Public Affairs Specialist Salaries in Canada

The average salary for a Public Affairs Specialist is $92,096 per year in Canada. Salaries estimates are based on 10 salaries submitted anonymously to Glassdoor by a Public Affairs Specialist employees in Canada.

The highest salary for a Public Affairs Specialist in Canada is $121,309 per year.

The lowest salary for a Public Affairs Specialist in Canada is $69,917 per year.

Salaries for public affairs specialists are comparable to other communications positions. The growth this sector is experiencing is due to the explosion of social media users and influencers. Candidates can raise their earnings by networking, becoming affluent with all social media platforms, working for more popular brands, and advancing their role to supervisor or manager. The average wage for public affairs specialists ranges drastically Canada-wide, with some earning well above the six-figure mark and others earning slightly below. However, wages are highly dependent on experience and qualifications.

To make more money as a public affairs specialist in Canada, you should earn specialty certifications like government relations, grassroots management, or public affairs management. A college diploma or bachelor’s degree in journalism, communications, public relations, business marketing, museology, or a related field can open more opportunities for higher pay. You can also increase your salary by earning a graduate’s or master’s degree in government relations, life sciences, political science, public affairs, or a related area. Preparing for a leadership role in public affairs management or director of public affairs will add to your list of responsibilities but also build a bigger paycheque. You might even consider advancing your career to include professional administration, lobbying, or policy. You can also enhance in-demand soft skills like creativity, honesty, attention to detail, communication, and understanding of social media.

Looking to negotiate a higher salary in your public affairs specialist position? Which of your on-the-job skills bring the most value to the company? Are you responsible for maintaining project timelines and managing global submissions? Do you help resolve quality and/or regulatory non-compliances and issues? Do your exceptional communication skills enable you to interact with various levels of external agencies, management, and companies? Do you consistently promote a positive, safe public image within your community? Use specific examples when highlighting your skills and experience. You should also research local public affairs specialist positions to see what other employers pay so you can use that in your negotiation. If you have impressive qualifications, asking for up to 20% more than your current salary or average market rate is not unreasonable.

About 72.82% of Public Affairs Specialist professionals feel satisfied with their salary, according to anonymous Glassdoor ratings. An additional $0 in potential pay per year, among other factors, can qualify the annual pay of a Public Affairs Specialist in Canada as a good salary.

Public Affairs Specialist professionals in Canada have a wide total pay range, between $54,574 and $155,416 depending on experience, with an estimated total pay of $92,096 following the average career path of a Public Affairs Specialist.