Public Relations Manager salary in Madison, WI
Public Relations Managers in the Madison, WI metro area earn a median of $117,120 a year ($56.31 an hour), based on BLS data for 270 workers.
Pay ranges from $81,510 for the lowest-paid 10% to $192,420 for the top 10%. That is 20% lower than the national median of $146,910. Pay here is 3% higher than the Wisconsin statewide median of $113,980. There are 0.66 public relations managers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.4× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $132,250, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for public relations managers in Madison, WI
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $81,510 | $39.19 |
| 25th percentile | $100,070 | $48.11 |
| Median | $117,120 | $56.31 |
| 75th percentile | $148,080 | $71.19 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $192,420 | $92.51 |
| Average (mean) | $132,250 | $63.58 |
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 | $9,760 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,880 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,504.62 |
| Weekly | $2,252.31 |
| Hourly | $56.31 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $141,360 | 990 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $119,340 | 400 |
| Green Bay, WI | $110,960 | 40 |
| Duluth, MN-WI | $106,230 | 40 |
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 Wisconsin statewide figures.
Related jobs in Madison, WI
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Sales Manager | $146,380 | $70.37 |
| Marketing Manager | $138,270 | $66.48 |
| Fundraising Manager | $124,840 | $60.02 |
| General and Operations Managers | $126,620 | $60.88 |
| Managers, All Other | $129,330 | $62.18 |
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | $168,900 | $81.20 |
| Financial Manager | $148,970 | $71.62 |
| Industrial Production Manager | $127,020 | $61.07 |
| Administrative Services Manager | $112,280 | $53.98 |
| Medical and Health Services Managers | $131,640 | $63.29 |
| Chief Executive | $217,010 | $104.33 |
| Construction Manager | $119,840 | $57.62 |
| Food Service Manager | $63,180 | $30.38 |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | $160,700 | $77.26 |
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 Madison, WI?
The median salary for public relations managers in the Madison, WI metro area is $117,120 a year, or $56.31 an hour. Pay ranges from $81,510 for the lowest-paid 10% to $192,420 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid public relations managers make in Madison, WI?
The top 10% of public relations managers in the Madison, WI metro area earn at least $192,420 a year. The top 25% earn $148,080 or more.
What is the starting pay for public relations managers in Madison, WI?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $81,510 a year, and a quarter of public relations managers earn $100,070 or less.
How many public relations managers work in Madison, WI?
About 270 public relations managers are employed in the Madison, WI metro area, not counting the self-employed.