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Public Relations Officer salary in Australia
The median full-time salary for a public relations officer is $106,400 per annum, before tax, up $22,400 since 2018.
Where you work matters as much as what you do: government departments and large corporates generally pay more than non-profits, while agency roles can move faster in title but demand longer hours. Seniority carries more weight than years served, since a media adviser and a communications manager can sit on quite different bands. Public sector roles follow enterprise agreements that set increments by classification, and on-call or crisis duties sometimes attract loadings.
Roles that pay more than public relations officer
The largest typical pay rise is $46,700 a year, moving into Policy and Planning Manager.
- Policy and Planning Manager+$46,700/yr
- Communications Manager+$32,800/yr
- Marketing Manager+$32,800/yr
How to negotiate a higher public relations officer salary
- Know the market rate before you ask. The median full-time public relations officer salary is $106,400; use that, not a guess, as your anchor, and adjust for your experience and employer.
- Lead with what's scarce, not just tenure. Skills like Strategy development and Content creation and writing tend to command a premium over general public relations officer experience, name them specifically when you ask.
- Bring a real alternative to the table. Policy and Planning Manager pays a typical $46,700 a year more and draws on similar skills, even mentioning you're weighing it up is a legitimate data point in a pay conversation.
- Time it deliberately. Reviews, the end of a project you delivered, or taking on responsibility beyond your job description are stronger moments to ask than an arbitrary date on the calendar.
- Ask for a number, not a raise. "Based on the market rate and [specific contribution], I'd like to move to X" gets a clearer answer than "I think I deserve more."
Public Relations Officer salary questions
How much do public relations officers earn in Australia?
The median full-time salary for a public relations officer is $106,400 a year before tax. Seniority, specialisation, sector and the award or agreement you're employed under all move it.
Is public relations officer pay rising or falling?
The median public relations officer salary is up $22,400 since 2018. Figures from 2025 onward on this page are a projection, not a measured result.
What pays more than public relations officer?
Policy and Planning Manager pays a typical $46,700 a year more and draws on similar skills to public relations officer.