Public Relations Manager Salary
Public Relations Managers earn a median $146,910 a year nationally. Management Occupations
U.S. median
$146,910
$70.63 per hour
Range
$82,410 – $239,200+
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
74,850
across the U.S.
▲6.1%
Pay trend: The median for public relations managers in the U.S. rose from $138,520 (May 2024) to $146,910 (May 2025). That beat inflation (2.4%), a real raise of about 3.7%.
What public relations managers do
Plan, direct, or coordinate activities designed to create or maintain a favorable public image or raise issue awareness for their organization or client.
- Typical education
- Bachelor's degree
- Work experience
- 5 years or more
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +5.7% (faster than average)
- Openings per year
- 6,100
Employment of public relations managers is projected to grow 5.7% from 2025 to 2035, faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 6,100 openings are expected each year, on average, including jobs left by workers who retire or switch careers.
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Public Relations Manager take-home pay calculator
Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.
Your take-home pay
$111,679
per year · effective tax rate 24.0%
$9,307Monthly
$4,653Twice a month
$4,295Every 2 weeks
$53.69Hourly
- Federal income tax$23,992
- Social Security (6.2%)$9,108
- Medicare (1.45%)$2,130
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$111,679
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 0.00% state
Pay by experience
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home (no state tax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $82,410 | $39.62 | $66,805 |
| 25th percentile | $106,580 | $51.24 | $83,809 |
| Median (50th) | $146,910 | $70.63 | $111,679 |
| 75th percentile | $204,520 | $98.33 | $152,256 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $284,990+ | $137.01 | $205,773 |
Best cities for public relations managers (after tax & cost of living)
| # | Metro area | Median | Take-home | Real value* | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington, DC | $195,190 | $131,718 | $120,971 | 9,470 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $192,360 | $132,922 | $118,087 | 7,940 |
| 3 | Dallas, TX | $130,950 | $100,770 | $97,750 | 2,850 |
| 4 | Los Angeles, CA | $163,830 | $110,107 | $96,955 | 3,610 |
*Take-home pay in U.S.-average dollars (BEA Regional Price Parities).
Highest-paying cities
- Washington, DC — $195,190
- New York, NY — $192,360
- Los Angeles, CA — $163,830
- Dallas, TX — $130,950
Public Relations Manager salary by state
| State | Median | 1-yr change | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $197,600 | +6.3% | $133,310 | $117,350 – $239,200+ | 7,410 |
| New York | $180,880 | +4.1% | $125,266 | $108,180 – $239,200+ | 7,710 |
| Virginia | $176,340 | +1.4% | $122,469 | $106,880 – $239,200+ | 2,610 |
| New Jersey | $174,980 | +3.2% | $121,909 | $99,370 – $239,200+ | 2,420 |
| Massachusetts | $171,740 | +1.2% | $120,283 | $93,220 – $239,200+ | 2,170 |
| California | $167,980 | +7.4% | $112,504 | $97,800 – $239,200+ | 9,400 |
| Maine | $166,940 | +40.2% | $114,929 | $77,970 – $195,860 | — |
| Colorado | $162,870 | +3.6% | $116,130 | $98,180 – $238,240 | — |
| Washington | $159,440 | −0.0% | $120,243 | $104,500 – $239,200+ | 1,610 |
| Rhode Island | $156,080 | +6.8% | $112,135 | $83,400 – $239,200+ | 210 |
| Connecticut | $154,210 | +1.2% | $109,566 | $78,130 – $239,200+ | 890 |
| Delaware | $153,010 | −0.8% | $107,091 | $107,670 – $239,200+ | 170 |
| Maryland | $149,380 | +3.3% | $106,484 | $82,180 – $239,200+ | 1,530 |
| Minnesota | $139,040 | +15.3% | $98,218 | $86,110 – $208,970 | 1,230 |
