 Best Places for Top Paying PR Jobs
Friday, October 14, 2011

7. New York City, New York (USA)

Just Show Me the Perks!
If you can make it here, you can make it anywhere. New York is an obvious choice with its high concentration of PR jobs, top salaries, big city excitement and multiple worldwide agency headquarters. If you want to work for the biggest agencies alongside social-media savvy millennial colleagues then this is as good as it gets. What isnt so obvious is that NYC is also home to some great smaller innovators like word-of-mouth agency Mr. Youth. As AdAges #7 2011 Best Place to Work, Mr. Youth offers great perks like unlimited time off and company-paid benets in an atmosphere of unbridled team creativity. If perks and fresh approaches to integrated communications and marketing matter to you, this is your place.

Show Me the Money $$$ -10 Best Places for Top Paying PR Jobs
Friday, October 14, 2011

8. California (USA)
An Embarrassment of Riches
We tried to pick just one city in California, but couldnt. San Jose, Sacramento and San Francisco all qualify as top-paying metro areas. And Los Angeles (shown here) offers the highest concentration of PR Specialist jobs. California is one of the top ve regions in overall pay and there are also numerous 100 Best Company options across the state. One example is the PR department at Kaiser Permanente in Oakland. The teams awards include: PR News 2010 Digital PR Team of the Year, Top Place to Work, Best Editorial/Op-Ed, Best Blog and honorable mentions in the Green PR category. If youre seeking well paying PR jobs ranging from Hollywood publicity gigs to healthcare communicationsthen the Golden State is for you.

Show Me the Money $$$ -10 Best Places for Top Paying PR Jobs
Friday, October 14, 2011

9. Chicago, Illinois (USA)

Winning Big in the Windy City
Chicago hosts a high density of political, healthcare and nancial PR jobs. The top agency here is Edelman, but what might surprise you is that the third top agency is FoodMinds, which is also a PRWeek nalist for 2011 Small PR Agency of the Year. As the rms site says: We create new opportunities and new situations to help you create a better story. Clearly, the PR story in Chicago is that new opportunities and new situations abound. PRSA Chicago is the fourth largest chapter in the country, with almost 500 members. These PR pros represent a true cross-section of industries, with a diverse mix of Fortune 100 corporations, public relations agencies, associations and non-prot organizations.

Show Me the Money $$$ -10 Best Places for Top Paying PR Jobs
Friday, October 14, 2011

10. Soa (Bulgaria)

A Highlight in Emerging Markets
Heres our big surprise! We see a wealth of opportunity in the emerging corners of the worldwhether in China, India, Indonesia, Brazil, Turkey, Russia or Eastern Europe. For those who yearn for international adventure and an accommodating income, meet your model rm: M3 Communications Group. We do have method to our madness: Founded in 1994 in Soa, M3 has won kudos as PR Agency of the Year, 2011 Eastern European Consultancy of the Year, and the top 2011 PR Agency in Europe. A Hill & Knowlton associate, the rm is growing by leaps and boundsand is representative of increasing opportunities for PR globally. For those who do their best work only when venturing to the outer edges, we say get your passport and book your ight!

Show Me the Money $$$ -10 Best Places for Top Paying PR Jobs
Friday, October 14, 2011

Show Me the Money $$$ 10 Best Places for Top Paying PR Jobs
Its Not Always Just About the Money...
Its not always just about the money, but money talks. Add in some choices here for quality of life, richness of culture and availability of opportunity and any of these cities would be a great choice for todays upwardly mobile PR professional. We hope youll be inspired by what you see and read here to look beyond the standard choices and nd the best place for you and your unique skills. Just be sure to send us a postcard, OK?

Friday, October 14, 2011

Show Me the Money $$$ 10 Best Places for Top Paying PR Jobs
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Friday, October 14, 2011