Public Relations Manager salary in the U.S.
Public Relations Managers in the U.S. earn a median of $146,910 a year ($70.63 an hour), based on BLS data for 74,850 workers.
Pay ranges from $82,410 for the lowest-paid 10% to $284,990 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $164,760, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for public relations managers in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $82,410 | $39.62 |
| 25th percentile | $106,580 | $51.24 |
| Median | $146,910 | $70.63 |
| 75th percentile | $204,520 | $98.33 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $284,990 | $137.01 |
| Average (mean) | $164,760 | $79.21 |
Half of public relations managers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $12,242.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $6,121.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $5,650.38 |
| Weekly | $2,825.19 |
| Hourly | $70.63 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Public Relations Manager salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $197,600 | 7,410 |
| New York | $180,880 | 7,710 |
| Virginia | $176,340 | 2,610 |
| New Jersey | $174,980 | 2,420 |
| Massachusetts | $171,740 | 2,170 |
| California | $167,980 | 9,400 |
| Maine | $166,940 | n/a |
| Colorado | $162,870 | n/a |
| Washington | $159,440 | 1,610 |
| Rhode Island | $156,080 | 210 |
| Connecticut | $154,210 | 890 |
| Delaware | $153,010 | 170 |
| Maryland | $149,380 | 1,530 |
| Minnesota | $139,040 | 1,230 |
| Georgia | $134,500 | 1,540 |
| Utah | $132,670 | 580 |
| New Hampshire | $132,660 | 330 |
| North Carolina | $132,280 | 1,510 |
| Illinois | $131,990 | 2,770 |
| Oregon | $131,190 | 1,410 |
| Kansas | $129,760 | 300 |
| Florida | $127,550 | 2,990 |
| Tennessee | $127,390 | 700 |
| Texas | $126,670 | 8,190 |
| Alaska | $120,920 | 380 |
| Iowa | $120,730 | 630 |
| Ohio | $118,670 | 1,400 |
| Pennsylvania | $118,050 | 2,210 |
| Michigan | $117,900 | 1,720 |
| New Mexico | $115,260 | 250 |
| Indiana | $114,960 | 600 |
| Missouri | $114,710 | 760 |
| Arizona | $114,400 | 1,170 |
| Nevada | $114,130 | 450 |
| North Dakota | $114,110 | 130 |
| Wisconsin | $113,980 | 1,010 |
| Kentucky | $112,320 | 510 |
| Hawaii | $105,010 | 390 |
| South Carolina | $104,920 | 650 |
| Nebraska | $104,440 | 330 |
| Arkansas | $104,170 | 340 |
| Montana | $99,990 | 180 |
| Alabama | $98,210 | 540 |
| Idaho | $98,160 | n/a |
| Mississippi | $97,160 | 170 |
| Oklahoma | $96,030 | 490 |
| Louisiana | $94,380 | 320 |
| West Virginia | $82,380 | 70 |
| Puerto Rico | $72,290 | 220 |
Best-paying metro areas for public relations managers
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $213,510 | 980 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $195,190 | 9,470 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $192,720 | 1,880 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $192,360 | 7,940 |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $179,330 | 430 |
| Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR | $177,370 | 190 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $176,390 | 1,810 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $174,990 | 330 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $174,260 | n/a |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $166,590 | 1,110 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $163,830 | 3,610 |
| Midland, TX | $163,180 | 50 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $161,320 | 460 |
| Richmond, VA | $160,540 | 380 |
| Greeley, CO | $159,900 | 30 |
Metro areas with the most public relations managers
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 9,470 | $195,190 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 7,940 | $192,360 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 3,610 | $163,830 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 2,850 | $130,950 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 2,190 | $133,210 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 1,880 | $192,720 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 1,810 | $176,390 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 1,790 | $130,530 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 1,310 | $129,280 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 1,220 | $136,490 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | 1,130 | $130,770 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 1,110 | $166,590 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 1,020 | $140,110 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 1,010 | $129,830 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 990 | $141,360 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Sales Manager | $148,270 | $71.28 |
| Marketing Manager | $166,790 | $80.19 |
| Fundraising Manager | $125,470 | $60.32 |
| Advertising and Promotions Managers | $133,660 | $64.26 |
| General and Operations Managers | $105,770 | $50.85 |
| Financial Manager | $166,570 | $80.08 |
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | $175,140 | $84.20 |
| Managers, All Other | $141,900 | $68.22 |
| Medical and Health Services Managers | $123,860 | $59.55 |
| Construction Manager | $114,990 | $55.28 |
| Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary | $105,870 | — |
| Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers | $69,990 | $33.65 |
| Administrative Services Manager | $114,130 | $54.87 |
| Industrial Production Manager | $126,060 | $60.61 |
More: Management Occupations
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 11-2032. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a public relations manager make in the U.S.?
The median salary for public relations managers in the U.S. is $146,910 a year, or $70.63 an hour. Pay ranges from $82,410 for the lowest-paid 10% to $284,990 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid public relations managers make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of public relations managers in the U.S. earn at least $284,990 a year. The top 25% earn $204,520 or more.
What is the starting pay for public relations managers in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $82,410 a year, and a quarter of public relations managers earn $106,580 or less.
How many public relations managers work in the U.S.?
About 74,850 public relations managers are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.