Public Relations Specialist salary in St. Louis, MO-IL
Public Relations Specialists in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area earn a median of $65,170 a year ($31.33 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,990 workers.
Pay ranges from $43,640 for the lowest-paid 10% to $107,990 for the top 10%. That is 13% lower than the national median of $74,750. Pay here is 7% higher than the Missouri statewide median of $61,130. There are 1.5 public relations specialists per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $73,160, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for public relations specialists in St. Louis, MO-IL
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $43,640 | $20.98 |
| 25th percentile | $51,770 | $24.89 |
| Median | $65,170 | $31.33 |
| 75th percentile | $83,150 | $39.98 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $107,990 | $51.92 |
| Average (mean) | $73,160 | $35.17 |
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 | $5,430.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,715.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,506.54 |
| Weekly | $1,253.27 |
| Hourly | $31.33 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Bloomington, IL | $91,630 | 110 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $77,050 | 4,920 |
| Peoria, IL | $76,150 | 90 |
| Springfield, IL | $71,110 | 110 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | $68,050 | 1,950 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $67,130 | 200 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $62,880 | 220 |
| Rockford, IL | $62,500 | 70 |
| Decatur, IL | $59,840 | 30 |
| Jefferson City, MO | $59,570 | 250 |
| St. Joseph, MO-KS | $56,480 | 40 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $54,210 | 30 |
| Springfield, MO | $52,990 | 290 |
| Joplin, MO-KS | $52,090 | 90 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $50,500 | 50 |
| Columbia, MO | $47,700 | 540 |
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 Missouri statewide figures.
Related jobs in St. Louis, MO-IL
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Editor | $69,990 | $33.65 |
| Writers and Authors | $57,390 | $27.59 |
| Technical Writer | $80,840 | $38.86 |
| Interpreters and Translators | $57,480 | $27.64 |
| Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys | $52,460 | $25.22 |
| News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists | $49,920 | $24.00 |
| Court Reporters and Simultaneous Captioners | $76,310 | $36.69 |
| Coaches and Scouts | $37,970 | — |
| Graphic Designer | $61,000 | $29.33 |
| Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers | $48,020 | $23.09 |
| Audio and Video Technicians | $52,030 | $25.01 |
| Producers and Directors | $82,750 | $39.78 |
| Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials | $34,360 | — |
| Interior Designer | $61,570 | $29.60 |
More: Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations · all salaries in St. Louis, MO-IL
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 St. Louis, MO-IL?
The median salary for public relations specialists in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area is $65,170 a year, or $31.33 an hour. Pay ranges from $43,640 for the lowest-paid 10% to $107,990 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid public relations specialists make in St. Louis, MO-IL?
The top 10% of public relations specialists in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area earn at least $107,990 a year. The top 25% earn $83,150 or more.
What is the starting pay for public relations specialists in St. Louis, MO-IL?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $43,640 a year, and a quarter of public relations specialists earn $51,770 or less.
How many public relations specialists work in St. Louis, MO-IL?
About 1,990 public relations specialists are employed in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area, not counting the self-employed.