Will AI replace public relations managers?

Unlikely, though parts of the work are changing. About 2h 13m of an 8-hour shift goes to tasks touched by AI that people use as a helper. The breakdown: 1h 14m done by people with AI help, 59m that AI mostly does alone. The other 5h 47m (72%) stays with people. Separately, BLS expects about 5.7% more of these jobs by 2035 (all jobs: +3.5%).

AI shows up regularly in 4 of 20 tasks, about 2h 13m of a typical shift. The biggest ones:

• Identify main client groups and audiences, determine the best way to communicate publicity information to them, and develop and implement a communication plan. (43m a shift, AI mostly does it alone)
• Develop and maintain the company's corporate image and identity, which includes the use of logos and signage. (16m a shift, AI mostly does it alone)
• Write interesting and effective press releases, prepare information for media kits, and develop and maintain company internet or intranet web pages. (48m a shift, people use AI to help)
• Draft speeches for company executives and arrange interviews and other forms of contact for them. (27m a shift, people use AI to help)

5h 47m of a typical shift, or 72%, goes to tasks with no AI or robot evidence yet. No AI usage or robot deployment has shown up for these so far. The biggest:

• Assign, supervise, and review the activities of public relations staff. (53m a shift)
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with clients, government officials, and media representatives and use these relationships to develop new business opportunities. (53m a shift)
• Manage special events, such as sponsorship of races, parties introducing new products, or other activities the firm supports, to gain public attention through the media without advertising directly. (32m a shift)
• Respond to requests for information about employers' activities or status. (32m a shift)
• Direct activities of external agencies, establishments, or departments that develop and implement communication strategies and information programs. (27m a shift)

For the 2 tasks in this job where AI shows up and timing data exists, a typical request takes about 10h 5m for a person alone and about 1h 3m with AI. These are Claude's own estimates from real conversations in April and May 2026 (Anthropic Economic Index). They describe single requests, not whole workdays, and time saved on a task doesn't mean jobs are cut. The biggest gaps:

• Identify main client groups and audiences, determine the best way to communicate publicity information to them, and develop and implement a communication plan (about 10h 38m alone, 1h 12m with AI)
• Develop and maintain the company's corporate image and identity, which includes the use of logos and signage (about 9h 32m alone, 54m with AI)

On Indeed, job postings in the Media & Communications sector are at 69% of their February 2020 level (all U.S. postings: 104%), up 6.8% from a year earlier, as of Oct 9, 2026. BLS separately expects about 6,100 openings a year in this job through 2035. Across all U.S. postings, 7.3% now mention AI skills. Sector postings cover more than this one job and move for many reasons besides AI.

The median pay is about $146,910 a year ($70.63 an hour), 188% above the median for all U.S. jobs ($50,980). Most people in this job earn between $82,410 and $284,990 or more a year; that range covers the middle 80%. Pay figures are from BLS, May 2025, and vary a lot by state and employer. Pick a state to compare:

BLS projects growth of 5.7% from 2025 to 2035, compared with 3.5% growth for all jobs. That's about 85,000 jobs in 2035. It expects about 6,100 openings a year, mostly from people retiring or changing careers. These projections don't single out AI as a cause.

About 75,000 people in the U.S., roughly 0.05% of all workers (BLS, May 2025). That makes it the 316th largest of the 796 jobs on this site. BLS expects about 85,000 in 2035.

O*NET rates the job at level 4 of 5 for preparation, which usually means: bachelor's degree. Requirements vary by state and employer, especially for licensed work.

These come from the job's official skill ratings and from the tasks that AI and robots touch least today. Building them keeps you strong in the parts of the work that still need a person:

• Get strong at the parts of the job that stay with people (listed above), which take 5h 47m of a typical shift
• Tools employers list: Salesforce software, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft Office software, Microsoft Excel
• Learn to use AI well on the tasks where it already shows up in this job (listed above)

These use similar skills. Matches come from 109 official ratings of skills, knowledge and work activities, and each needs the same or less preparation unless the official list relates the jobs directly:

• Public Relations Specialists (4h 15m touched, $75k median pay)
• Advertising and Promotions Managers (2h touched, $134k median pay)
• Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists (6h 19m touched, $79k median pay)
• Management Analysts (3h 2m touched, $102k median pay)
• Marketing Managers (3h 44m touched, $167k median pay)

Each task carries its own evidence label. For this job: 4 observed in real AI use, 16 with no AI or robot evidence found. The minutes per task are estimates, not measured hours, and "no evidence" doesn't prove a task is safe.