Public Relations Specialists Employment & Job Outlook in Illinois (2024)

Illinois employs 7,320 Public Relations Specialists professionals, above the national average concentration.

Data: BLS OEWS 2024 • Illinois employment outlook • Updated 2026-04-06

Total Employed
7,320
professionals
Jobs per 1,000
7.32
workers
Location Quotient
1.35
vs national avg
Average Salary
$76K
annual

High Demand in Illinois

The location quotient (LQ) of 1.35 indicates that Illinois has a higher-than-average concentration of Public Relations Specialists professionals. This means the job is in high demand relative to other states, suggesting strong local job market opportunities.

Note: Location Quotient (LQ) is the ratio of the percentage of workers in an occupation in a given area to the percentage in that occupation nationwide. An LQ > 1.0 means above-average concentration; < 1.0 means below-average.

Illinois vs National Average

Total Employed
7,320
National: 275,540
2.7% of national
Jobs per 1,000
7.32
National: 5.4
+35.6%
Average Salary
$76K
National: $71K
+6.7%

Top States by Public Relations Specialists Employment

#1
29,520
29,520
employed
#2
26,380
26,380
employed
#3
25,080
25,080
employed
#4
20,330
20,330
employed
#5
17,320
17,320
employed
#6
8,960
8,960
employed
#7
8,530
8,530
employed
#8
8,260
8,260
employed
#9
7,960
7,960
employed
#10
7,730
7,730
employed

What Does a Public Relations Specialists Earn in Illinois?

The average annual salary for a Public Relations Specialists in Illinois is $76,570. For a detailed breakdown by percentile, entry-level, median, and senior salaries, see the comprehensive salary guide below.

View full salary breakdown →

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many Public Relations Specialists jobs are there in Illinois?

Illinois employs approximately 7,320 Public Relations Specialists professionals (2024 BLS data). This ranks Illinois among the top states nationwide.

Is Public Relations Specialists in demand in Illinois?

Yes — Illinois has above-average concentration of Public Relations Specialists jobs (LQ: 1.35). A Location Quotient above 1.0 indicates higher-than-average demand.

What is the average salary for Public Relations Specialists in Illinois?

The average (mean) salary for Public Relations Specialists in Illinois is $76570/year. See our detailed salary page for percentile breakdowns.

What is a Location Quotient (LQ)?

Location Quotient measures how concentrated an occupation is in a state compared to the national average. LQ > 1.0 means the state has more of that job proportionally. LQ > 1.2 indicates strong demand.

Which states employ the most Public Relations Specialists professionals?

The top state for Public Relations Specialists employment is California with 29,520 jobs.

Related Pages

Data Source

Employment and location quotient data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) 2024. This data reflects total employment, jobs per 1,000 workers, location quotient, and average salary for Public Relations Specialists (SOC 273031) in Illinois.

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