Pay Grade
Corporate Shuffle
September 19, 2006; Page B10

The job: Public-relations officer specializing in corporate communications

The pay: The starting pay for a public-relations associate in New York is about $33,000 to $35,000 a year. According to the 2006 PRWeek-Korn/Ferry Salary Survey, the median salary for PR professionals is $92,150 a year, while those in corporate settings average $100,000 a year.

The hours: Many are scheduled to work 40 hours a week -- but most agree that nine- to 10-hour days are standard. Special events and crises also add hours.

Benefits: Agencies or company employees receive standard health-care benefits, plus matching 401(k) plans. Self-employed workers must develop their own packages.

Other incentives: Depending on their employer, some receive discounts on car purchases or sports and theater tickets. Travel to event launches can also be a perk.

Career path: Industry veterans suggest interning with agencies to learn about the field and determine your areas of interest. In the past several years, recruiters have taken special interest in candidates with blog, financial or health backgrounds. "We're [working] in a global marketplace," says Cheryl Proctor-Rogers, president and chief executive officer of the Public Relations Society of America. As more countries move toward free-market economies, "it's a great time to be a part of those markets. Having knowledge or experience with technology is going to be critical to serving them."

Best part of the job: "We get to see what's happening behind the curtain, such as CEOs being briefed for meetings," says Erin Farrell-Talbot, a senior vice president at public-relations firm Edelman in New York. PR roles have changed, she says. "It's no longer about reaching out to journalists and writing press releases. Nowadays we have to communicate with CEOs, stockholders and bloggers."

Worst part of the job: "Addressing the needs of multiple constituents is the most difficult," says Smooch Reynolds, chief executive officer for Repovich-Reynolds Group, an executive-search firm in Pasadena, Calif., and a former PR officer. "From shareholders [and] media to labor groups, each constituent wants a different message conveyed, and that can sometimes be challenging."

By Aja Carmichael