Public Relations Manager salary in Virginia
Public Relations Managers in Virginia earn a median of $176,340 a year ($84.78 an hour), based on BLS data for 2,610 workers.
Pay ranges from $106,880 for the lowest-paid 10% to $312,040 for the top 10%. That is 20% higher than the national median of $146,910. Virginia ranks 3rd of 48 states for public relations managers pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. 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 $192,100, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for public relations managers in Virginia
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $106,880 | $51.39 |
| 25th percentile | $132,210 | $63.56 |
| Median | $176,340 | $84.78 |
| 75th percentile | $234,080 | $112.54 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $312,040 | $150.02 |
| Average (mean) | $192,100 | $92.36 |
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 | $14,695 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $7,347.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $6,782.31 |
| Weekly | $3,391.15 |
| Hourly | $84.78 |
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 Virginia
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $195,190 | 9,470 |
| Richmond, VA | $160,540 | 380 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $152,990 | 200 |
| Charlottesville, VA | $140,170 | 140 |
| Roanoke, VA | $134,320 | 40 |
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | $106,880 | 60 |
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 Virginia
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Sales Manager | $191,130 | $91.89 |
| Marketing Manager | $187,820 | $90.30 |
| Fundraising Manager | $143,730 | $69.10 |
| Advertising and Promotions Managers | $148,400 | $71.35 |
| General and Operations Managers | $122,080 | $58.69 |
| Managers, All Other | $166,230 | $79.92 |
| Financial Manager | $185,220 | $89.05 |
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | $201,490 | $96.87 |
| Medical and Health Services Managers | $129,270 | $62.15 |
| Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary | $106,100 | — |
| Construction Manager | $119,110 | $57.26 |
| Human Resources Manager | $165,980 | $79.80 |
| Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers | $79,810 | $38.37 |
| Chief Executive | $310,740 | $149.40 |
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 Virginia?
The median salary for public relations managers in Virginia is $176,340 a year, or $84.78 an hour. Pay ranges from $106,880 for the lowest-paid 10% to $312,040 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid public relations managers make in Virginia?
The top 10% of public relations managers in Virginia earn at least $312,040 a year. The top 25% earn $234,080 or more.
What is the starting pay for public relations managers in Virginia?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $106,880 a year, and a quarter of public relations managers earn $132,210 or less.
How many public relations managers work in Virginia?
About 2,610 public relations managers are employed in Virginia, not counting the self-employed.