Public Relations Specialist salary in the U.S.
Public Relations Specialists in the U.S. earn a median of $74,750 a year ($35.94 an hour), based on BLS data for 283,380 workers.
Pay ranges from $44,110 for the lowest-paid 10% to $135,150 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $84,120, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for public relations specialists in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $44,110 | $21.21 |
| 25th percentile | $56,260 | $27.05 |
| Median | $74,750 | $35.94 |
| 75th percentile | $100,370 | $48.25 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $135,150 | $64.98 |
| Average (mean) | $84,120 | $40.44 |
Half of public relations specialists 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 | $6,229.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,114.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,875 |
| Weekly | $1,437.50 |
| Hourly | $35.94 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Public Relations Specialist salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $102,740 | 16,720 |
| Washington | $87,470 | 6,430 |
| California | $85,030 | 32,710 |
| Connecticut | $84,990 | 1,910 |
| New York | $81,250 | 28,250 |
| Colorado | $80,680 | 7,410 |
| Virginia | $80,380 | 9,990 |
| New Jersey | $80,130 | 4,980 |
| Massachusetts | $79,660 | 6,760 |
| Maryland | $79,560 | 4,190 |
| Rhode Island | $77,540 | 1,140 |
| Illinois | $76,380 | 6,200 |
| Delaware | $76,120 | 930 |
| Oregon | $74,900 | 4,510 |
| Nevada | $73,840 | 1,600 |
| New Hampshire | $73,280 | 1,140 |
| Georgia | $73,200 | 6,860 |
| North Dakota | $70,280 | 640 |
| Alaska | $70,050 | 640 |
| New Mexico | $68,700 | 1,130 |
| Minnesota | $68,620 | 8,260 |
| Wyoming | $67,490 | 480 |
| Wisconsin | $67,240 | 4,410 |
| North Carolina | $67,230 | 9,910 |
| Arizona | $66,710 | 5,350 |
| Vermont | $66,060 | 1,260 |
| Michigan | $65,300 | 7,510 |
| Texas | $65,160 | 25,220 |
| Arkansas | $65,000 | 980 |
| Oklahoma | $64,920 | 2,280 |
| Indiana | $64,900 | 3,750 |
| Kansas | $64,860 | 2,340 |
| Ohio | $64,840 | 6,670 |
| South Dakota | $64,520 | 210 |
| Hawaii | $63,880 | 1,800 |
| Montana | $63,780 | 1,760 |
| Florida | $63,660 | 17,820 |
| Iowa | $62,970 | 2,890 |
| South Carolina | $62,730 | 2,950 |
| Utah | $62,670 | 1,800 |
| Maine | $62,450 | 1,400 |
| Nebraska | $61,780 | 1,590 |
| Alabama | $61,710 | 2,410 |
| Missouri | $61,130 | 4,820 |
| Idaho | $61,110 | 1,220 |
| Tennessee | $60,900 | 3,380 |
| Louisiana | $60,470 | 1,710 |
| Kentucky | $60,150 | 2,580 |
| Virgin Islands | $59,990 | 60 |
| Mississippi | $59,810 | 950 |
| Pennsylvania | $57,460 | 11,180 |
| West Virginia | $56,730 | 350 |
| Guam | $48,460 | n/a |
| Puerto Rico | $44,950 | 520 |
Best-paying metro areas for public relations specialists
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $117,620 | 2,200 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | $103,030 | 200 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $102,520 | 6,290 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $101,680 | 22,810 |
| Lexington Park, MD | $99,960 | 60 |
| Napa, CA | $98,190 | 80 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $96,000 | 3,980 |
| El Centro, CA | $93,100 | 40 |
| Bloomington, IL | $91,630 | 110 |
| New Haven, CT | $91,530 | 420 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $89,640 | 2,620 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $87,830 | 710 |
| Salem, OR | $87,740 | 450 |
| Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR | $85,650 | 370 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $84,990 | 450 |
Metro areas with the most public relations specialists
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 24,820 | $84,130 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 22,810 | $101,680 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 11,910 | $79,860 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 7,300 | $69,280 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 6,290 | $102,520 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 6,170 | $73,780 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 5,460 | $64,600 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 5,380 | $81,440 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 5,220 | $64,550 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 5,160 | $68,320 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 4,920 | $77,050 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 4,750 | $78,920 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 4,560 | $82,930 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | 4,170 | $69,470 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 3,980 | $96,000 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Editor | $77,920 | $37.46 |
| Interpreters and Translators | $60,170 | $28.93 |
| Writers and Authors | $76,910 | $36.98 |
| Technical Writer | $90,390 | $43.46 |
| News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists | $62,200 | $29.91 |
| Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys | $47,340 | $22.76 |
| Media and Communication Workers, All Other | $73,620 | $35.39 |
| Court Reporters and Simultaneous Captioners | $72,420 | $34.82 |
| Coaches and Scouts | $47,320 | — |
| Graphic Designer | $62,960 | $30.27 |
| Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers | $39,390 | $18.94 |
| Producers and Directors | $90,360 | $43.44 |
| Interior Designer | $67,190 | $32.31 |
| Audio and Video Technicians | $58,100 | $27.93 |
More: Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 27-3031. 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 specialist make in the U.S.?
The median salary for public relations specialists in the U.S. is $74,750 a year, or $35.94 an hour. Pay ranges from $44,110 for the lowest-paid 10% to $135,150 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid public relations specialists make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of public relations specialists in the U.S. earn at least $135,150 a year. The top 25% earn $100,370 or more.
What is the starting pay for public relations specialists in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $44,110 a year, and a quarter of public relations specialists earn $56,260 or less.
How many public relations specialists work in the U.S.?
About 283,380 public relations specialists are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.