Public Relations Manager salary in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
Public Relations Managers in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area earn a median of $166,590 a year ($80.09 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,110 workers.
Pay ranges from $107,650 for the lowest-paid 10% to $273,070 for the top 10%. That is 13% higher than the national median of $146,910. Pay here is 4% higher than the Washington statewide median of $159,440. There are 0.53 public relations managers per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $177,510, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for public relations managers in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $107,650 | $51.75 |
| 25th percentile | $131,030 | $63.00 |
| Median | $166,590 | $80.09 |
| 75th percentile | $211,770 | $101.81 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $273,070 | $131.29 |
| Average (mean) | $177,510 | $85.34 |
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 | $13,882.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $6,941.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $6,407.31 |
| Weekly | $3,203.65 |
| Hourly | $80.09 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $148,090 | 150 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $140,110 | 1,020 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $137,240 | 80 |
| Bellingham, WA | $128,370 | 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 Washington statewide figures.
Related jobs in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Marketing Manager | $175,850 | $84.55 |
| Sales Manager | $184,320 | $88.61 |
| Fundraising Manager | $151,490 | $72.83 |
| Advertising and Promotions Managers | $163,380 | $78.55 |
| General and Operations Managers | $146,030 | $70.21 |
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | $214,680 | $103.21 |
| Financial Manager | $185,550 | $89.21 |
| Managers, All Other | $168,980 | $81.24 |
| Medical and Health Services Managers | $160,100 | $76.97 |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | $204,340 | $98.24 |
| Construction Manager | $159,430 | $76.65 |
| Industrial Production Manager | $151,580 | $72.88 |
| Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary | $174,260 | — |
| Human Resources Manager | $171,360 | $82.39 |
More: Management Occupations · all salaries in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
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 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA?
The median salary for public relations managers in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area is $166,590 a year, or $80.09 an hour. Pay ranges from $107,650 for the lowest-paid 10% to $273,070 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid public relations managers make in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA?
The top 10% of public relations managers in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area earn at least $273,070 a year. The top 25% earn $211,770 or more.
What is the starting pay for public relations managers in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $107,650 a year, and a quarter of public relations managers earn $131,030 or less.
How many public relations managers work in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA?
About 1,110 public relations managers are employed in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area, not counting the self-employed.