Public relations and communications directors: average salary and pay in the UK
Full-time public relations and communications directors in the UK earned a median £72,887 in the year to 5 April 2025, according to the ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE): 87% more than the £39,039 median for all full-time jobs.
What the figures show
Only 9 of 382 occupations with a published full-time median are higher.
The mean, £84,306, is 16% above the median, a sign of a few very high earners.
Median full-time pay: women £39.52 an hour, men £45.16 an hour.
ASHE counts roughly 21,000 employee jobs, 90% full-time.
From £58,562 in 2021, the median is up 24.5%, close to the 25.0% for all jobs.
The Annual Population Survey counts 32,200 people in this line of work across the UK.
Pay distribution, 2025 provisional
| Gross pay | Full-time, annual | Full-time, weekly | Full-time, hourly | All, annual | All, weekly | All, hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | – | £991.40 | £28.08 | – | £841.80* | £25.98 |
| 20th percentile | £54,984 | £1,096.30 | £30.41 | £53,599 | £1,054.10 | £30.10 |
| 25th percentile | £59,788 | £1,158.70 | £31.02 | £54,955 | £1,093.40 | £30.92 |
| 30th percentile | £60,786 | £1,196.20 | £33.13 | £59,464 | £1,147.70 | £32.74 |
| 40th percentile | £67,693 | £1,357.10 | £37.78 | £63,980 | £1,247.40 | £35.63 |
| Median (50th percentile) | £72,887 | £1,500.10 | £40.57 | £72,020 | £1,430.90 | £39.65 |
| 60th percentile | – | £1,594.50 | £44.83 | – | £1,581.90 | £43.65 |
| 70th percentile | – | £1,757.40 | £47.49 | – | £1,704.90 | £47.09 |
| 75th percentile | – | £1,820.70* | £49.90* | – | £1,780.60* | £49.29* |
| 80th percentile | – | – | – | – | £1,887.50* | £52.40* |
| Mean | £84,306 | £1,588.00 | £43.77 | £80,842 | £1,525.00 | £42.92 |
Pay since 2021
| ASHE year | Full-time, annual median | Full-time, weekly median | Full-time, hourly median | All, annual median | All, weekly median | Jobs (thousands, indicative) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 revised | £58,562* | £1,223.90* | £33.47* | £53,576* | £1,144.10* | 10* |
| 2022 revised | £66,878 | £1,336.00 | £36.32 | £65,884 | £1,296.90 | 13* |
| 2023 revised | £78,843 | £1,509.80 | £42.19 | £76,791* | £1,495.10 | 14* |
| 2024 revised | £77,318 | £1,544.00 | £40.93 | £73,782* | £1,433.50 | 16* |
| 2025 provisional | £72,887 | £1,500.10 | £40.57 | £72,020 | £1,430.90 | 21* |
Public relations and communications directors by region
UK: 32,200 (± 7,000), April 2025 to March 2026.
Annual Population Survey (Nomis)
What public relations and communications directors do
Public relations and communications directors plan, organise, direct and co-ordinate the public relations, communications and public information activities of an organisation or on behalf of clients. (ONS SOC 2020, 1133)
Also covers: head of communications, head of public relations, communications director, head (public relations), head of PR, public relations director, director of external relations, head of internal communications and head of public affairs.
- Develops and reviews the public relations policy and direction of an organisation
- Directs and oversees the work of the communications department of an organisation or work on behalf of clients at a public relations firm
- Liaises with client to discuss their needs and develops the most appropriate strategy to deliver the objectives directs public relations campaigns and communicates messages through a variety of media
- Reviews and revises campaign strategy and takes appropriate corrective measures if necessary
- Stays abreast of changes in media, readership or viewing figures
- Directs the arranging of conferences, exhibitions, seminars, etc. to promote the image of a product, service or organisation
Entry is generally via career progression from related occupations (e.g. communications officer, public relations officer) and although there are no pre-set entry standards, in practice most communications and public relations directors hold a degree. Off and on-the-job training is provided.
Related
Functional managers and directors (median £75,264) · Marketing, sales and advertising directors · Purchasing managers and directors · salary percentile · UK average weekly earnings growth · Mean
ASHE Table 14: 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 · coding index · notes · 15 October 2026