Quick answer: The Springfield metro employs about 220 public relations specialists (BLS OEWS, May 2025), and licensing is set at the state level, through target employers on the portfolio and experience they expect.
Compare communications programs enrolling now:
Licensing is a state matter, not a city one. Communications is not licensed and no certification is required. Employers typically weight writing samples and internship experience, and the degree works best paired with domain knowledge from another field.
See the Massachusetts licensing and pay overview for the statewide picture, and confirm current requirements with target employers on the portfolio and experience they expect.
Schools in our database near this area, ranked by BOC Score. The list favors schools with a related program on record, but program availability and delivery format change, so confirm directly with any school that it currently offers the program you want.
This page lists 10 schools within 75 miles, closest group first, then ordered by BOC Score with the highest at the top. 10 of them carry a score.
Scores come from IPEDS (2024) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings are for all graduates of a school, not one program, so treat them as a signal about the institution rather than about this subject. Sponsored listings are paid placements and are labelled as such; they are separate from this ranking and never change it. Read the full methodology.
Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard
Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard
Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard
Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard
Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard
Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard
Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard
Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard
Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard
Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard
Public Relations Specialists in the Springfield area earn a median $69,790 per year, below the national median of $74,750 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
| Metric | Springfield metro | Massachusetts | National |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median annual wage | $69,790 | $79,660 | $74,750 |
| 10th percentile | $44,990 | $51,710 | $44,110 |
| 25th percentile | $55,260 | $61,410 | $56,260 |
| 75th percentile | $95,200 | $107,220 | $100,370 |
| 90th percentile | $121,930 | $139,240 | $135,150 |
| Employment | 220 | 6,760 | 283,380 |
| Location quotient | 0.61 | - | 1.00 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Metro figures cover the Springfield, MA metropolitan statistical area.
The Springfield median of $69,790 is below the national median of $74,750, and below the Massachusetts statewide median of $79,660 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
The metro’s location quotient of 0.61 means public relations specialists are less concentrated here than in the average U.S. labor market (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Higher concentration generally means more employers competing for the same people, and an easier job change later.
Communications roles sit inside organizations of every kind, with extra depth where corporate headquarters, agencies and government cluster.
| Metro area | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Boston | $81,440 | 5,380 |
| Worcester | $75,610 | 420 |
| Amherst Town | $72,610 | 180 |
| Barnstable Town | $76,690 | 140 |
| Pittsfield | $73,720 | 100 |
Figures: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
Wage and employment figures describe the occupation as measured by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, not the graduates of any particular program, and individual outcomes may vary. Licensing rules change; confirm current requirements with the responsible state board before enrolling.
The median annual wage for public relations specialists in the Springfield, MA metro area is $69,790, below the national median of $74,750 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
The Springfield, MA metro area employs about 220 public relations specialists (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Licensing is handled at state level rather than by city. Communications is not licensed and no certification is required. Employers typically weight writing samples and internship experience, and the degree works best paired with domain knowledge from another field. Confirm current requirements with target employers on the portfolio and experience they expect.
The academic portion of these programs is widely available online for working adults, while labs, clinical hours or supervised field work are completed in person. Check that the program's accreditation satisfies target employers on the portfolio and experience they expect.
The Springfield metro median is $69,790 against a statewide median of $79,660 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Compare that gap with the difference in living costs before treating it as a raise.
About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.
