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Chicago public relations firms ranked by O'Dwyer's for 2025 pulled in a total of $223.5M in net fees during 2024.
Edelman, founded in Chicago in 1952, keeps its usual spot at the top, leading all Chicago PR agencies with $98.1M in net fees.
Edelman is the #1 firm in O'Dwyer's overall ranking of top PR firms for 2025.
Technology PR-focused Walker Sands takes second with $32M in net fees.
APCO, headquartered in Washington, DC, rounds out the top three with $28.5M in net fees.
See complete ranking of Chicago public relations firms.
There are 35 PR companies in Chicago listed by O'Dwyer's Directory of PR Firms.
Also see related rankings stories:
- New York PR Firms Dominate O'Dwyer's Ranking of Top PR Firms, Apr. 15
- Top PR Firms in Wash. DC Area Ranked by O'Dwyer's, Apr. 17
- PR Firms Post 1.5% Dip in '24 Income, Apr. 10
O’Dwyer's has been conducting PR firm rankings for 55 years and its name is well known in the business world.
PR firms have distinctive financials, with at least half of income used for staff pay. O'Dwyer's ranking measures counseling and media contact services, not advertising or production expenses.
IPREX names Big Picture PR in San Francisco, Precision Strategies in Washington, D.C., and Tiny Mighty Communications in Nashville as its first Americas Partner Cohort... Highwire launches AcroAnswers, a proprietary AI visibility platform... Big Red Oak and Naer Communications, a Calgary-based firm, form a partnership providing integrated communications and marketing services to clean energy companies and organizations across Canada.
Matter launches its Review Visibility Management service to address a shift in how companies across verticals earn trust online... A Queens school is putting out the message about Sept. 12, 2001 when people came together to help, comfort, rebuild and unite... Directive expands its Directive Communications division, which will bring PR, organic social, influencer marketing and paid social together under one integrated organization.
Praytell expands its Influence Department—which unites media, creators and social under one team... LRJ PR & Communications and Canopy Brand Group form an alliance that the firms say will bridge the operational divide between high-end brand design and strategic public relations... Twin Minds Media, Hispanic market specialist, increases the scope of its services in an effort to help brands build deeper connections with audiences through culture, storytelling, media and experiences. 
The People Platform, part of Stagwell's The Marketing Cloud, rebrands as Numetrix... Zapwater Communications has earned 17 finalist honors across two PR competitions: eight at the 68th Annual Golden Trumpet Awards, presented by the Publicity Club of Chicago, and nine at the 2026 PRSA Chicago Skyline Awards.. The Florida Public Relations Association presented 122 awards to individuals and teams from across the state at its 69th annual Golden Image and 3rd Annual Pinnacle Awards gala.
The Motion Agency acquires Vehr Communications, a Cincinnati-based strategic communications firm, effective Oct. 1... Lyceus Group, which specializes in financial services, is named a finalist for Public Relations Campaign at the 2026 ThinkAdvisor Luminaries Awards... IPSY, a curated beauty membership platform, launches IPSY Marketing Solutions, a full-funnel marketing and sales acceleration engine. 
