Public Relations Manager salary in North Carolina
Public Relations Managers in North Carolina earn a median of $132,280 a year ($63.60 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,510 workers.
Pay ranges from $79,320 for the lowest-paid 10% to $229,270 for the top 10%. That is 10% lower than the national median of $146,910. North Carolina ranks 18th of 48 states for public relations managers pay. There are 0.30 public relations managers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.63). The average (mean) salary is $146,900, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for public relations managers in North Carolina
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $79,320 | $38.14 |
| 25th percentile | $103,700 | $49.86 |
| Median | $132,280 | $63.60 |
| 75th percentile | $173,020 | $83.19 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $229,270 | $110.23 |
| Average (mean) | $146,900 | $70.62 |
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 | $11,023.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,511.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $5,087.69 |
| Weekly | $2,543.85 |
| Hourly | $63.60 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Public Relations Manager salary in cities in North Carolina
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $152,990 | 200 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $140,680 | 100 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $137,870 | 220 |
| 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 |
Related jobs in North Carolina
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Sales Manager | $150,470 | $72.34 |
| Marketing Manager | $165,480 | $79.56 |
| Fundraising Manager | $125,870 | $60.51 |
| Advertising and Promotions Managers | $121,730 | $58.52 |
| General and Operations Managers | $101,950 | $49.01 |
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | $172,860 | $83.11 |
| Financial Manager | $166,780 | $80.18 |
| Managers, All Other | $141,160 | $67.87 |
| Construction Manager | $106,640 | $51.27 |
| Medical and Health Services Managers | $114,410 | $55.01 |
| Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary | $83,180 | — |
| Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers | $61,430 | $29.54 |
| Industrial Production Manager | $125,940 | $60.55 |
| Food Service Manager | $74,080 | $35.62 |
More: Management Occupations · all salaries in North Carolina
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 North Carolina?
The median salary for public relations managers in North Carolina is $132,280 a year, or $63.60 an hour. Pay ranges from $79,320 for the lowest-paid 10% to $229,270 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid public relations managers make in North Carolina?
The top 10% of public relations managers in North Carolina earn at least $229,270 a year. The top 25% earn $173,020 or more.
What is the starting pay for public relations managers in North Carolina?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $79,320 a year, and a quarter of public relations managers earn $103,700 or less.
How many public relations managers work in North Carolina?
About 1,510 public relations managers are employed in North Carolina, not counting the self-employed.