Public Relations Specialist Salary in Boston, MA
Public Relations Specialists in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area earn a median $81,440 a year — 9% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $62,271 take-home, or $5,189 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median public relations specialist salary in Boston, MA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$9,087
- Social Security (6.2%)$5,049
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,181
- Massachusetts income tax$3,852
- Take-home pay$62,271
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 5.00% state
The Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro spans Massachusetts, New Hampshire. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Public Relations Specialist pay by experience in Boston, MA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $53,800 | $25.87 | $42,938 | $3,578 |
| 25th percentile | $62,940 | $30.26 | $49,825 | $4,152 |
| Median (50th) | $81,440 | $39.15 | $62,271 | $5,189 |
| 75th percentile | $111,860 | $53.78 | $82,151 | $6,846 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $145,720 | $70.06 | $103,800 | $8,650 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Massachusetts resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $81,440 buys in Boston, MA
Prices in Boston, MA are 8.3% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.48× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median public relations specialist's $62,271 take-home pay has the buying power of $57,517 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Public Relations Specialist jobs are about as common in Boston, MA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.09).
Best-paying cities for public relations specialists, adjusted for cost of living
Boston, MA ranks #10 of 22 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $96,000 | $76,366 | $68,716 |
| 2 | Washington, DC | $101,680 | $74,688 | $68,594 |
| 3 | San Francisco, CA | $102,520 | $74,315 | $64,279 |
| 4 | Sacramento, CA | $89,640 | $66,619 | $62,454 |
| 5 | Charlotte, NC | $75,190 | $59,235 | $60,849 |
| 6 | Atlanta, GA | $78,920 | $60,877 | $60,842 |
| 7 | Denver, CO | $82,930 | $64,231 | $60,720 |
| 8 | Austin, TX | $69,470 | $57,702 | $58,840 |
| 10 | Boston, MA | $81,440 | $62,271 | $57,517 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 22 metros →
About the job: public relations specialists
Promote or create an intended public image for individuals, groups, or organizations. May write or select material for release to various communications media. May specialize in using social media.
- Typical education
- Bachelor's degree
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +1.8% (slower than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a public relations specialist make in Boston, MA?
The median public relations specialist salary in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area is $81,440 a year, or about $39.15 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $62,940 and $111,860.
What is a public relations specialist’s take-home pay in Boston, MA?
On the median $81,440 salary, a single filer living in Massachusetts takes home about $62,271 a year ($5,189 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,852 in Massachusetts taxes in 2026.
Is Boston, MA a good place to work as a public relations specialist?
Pay here is 9% above the national median of $74,750. Local prices are 8.3% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $57,517 would in a typical U.S. city. Boston, MA ranks #10 of 22 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a public relations specialist afford rent in Boston, MA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Boston, MA is $2,276 a month ($2,762 for two bedrooms) — 44% of a median public relations specialist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Boston, MA
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- Producer and Director — $83,850
- Graphic Designer — $78,270
- Coach and Scout — $56,220