Public Relations Manager salary in Raleigh-Cary, NC
Public Relations Managers in the Raleigh-Cary, NC metro area earn a median of $131,150 a year ($63.06 an hour), based on BLS data for 350 workers.
Pay ranges from $89,940 for the lowest-paid 10% to $222,800 for the top 10%. That is 11% lower than the national median of $146,910. Pay here is 1% lower than the North Carolina statewide median of $132,280. There are 0.47 public relations managers per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $147,340, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for public relations managers in Raleigh-Cary, NC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $89,940 | $43.24 |
| 25th percentile | $107,380 | $51.63 |
| Median | $131,150 | $63.06 |
| 75th percentile | $170,710 | $82.07 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $222,800 | $107.12 |
| Average (mean) | $147,340 | $70.84 |
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 | $10,929.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,464.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $5,044.23 |
| Weekly | $2,522.12 |
| Hourly | $63.06 |
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 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $137,870 | 220 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $136,490 | 70 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $134,990 | 430 |
| 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 Raleigh-Cary, NC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Sales Manager | $163,520 | $78.62 |
| Marketing Manager | $167,640 | $80.60 |
| Fundraising Manager | $129,870 | $62.44 |
| Advertising and Promotions Managers | $121,730 | $58.52 |
| General and Operations Managers | $114,940 | $55.26 |
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | $173,960 | $83.63 |
| Managers, All Other | $147,370 | $70.85 |
| Financial Manager | $163,130 | $78.43 |
| Construction Manager | $119,700 | $57.55 |
| Medical and Health Services Managers | $113,710 | $54.67 |
| Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary | $98,680 | — |
| Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers | $66,700 | $32.07 |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | $169,780 | $81.62 |
| Food Service Manager | $76,160 | $36.62 |
More: Management Occupations · all salaries in Raleigh-Cary, 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 Raleigh-Cary, NC?
The median salary for public relations managers in the Raleigh-Cary, NC metro area is $131,150 a year, or $63.06 an hour. Pay ranges from $89,940 for the lowest-paid 10% to $222,800 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid public relations managers make in Raleigh-Cary, NC?
The top 10% of public relations managers in the Raleigh-Cary, NC metro area earn at least $222,800 a year. The top 25% earn $170,710 or more.
What is the starting pay for public relations managers in Raleigh-Cary, NC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $89,940 a year, and a quarter of public relations managers earn $107,380 or less.
How many public relations managers work in Raleigh-Cary, NC?
About 350 public relations managers are employed in the Raleigh-Cary, NC metro area, not counting the self-employed.