Public Relations Specialist salary in New York
Public Relations Specialists in New York earn a median of $81,250 a year ($39.06 an hour), based on BLS data for 28,250 workers.
Pay ranges from $51,730 for the lowest-paid 10% to $157,610 for the top 10%. That is 9% higher than the national median of $74,750. New York ranks 5th of 51 states for public relations specialists pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 2.9 public relations specialists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.6× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $95,760, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for public relations specialists in New York
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $51,730 | $24.87 |
| 25th percentile | $63,420 | $30.49 |
| Median | $81,250 | $39.06 |
| 75th percentile | $107,920 | $51.89 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $157,610 | $75.78 |
| Average (mean) | $95,760 | $46.04 |
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 | $6,770.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,385.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,125 |
| Weekly | $1,562.50 |
| Hourly | $39.06 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Public Relations Specialist salary in cities in New York
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $84,130 | 24,820 |
| Watertown-Fort Drum, NY | $74,390 | 40 |
| Elmira, NY | $72,630 | 40 |
| Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | $72,390 | 480 |
| Rochester, NY | $71,740 | 880 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $69,380 | 820 |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $68,240 | 1,580 |
| Ithaca, NY | $67,260 | 170 |
| Glens Falls, NY | $67,230 | 70 |
| Kingston, NY | $67,230 | 100 |
| Utica-Rome, NY | $64,330 | 160 |
| Syracuse, NY | $64,110 | 600 |
| Binghamton, NY | $63,930 | 140 |
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 |
Related jobs in New York
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Editor | $101,480 | $48.79 |
| News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists | $100,770 | $48.45 |
| Interpreters and Translators | $84,090 | $40.43 |
| Technical Writer | $98,310 | $47.26 |
| Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys | $81,310 | $39.09 |
| Court Reporters and Simultaneous Captioners | $101,990 | $49.03 |
| Media and Communication Workers, All Other | $81,110 | $39.00 |
| Producers and Directors | $107,550 | $51.71 |
| Graphic Designer | $77,340 | $37.19 |
| Coaches and Scouts | $59,920 | — |
| Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers | $43,660 | $20.99 |
| Art Director | $137,320 | $66.02 |
| Audio and Video Technicians | $67,600 | $32.50 |
| Actor | — | $28.44 |
More: Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations · all salaries in New York
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 New York?
The median salary for public relations specialists in New York is $81,250 a year, or $39.06 an hour. Pay ranges from $51,730 for the lowest-paid 10% to $157,610 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid public relations specialists make in New York?
The top 10% of public relations specialists in New York earn at least $157,610 a year. The top 25% earn $107,920 or more.
What is the starting pay for public relations specialists in New York?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $51,730 a year, and a quarter of public relations specialists earn $63,420 or less.
How many public relations specialists work in New York?
About 28,250 public relations specialists are employed in New York, not counting the self-employed.