Quick answer: The Worcester metro employs about 420 public relations specialists (BLS OEWS, May 2025), and licensing is set at the state level, through target employers on the experience they weight.
Compare public relations programs enrolling now:
Licensing is a state matter, not a city one. 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.
See the Massachusetts licensing and pay overview for the statewide picture, and confirm current requirements with target employers on the experience they weight.
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 50 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 the Worcester area earn a median $75,610 per year, above the national median of $74,750 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
| Metric | Worcester metro | Massachusetts | National |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median annual wage | $75,610 | $79,660 | $74,750 |
| 10th percentile | $47,550 | $51,710 | $44,110 |
| 25th percentile | $58,780 | $61,410 | $56,260 |
| 75th percentile | $99,250 | $107,220 | $100,370 |
| 90th percentile | $123,720 | $139,240 | $135,150 |
| Employment | 420 | 6,760 | 283,380 |
| Location quotient | 0.66 | - | 1.00 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Metro figures cover the Worcester, MA metropolitan statistical area.
The Worcester median of $75,610 is above 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 0.66 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.
PR employment tracks organizational headquarters - corporate, agency, government and institutional - and regulated industries support specialist roles well outside the biggest media markets.
| Metro area | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Boston | $81,440 | 5,380 |
| Springfield | $69,790 | 220 |
| 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 Worcester, MA metro area is $75,610, above the national median of $74,750 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
The Worcester, MA metro area employs about 420 public relations specialists (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Licensing is handled at state level rather than by city. 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. Confirm current requirements with target employers on the experience they weight.
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 experience they weight.
The Worcester metro median is $75,610 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/.
