Public Relations Specialist Salary in Denver, CO
Public Relations Specialists in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area earn a median $82,930 a year — 11% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $64,231 take-home, or $5,353 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median public relations specialist salary in Denver, CO. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$9,415
- Social Security (6.2%)$5,142
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,202
- Colorado income tax$2,941
- Take-home pay$64,231
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 4.40% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Public Relations Specialist pay by experience in Denver, CO
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $56,720 | $27.27 | $45,967 | $3,831 |
| 25th percentile | $68,230 | $32.80 | $54,536 | $4,545 |
| Median (50th) | $82,930 | $39.87 | $64,231 | $5,353 |
| 75th percentile | $111,140 | $53.43 | $82,835 | $6,903 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $149,990 | $72.11 | $107,893 | $8,991 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Colorado resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $82,930 buys in Denver, CO
Prices in Denver, CO are 5.8% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.47× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median public relations specialist's $64,231 take-home pay has the buying power of $60,720 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Denver, CO has 1.6× the national concentration of public relations specialist jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for public relations specialists, adjusted for cost of living
Denver, CO ranks #7 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 |
*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 Denver, CO?
The median public relations specialist salary in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area is $82,930 a year, or about $39.87 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $68,230 and $111,140.
What is a public relations specialist’s take-home pay in Denver, CO?
On the median $82,930 salary, a single filer living in Colorado takes home about $64,231 a year ($5,353 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,941 in Colorado taxes in 2026.
Is Denver, CO a good place to work as a public relations specialist?
Pay here is 11% above the national median of $74,750. Local prices are 5.8% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $60,720 would in a typical U.S. city. Denver, CO ranks #7 of 22 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a public relations specialist afford rent in Denver, CO?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Denver, CO is $1,754 a month ($2,089 for two bedrooms) — 33% of a median public relations specialist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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