| Georgia | $134,500 | +2.2% | $96,839 | $87,120 – $227,310 | 1,540 |
| Utah | $132,670 | −0.6% | $96,942 | $80,370 – $239,200+ | 580 |
| New Hampshire | $132,660 | +3.2% | $101,939 | $86,770 – $212,900 | 330 |
| North Carolina | $132,280 | +6.8% | $96,910 | $79,320 – $229,270 | 1,510 |
| Illinois | $131,990 | +7.4% | $95,092 | $75,730 – $221,440 | 2,770 |
| Oregon | $131,190 | +10.2% | $90,247 | $77,070 – $209,670 | 1,410 |
| Kansas | $129,760 | +10.8% | $93,516 | $83,430 – $196,150 | 300 |
| Florida | $127,550 | +13.2% | $98,446 | $73,050 – $215,050 | 2,990 |
| Tennessee | $127,390 | +9.5% | $98,337 | $58,420 – $192,800 | 700 |
| Texas | $126,670 | +5.4% | $97,845 | $78,400 – $220,000 | 8,190 |
| Alaska | $120,920 | +16.5% | $93,897 | $73,550 – $193,980 | 380 |
| Iowa | $120,730 | +13.4% | $89,828 | $74,040 – $194,860 | 630 |
| Ohio | $118,670 | −1.3% | $89,833 | $59,540 – $211,290 | 1,400 |
| Pennsylvania | $118,050 | −1.1% | $88,254 | $68,890 – $206,910 | 2,210 |
| Michigan | $117,900 | +2.5% | $87,013 | $70,680 – $213,360 | 1,720 |
| New Mexico | $115,260 | +2.5% | $85,599 | $77,160 – $200,860 | 250 |
| Indiana | $114,960 | +4.3% | $86,343 | $75,520 – $198,300 | 600 |
| Missouri | $114,710 | +8.2% | $85,074 | $74,350 – $203,610 | 760 |
| Arizona | $114,400 | +8.6% | $86,659 | $80,000 – $213,370 | 1,170 |
| Nevada | $114,130 | +8.3% | $89,120 | $66,630 – $211,510 | 450 |
| North Dakota | $114,110 | +10.6% | $88,140 | $77,350 – $167,840 | 130 |
| Wisconsin | $113,980 | +6.9% | $84,355 | $73,700 – $216,460 | 1,010 |
| Kentucky | $112,320 | +9.4% | $84,034 | $73,470 – $171,620 | 510 |
| Hawaii | $105,010 | −0.9% | $76,254 | $73,090 – $174,520 | 390 |
| South Carolina | $104,920 | +6.4% | $77,503 | $65,160 – $212,260 | 650 |
| Nebraska | $104,440 | +2.8% | $78,431 | $64,580 – $182,760 | 330 |
| Arkansas | $104,170 | −26.1% | $78,264 | $57,810 – $239,200+ | 340 |
| Montana | $99,990 | −1.7% | $74,884 | $72,980 – $147,470 | 180 |
| Alabama | $98,210 | +5.6% | $73,275 | $63,380 – $176,630 | 540 |
| Idaho | $98,160 | +6.0% | $73,791 | $60,070 – $152,480 | — |
| Mississippi | $97,160 | +7.2% | $74,028 | $67,750 – $190,420 | 170 |
| Oklahoma | $96,030 | +11.7% | $72,611 | $59,990 – $184,810 | 490 |
| Louisiana | $94,380 | −2.6% | $72,781 | $66,150 – $183,030 | 320 |
| West Virginia | $82,380 | −3.4% | $63,749 | $59,300 – $161,120 | 70 |
Related jobs
| Job | Median salary | Education | Growth 2025–35 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fundraising Manager | $125,470 | Bachelor's degree | +5.4% |
| Sales Manager | $148,270 | Bachelor's degree | +4.5% |
| Advertising and Promotions Manager | $133,660 | Bachelor's degree | -3.7% |
| Marketing Manager | $166,790 | Bachelor's degree | +6.9% |
| Purchasing Manager | $148,080 | Bachelor's degree | +4.0% |
| Compensation and Benefits Manager | $149,230 | Bachelor's degree | +1.1% |
| Human Resources Manager | $149,280 | Bachelor's degree | +5.5% |
| Managers, All Other | $141,900 | Bachelor's degree | +4.9% |
| Training and Development Manager | $133,000 | Bachelor's degree | +6.4% |
| Financial Manager | $166,570 | Bachelor's degree | +9.7% |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a public relations manager make?
The national median salary for public relations managers is $146,910 a year ($70.63 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $82,410 and the top 10% earn over $239,200+. Source: BLS, May 2025.
Which state pays public relations managers the most?
District of Columbia has the highest median pay at $197,600. After taxes and local prices, Washington, DC offers the best real take-home pay of any metro area.
How many public relations managers are there in the U.S.?
About 74,850 people work as public relations managers nationwide.