Public Relations Manager salary in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
Public Relations Managers in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area earn a median of $137,870 a year ($66.28 an hour), based on BLS data for 220 workers.
Pay ranges from $80,430 for the lowest-paid 10% to $239,580 for the top 10%. That is 6% lower than the national median of $146,910. Pay here is 4% higher than the North Carolina statewide median of $132,280. There are 0.64 public relations managers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.3× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $156,000, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for public relations managers in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $80,430 | $38.67 |
| 25th percentile | $104,720 | $50.35 |
| Median | $137,870 | $66.28 |
| 75th percentile | $186,780 | $89.80 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $239,580 | $115.18 |
| Average (mean) | $156,000 | $75.00 |
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 | $11,489.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,744.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $5,302.69 |
| Weekly | $2,651.35 |
| Hourly | $66.28 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Public Relations Manager salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $152,990 | 200 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $140,680 | 100 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $136,490 | 70 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $134,990 | 430 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $131,150 | 350 |
| Wilmington, NC | $124,280 | 30 |
| Asheville, NC | $103,440 | 50 |
Highest-paying states for public relations managers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $197,600 |
| New York | $180,880 |
| Virginia | $176,340 |
| New Jersey | $174,980 |
| Massachusetts | $171,740 |
| California | $167,980 |
| Maine | $166,940 |
| Colorado | $162,870 |
| Washington | $159,440 |
| Rhode Island | $156,080 |
See Public Relations Manager pay in every state or the North Carolina statewide figures.
Related jobs in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Marketing Manager | $175,160 | $84.21 |
| Sales Manager | $190,370 | $91.52 |
| Fundraising Manager | $128,810 | $61.93 |
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | $176,190 | $84.71 |
| General and Operations Managers | $113,930 | $54.77 |
| Managers, All Other | $152,090 | $73.12 |
| Natural Sciences Manager | $183,540 | $88.24 |
| Medical and Health Services Managers | $133,970 | $64.41 |
| Financial Manager | $165,470 | $79.55 |
| Administrative Services Manager | $107,720 | $51.79 |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | $172,480 | $82.92 |
| Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers | $61,010 | $29.33 |
| Construction Manager | $119,980 | $57.68 |
| Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary | $89,750 | — |
More: Management Occupations · all salaries in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
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 Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
The median salary for public relations managers in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area is $137,870 a year, or $66.28 an hour. Pay ranges from $80,430 for the lowest-paid 10% to $239,580 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid public relations managers make in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
The top 10% of public relations managers in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area earn at least $239,580 a year. The top 25% earn $186,780 or more.
What is the starting pay for public relations managers in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $80,430 a year, and a quarter of public relations managers earn $104,720 or less.
How many public relations managers work in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
About 220 public relations managers are employed in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area, not counting the self-employed.