Quick answer: Massachusetts employs about 6,760 public relations specialists (BLS OEWS, May 2025), and licensing runs through target employers on the experience they weight. Programs, the careers this degree opens, and what they pay are below.
Compare public relations programs enrolling now:
Public relations is not licensed. Voluntary accreditation marks exist for experienced practitioners and employers genuinely vary in the weight they give them; early-career hiring runs on writing samples, internships and media placements.
Requirements are set at state level and are amended periodically. Before you enroll in any program, confirm with target employers on the experience they weight that the specific program you are considering satisfies the education requirement, and ask what it accepts from any training you have already completed. Get the answer in writing.
Most people reading this already have a job in the field, and the practical question is whether the credential can be earned without leaving it. Programs designed for working adults deliver the academic portion online or in the evening, while any labs, clinical hours or supervised field experience happen in person and locally. Prior college credit, military training, apprenticeship coursework and industry certifications can all shorten the path, so request a written transfer credit evaluation before you commit to any school.
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 4 schools within 34 miles, closest group first, then ordered by BOC Score with the highest at the top. 4 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
Public Relations Specialists in Massachusetts earn a median $79,660 per year, above the national median of $74,750 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
| Metric | Massachusetts | National | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median annual wage | $79,660 | $74,750 | BLS OEWS, May 2025 |
| 10th percentile | $51,710 | $44,110 | BLS OEWS, May 2025 |
| 25th percentile | $61,410 | $56,260 | BLS OEWS, May 2025 |
| 75th percentile | $107,220 | $100,370 | BLS OEWS, May 2025 |
| 90th percentile | $139,240 | $135,150 | BLS OEWS, May 2025 |
| Employment | 6,760 | 283,380 | BLS OEWS, May 2025 |
| Location quotient | 1.02 | 1.00 | BLS OEWS, May 2025 |
| Projected change (2024-34) | not published by state | 4.8% | BLS Employment Projections, 2024-34 |
The Massachusetts median of $79,660 sits above the national median of $74,750 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Percentiles matter more than the midpoint when you are deciding whether a degree pays for itself: the 10th percentile is roughly where people start, and the 90th is what the top of the local market looks like after years of experience.
A location quotient of 1.02 puts Massachusetts slightly above the national average, so the occupation is a little more common here than in the typical state (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The measure compares how concentrated the occupation is here against the national average of 1.00.
| Metro area | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Boston | $81,440 | 5,380 |
| Barnstable Town | $76,690 | 140 |
| Worcester | $75,610 | 420 |
| Pittsfield | $73,720 | 100 |
| Amherst Town | $72,610 | 180 |
| Springfield | $69,790 | 220 |
Figures: BLS OEWS, May 2025. PR employment tracks organizational headquarters - corporate, agency, government and institutional - and regulated industries support specialist roles well outside the biggest media markets.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), public relations specialists wages in Massachusetts vary by metro area.
| Metro Area | Employment | Median Annual Wage | Avg. Annual Wage | Entry Level (10th pctile) | Experienced (90th pctile) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton | 5,380 | $81,440 | $93,800 | $53,800 | $145,720 |
| Providence-Warwick | 1,250 | $77,210 | $83,510 | $47,200 | $128,630 |
| Worcester | 420 | $75,610 | $82,130 | $47,550 | $123,720 |
| Springfield | 220 | $69,790 | $76,990 | $44,990 | $121,930 |
| Amherst Town-Northampton | 180 | $72,610 | $73,500 | $48,490 | $102,320 |
| Barnstable Town | 140 | $76,690 | $81,210 | $48,650 | $123,840 |
| Pittsfield | 100 | $73,720 | $74,510 | $44,440 | $106,990 |
Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May .
Amherst Town * Barnstable Town * Boston * Pittsfield * Springfield * Worcester
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 Massachusetts is $79,660, above the national median of $74,750 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The middle of the range runs from $61,410 at the 25th percentile to $107,220 at the 75th.
Massachusetts holds about 6,760 public relations specialist jobs (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Nationally the occupation employs 283,380, and BLS projects about 27,600 openings per year through 2034 (BLS Employment Projections, 2024-34).
Public relations is not licensed. Voluntary accreditation marks exist for experienced practitioners and employers genuinely vary in the weight they give them; early-career hiring runs on writing samples, internships and media placements. Requirements are set at the state level and change periodically, so confirm the current rules with target employers on the experience they weight before you enroll in any program.
Often yes. Programs built for working adults deliver coursework online or in the evenings, though any required labs, clinical hours or supervised field experience are completed in person. Confirm that the program's accreditation satisfies target employers on the experience they weight.
Among Massachusetts metro areas with published data, Boston reports the highest median at $81,440 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
On pay, the state median of $79,660 sits above the national $74,750 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). A location quotient of 1.02 means the occupation is more concentrated here than in the average state. Weigh that against cost of living and how concentrated the work is near where you actually want to live.
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/.
