Public Relations Manager salary in Wilmington, NC
Public Relations Managers in the Wilmington, NC metro area earn a median of $124,280 a year ($59.75 an hour), based on BLS data for 30 workers.
Pay ranges from $79,320 for the lowest-paid 10% to $199,090 for the top 10%. That is 15% lower than the national median of $146,910. Pay here is 6% lower than the North Carolina statewide median of $132,280. There are 0.16 public relations managers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.34). The average (mean) salary is $134,330, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for public relations managers in Wilmington, NC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $79,320 | $38.14 |
| 25th percentile | $99,840 | $48.00 |
| Median | $124,280 | $59.75 |
| 75th percentile | $159,150 | $76.51 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $199,090 | $95.71 |
| Average (mean) | $134,330 | $64.58 |
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 | $10,356.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,178.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,780 |
| Weekly | $2,390 |
| Hourly | $59.75 |
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 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $131,150 | 350 |
| 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 Wilmington, NC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Sales Manager | $133,400 | $64.14 |
| Marketing Manager | $153,860 | $73.97 |
| General and Operations Managers | $90,270 | $43.40 |
| Construction Manager | $103,810 | $49.91 |
| Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers | $59,010 | $28.37 |
| Managers, All Other | $129,120 | $62.08 |
| Financial Manager | $152,150 | $73.15 |
| Food Service Manager | $71,710 | $34.48 |
| Medical and Health Services Managers | $106,630 | $51.27 |
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | $160,980 | $77.40 |
| Natural Sciences Manager | $166,910 | $80.24 |
| Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary | $82,930 | — |
| Industrial Production Manager | $130,690 | $62.83 |
| Education Administrators, Postsecondary | $103,000 | $49.52 |
More: Management Occupations · all salaries in Wilmington, 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 Wilmington, NC?
The median salary for public relations managers in the Wilmington, NC metro area is $124,280 a year, or $59.75 an hour. Pay ranges from $79,320 for the lowest-paid 10% to $199,090 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid public relations managers make in Wilmington, NC?
The top 10% of public relations managers in the Wilmington, NC metro area earn at least $199,090 a year. The top 25% earn $159,150 or more.
What is the starting pay for public relations managers in Wilmington, NC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $79,320 a year, and a quarter of public relations managers earn $99,840 or less.
How many public relations managers work in Wilmington, NC?
About 30 public relations managers are employed in the Wilmington, NC metro area, not counting the self-employed.