pp here again. i just wanted to note that i recently conducted the first round of interviews with candidates for a nonprofit PR job. salaries ran the gamut.

some people with 20+ years made 65k. some with less experience made well over 100k.

there's no across-the-board standard.

if your writing/editing skills are strong, personally, i think you can achieve your target salary.

corporate entities are a given, but if you're interested in nonprofits, there are moneyed nonprofits and there are poor nonprofits. moneyed ones will gladly pay someone with 8-10 yrs of experience $85-100k. but you have to offer more than just online/social.

check out glassdoor.com for salary info at different organizations.

Agree with PPs. I'm in a very senior online communications position at a big company, with almost 20 years of experience. You're a few years away from six figures, and that assumes that you are talented and equipped for a strategic, leadership position.

Nat Geo and Discovery are journalistic, so your retail experience isn't a fit. Everybody wants to work at Nat Geo, they get 100's of applications for positions. Fannie Mae wants folks with financial/real estate/legal experience.

I work for a large non-profit. You won't get more than 50k at my place. Those are pretty low-level jobs, unless you're the VP of Comm, and then you need a lot of connections in the industry and you'll pull in around $150k.

$60s. Maybe $70s.

A lot of the federal consulting companies have communications divisions. You might be able to just hit six figures but I bet you'd be at more like $80-90k. Depends on company size, how badly they need to fill an open position, specific skill sets. A clearance would help bump up the salary a little too.

How do you get a job like this? I've been doing this freelance for years -- does that mean much? I'm making a pittance.

Anonymous wrote:I used to work for one of the companies you describe above, and your salary expectations made me LOL. Their pockets may not be as deep as you think they are. Good luck, though!

What's the highest salary you've heard of?

A lot of the non-profits and professional associations (Nat'l Assoc. of Broadcasters, of Homebuilders, etc.) have communications departments that seem to do what you do. But I'm not sure they'll pay six figures for it.

I used to work for one of the companies you describe above, and your salary expectations made me LOL. Their pockets may not be as deep as you think they are. Good luck, though!

I have 20 years of editorial experience and I'm still somewhat south of six figures. If you go more toward the marketing end of things or work for a defense contractor you might do better. I chose not to go that route.

Anonymous wrote:I think 6 figures is a bit optimistic. Editing/publishing positions do not pay that well.

Yes I agree but she could make that much as an editor if she scores a job with the marketing dept for the online content of a big company.

I think 6 figures is a bit optimistic. Editing/publishing positions do not pay that well.

Just moved to DC an am working as an online editor now for a retailer but not satisfied with the salary. Would like to move on in a year or two if possible. Still getting to know the area. Where are good places to look into with 8+ years of editorial and publishing experience (online social media management too) that's 6 figures? In two more years, I should be able to position into a Director position. I know big companies around are Discovery, Nat Geo, Fannie Mae etc. any other places?