This study, designed within a structural-functional framework, assesses the level of job satisfaction among public relations practitioners. Eighty-seven practitioners from 48 organizations representing each of four structural types were selected for the purposive sample. Findings confirmed the hypotheses that public relations practitioners in large-scale organizations would be most satisfied because of the autonomy, variety of tasks, and upward mobility they can experience there. However, half of all respondents indicated only a moderate level of job satisfaction. Causes of dissatisfaction include small budgets, being stuck in a dead-end job, dull work, too much work, low prestige, unsupportive bosses, low pay, lack of input into the decision process, and sexism. Recommendations include decentralizing and destratifying the public relations operation but formalizing it to the extent that practitioners are more comfortable with the expectations of top management. Practitioners themselves need to enhance their own capabilities to assume a challenging managerial role.
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