Public Relations Specialist salary in Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL
Public Relations Specialists in the Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL metro area earn a median of $57,720 a year ($27.75 an hour), based on BLS data for 340 workers.
Pay ranges from $32,810 for the lowest-paid 10% to $98,160 for the top 10%. That is 23% lower than the national median of $74,750. Pay here is 9% lower than the Florida statewide median of $63,660. There are 1.3 public relations specialists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.71). The average (mean) salary is $64,050, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for public relations specialists in Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $32,810 | $15.78 |
| 25th percentile | $41,640 | $20.02 |
| Median | $57,720 | $27.75 |
| 75th percentile | $79,630 | $38.28 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $98,160 | $47.19 |
| Average (mean) | $64,050 | $30.79 |
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 | $4,810 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,405 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,220 |
| Weekly | $1,110 |
| Hourly | $27.75 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Public Relations Specialist salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Wildwood-The Villages, FL | $71,060 | 40 |
| Naples-Marco Island, FL | $67,780 | 270 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $67,370 | 2,320 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $64,690 | 2,590 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $64,600 | 5,460 |
| Jacksonville, FL | $63,620 | 1,070 |
| Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL | $62,750 | 190 |
| Panama City-Panama City Beach, FL | $62,740 | 90 |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL | $62,400 | 380 |
| Gainesville, FL | $62,050 | 380 |
| Ocala, FL | $61,740 | 180 |
| North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | $60,870 | 450 |
| Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL | $60,820 | 390 |
| Tallahassee, FL | $59,590 | 760 |
| Port St. Lucie, FL | $58,220 | 220 |
| Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL | $56,200 | 260 |
| Punta Gorda, FL | $55,290 | 50 |
| Sebastian-Vero Beach-West Vero Corridor, FL | $53,330 | 50 |
| Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL | $51,080 | 280 |
Highest-paying states for public relations specialists
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $102,740 |
| Washington | $87,470 |
| California | $85,030 |
| Connecticut | $84,990 |
| New York | $81,250 |
| Colorado | $80,680 |
| Virginia | $80,380 |
| New Jersey | $80,130 |
| Massachusetts | $79,660 |
| Maryland | $79,560 |
See Public Relations Specialist pay in every state or the Florida statewide figures.
Related jobs in Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Editor | $80,360 | $38.63 |
| Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers | $35,600 | $17.12 |
| Coaches and Scouts | $43,640 | — |
| Graphic Designer | $56,660 | $27.24 |
| Interior Designer | $55,070 | $26.48 |
| Producers and Directors | $65,210 | $31.35 |
| Audio and Video Technicians | $46,680 | $22.44 |
| Floral Designer | $35,840 | $17.23 |
| Commercial and Industrial Designers | $75,400 | $36.25 |
| Photographer | $47,870 | $23.02 |
| Entertainers and Performers, Sports and Related Workers, All Other | — | $16.28 |
More: Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations · all salaries in Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL
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 Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL?
The median salary for public relations specialists in the Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL metro area is $57,720 a year, or $27.75 an hour. Pay ranges from $32,810 for the lowest-paid 10% to $98,160 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid public relations specialists make in Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL?
The top 10% of public relations specialists in the Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL metro area earn at least $98,160 a year. The top 25% earn $79,630 or more.
What is the starting pay for public relations specialists in Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $32,810 a year, and a quarter of public relations specialists earn $41,640 or less.
How many public relations specialists work in Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL?
About 340 public relations specialists are employed in the Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL metro area, not counting the self-employed.