PR Account Executive
Also advertised as: Communications Executive, Junior PR Executive, Media Relations Executive, PR Account Executive, PR Assistant
Pitches client stories to journalists and helps manage a brand's public reputation.
What the job involves
PR account executives work at agencies or in-house teams, building relationships with journalists and pitching stories that earn coverage for their clients. You draft press releases, monitor media coverage and help prepare clients for interviews. Fast, accurate writing under deadline pressure is a core part of the job.
Typical responsibilities
- Draft press releases and media pitches
- Build relationships with relevant journalists
- Monitor and report media coverage
- Support client events and press launches
- Help manage reputational issues as they arise
Common employers
- PR agencies
- In-house communications teams
- Charities
- Political and public sector bodies
Pay, hours and working environment
Typical pay
£22,000 – £27,000 a year
With experience
£32,000 – £45,000 a year
Typical hours
37.5 hours, occasional out-of-hours media handling
Working environment
Office based or hybrid
Remote working
hybrid
Demand for this work
steady
Pay ranges are indicative guidance drawn from advertised UK vacancies and published careers information. They are not an offer, and actual pay varies by employer, location and experience.
Skills and qualifications
Core skills
- Writing under deadline
- Media relationship building
- Research
- Presentation skills
- Attention to detail
Transferable skills you may already have
- Journalism or student newspaper experience
- Public speaking
- Networking
Requirements employers ask for
- Writing under deadline
- Media relationship building
- Research
- Presentation skills
- Attention to detail
- Degree, though entry without one is possible with strong writing samples
Useful but not essential
- Journalism or student newspaper experience
- Public speaking
- Networking
- CIPR qualifications
- Work experience at a PR agency or newsroom
Helpful qualifications
- CIPR qualifications
- Work experience at a PR agency or newsroom
Ways into this career
A degree is only one route. Where an apprenticeship, work-experience or qualification route exists, it is listed here alongside the academic option.
Apprenticeships and work-based routes
- Public Relations and Communications Assistant (Level 4)
Degree and college routes
- Related subject: English
- Related subject: Journalism
- Related subject: Media studies
- Related subject: Communications
Where this career can lead
next
PR Account Manager
next
Senior Communications Executive
next
Head of PR
The good parts and the hard parts
What people enjoy
- Fast-paced, varied client work
- Strong writing and networking skills develop quickly
- Coverage wins are visible and satisfying
What people find hard
- Journalists can be unresponsive despite tight deadlines
- Reputational crises can mean unpredictable hours
Common questions
- Do you need a degree to become a pr account executive?
- No. As well as degree routes, this career can be entered through an apprenticeship or by building experience and qualifications on the job. preferred
- How much does a pr account executive earn in the UK?
- Typical advertised pay runs from £22,000 to £27,000 a year, rising towards £45,000 with experience. Figures are indicative guidance rather than an offer.
- What skills transfer into this career?
- Skills that transfer well include Journalism or student newspaper experience, Public speaking, Networking.
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Where this information comes from
- National Careers Service
- Institute for Apprenticeships
Last reviewed 14 September 2026.
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