Public relations and communications directors salary in the UK (2025/26)
Official UK Average earnings data 2025
£72,020
Employment patterns
- 89% of Public relations work full-time
- 13% are self-employed
- 98.5% of employees have permanent contracts
Understanding Public relations and communications directors pay in the UK
The typical public relations and communications directors in the UK earns a median salary of £72,020 in 2025/26. These figures come from the ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE), so they reflect actual reported pay rather than self-reported estimates or job-advert ranges.
The mean (average) salary is higher, at £80,842. When the mean sits above the median like this, a smaller group of high earners is pulling the average up, which is why the median is the better guide to what a typical public relations and communications directors actually takes home.
Employment patterns shape these numbers too: Around 13% of Public relations are self-employed, well above most occupations, so the employee pay above will not capture earnings for those working for themselves.
Where you work changes the picture: public relations and communications directors pay ranges from £43,580 in Scotland up to £81,699 in London, a difference of £38,119 (87%). The full regional breakdown is below.
Dig deeper: see public relations and communications directors pay in London or read how we source and check this data.
How pay varies by region
London is the highest-paying region for public relations and communications directors at £81,699 — 13% above the UK median. Scotland is lowest at £43,580.
UK median £72,020
| Region | Median payUK median £72,020 | Median | Mean | vs UK median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| London | £81,699 | £81,699 | £96,439 | +13% |
| South East | £75,094 | £75,094 | £88,907 | +4% |
| North West | £69,990 | £69,990 | £82,879 | -3% |
| West Midlands | £69,869 | £69,869 | £70,122 | -3% |
| South West | £61,957 | £61,957 | £70,358 | -14% |
| East of England | £60,131 | £60,131 | £64,799 | -17% |
| East Midlands | £58,999 | £58,999 | £63,043 | -18% |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | £47,352 | £47,352 | £49,636 | -34% |
| Scotland | £43,580 | £43,580 | £48,483 | -39% |
| Region | Median | vs UK |
|---|---|---|
| London £81,699 | £81,699Mean £96,439 | +13% |
| South East £75,094 | £75,094Mean £88,907 | +4% |
| North West £69,990 | £69,990Mean £82,879 | -3% |
| West Midlands £69,869 | £69,869Mean £70,122 | -3% |
| South West £61,957 | £61,957Mean £70,358 | -14% |
| East of England £60,131 | £60,131Mean £64,799 | -17% |
| East Midlands £58,999 | £58,999Mean £63,043 | -18% |
| Yorkshire and the Humber £47,352 | £47,352Mean £49,636 | -34% |
| Scotland £43,580 | £43,580Mean £48,483 | -39% |
Sorted highest median to lowest. The vertical line marks the UK median (£72,020); ‘Vs UK median’ compares each region’s median to it. Suppressed values mean ONS withheld this figure because the sample was too small to publish.
Make it local
Calculate take-home pay for your region
Choose a region above to see local public relations and communications directors pay and calculate your monthly take-home after tax on the local salary page.
Back to region listHow public relations and communications directors pay has changed over time
UK median annual pay for public relations and communications directors by year (ONS ASHE).
Median salary
▪ 25th–75th percentile range
Pre-2021 figures mapped from SOC 2010 via ONS concordance table
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