Public Relations Specialist Salary
Public Relations Specialists earn a median $74,750 a year nationally. Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations
U.S. median
$74,750
$35.94 per hour
Range
$44,110 – $135,150
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
283,380
across the U.S.
▲7.1%
Pay trend: The median for public relations specialists in the U.S. rose from $69,780 (May 2024) to $74,750 (May 2025). That beat inflation (2.4%), a real raise of about 4.7%.
What public relations specialists do
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)
- Openings per year
- 23,000
- Self-employed
- 1%
Employment of public relations specialists is projected to grow 1.8% from 2025 to 2035, slower than the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 23,000 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 Specialist take-home pay calculator
Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.
Your take-home pay
$61,417
per year · effective tax rate 17.8%
$5,118Monthly
$2,559Twice a month
$2,362Every 2 weeks
$29.53Hourly
- Federal income tax$7,615
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,635
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,084
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$61,417
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 0.00% state
Pay by experience
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home (no state tax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $44,110 | $21.21 | $37,622 |
| 25th percentile | $56,260 | $27.05 | $47,385 |
| Median (50th) | $74,750 | $35.94 | $61,417 |
| 75th percentile | $100,370 | $48.25 | $79,440 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $135,150 | $64.98 | $103,641 |
Best cities for public relations specialists (after tax & cost of living)
| # | Metro area | Median | Take-home | Real value* | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $96,000 | $76,366 | $68,716 | 3,980 |
| 2 | Washington, DC | $101,680 | $74,688 | $68,594 | 22,810 |
| 3 | San Francisco, CA | $102,520 | $74,315 | $64,279 | 6,290 |
| 4 | Sacramento, CA | $89,640 | $66,619 | $62,454 | 2,620 |
| 5 | Charlotte, NC | $75,190 | $59,235 | $60,849 | 2,470 |
| 6 | Atlanta, GA | $78,920 | $60,877 | $60,842 | 4,750 |
| 7 | Denver, CO | $82,930 | $64,231 | $60,720 | 4,560 |
| 8 | Austin, TX | $69,470 | $57,702 | $58,840 | 4,170 |
| 9 | Houston, TX | $68,320 | $56,893 | $57,684 | 5,160 |
| 10 | Boston, MA | $81,440 | $62,271 | $57,517 | 5,380 |
| 11 | Chicago, IL | $77,050 | $59,365 | $57,305 | 4,920 |
| 12 | New York, NY | $84,130 | $64,069 | $56,919 | 24,820 |
| 13 | Dallas, TX | $69,280 | $57,568 | $55,843 | 7,300 |
| 14 | San Diego, CA | $81,240 | $61,600 | $55,056 | 2,730 |
| 15 | Phoenix, AZ | $70,490 | $56,866 | $55,041 | 3,860 |
| 16 | Portland, OR | $78,380 | $57,942 | $54,962 | 3,050 |
| 17 | Minneapolis, MN | $73,780 | $57,241 | $54,607 | 6,170 |
| 18 | Tampa, FL | $64,690 | $54,158 | $53,681 | 2,590 |
| 19 | Los Angeles, CA | $79,860 | $60,776 | $53,516 | 11,910 |
| 20 | Detroit, MI | $66,100 | $52,733 | $52,576 | 2,930 |
| 21 | Philadelphia, PA | $64,550 | $52,064 | $50,768 | 5,220 |
| 22 | Miami, FL | $64,600 | $54,086 | $47,380 | 5,460 |
*Take-home pay in U.S.-average dollars (BEA Regional Price Parities).
Highest-paying cities
- San Francisco, CA — $102,520
- Washington, DC — $101,680
- Seattle, WA — $96,000
- Sacramento, CA — $89,640
- New York, NY — $84,130
- Denver, CO — $82,930
- Boston, MA — $81,440
- San Diego, CA — $81,240
- Los Angeles, CA — $79,860
- Atlanta, GA — $78,920
- Portland, OR — $78,380
- Chicago, IL — $77,050
- Charlotte, NC — $75,190
- Minneapolis, MN — $73,780
- Phoenix, AZ — $70,490
Public Relations Specialist salary by state
| State | Median | 1-yr change | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $102,740 | +5.1% | $75,343 | $64,260 – $202,170 | 16,720 |
| Washington | $87,470 | +2.3% | $70,365 | $60,760 – $136,020 | 6,430 |
| California | $85,030 | +4.3% | $63,865 | $49,550 – $160,520 | 32,710 |
| Connecticut | $84,990 | +1.6% | $65,521 | $51,410 – $162,280 | 1,910 |
| New York | $81,250 | +3.5% | $62,199 | $51,730 – $157,610 | 28,250 |
| Colorado | $80,680 | +4.6% | $62,747 | $51,710 – $139,040 | 7,410 |
| Virginia | $80,380 | +3.3% | $61,570 | $46,840 – $162,050 | 9,990 |
| New Jersey | $80,130 | +5.9% | $62,287 | $49,820 – $138,190 | 4,980 |
| Massachusetts | $79,660 | +5.9% | $61,108 | $51,710 – $139,240 | 6,760 |
| Maryland | $79,560 | +9.5% | $61,385 | $42,060 – $147,220 | 4,190 |
| Rhode Island | $77,540 | +6.6% | $61,089 | $47,750 – $129,360 | 1,140 |
| Illinois | $76,380 | +20.1% | $58,927 | $47,690 – $139,570 | 6,200 |
| Delaware | $76,120 | +0.8% | $58,698 | $43,720 – $126,290 | 930 |
| Oregon | $74,900 | +16.0% | $55,798 | $45,190 – $123,880 | 4,510 |
| Nevada | $73,840 | +13.1% | $60,776 | $44,710 – $120,160 | 1,600 |
| New Hampshire | $73,280 | +3.8% | $60,382 | $50,430 – $122,390 | 1,140 |
| Georgia | $73,200 | +0.5% | $57,150 | $43,590 – $128,190 | 6,860 |
| North Dakota | $70,280 | +5.4% | $58,161 | $47,980 – $100,710 | 640 |
| Alaska | $70,050 | +1.7% | $58,110 | $45,140 – $117,210 | 640 |
| New Mexico | $68,700 | +4.5% | $55,097 | $43,080 – $123,110 | 1,130 |
| Minnesota | $68,620 | +7.0% | $53,961 | $42,220 – $111,180 | 8,260 |
| Wyoming | $67,490 | −3.1% | $56,309 | $50,430 – $115,210 | 480 |
| Wisconsin | $67,240 | +4.4% | $53,950 | $44,790 – $105,970 | 4,410 |
| North Carolina | $67,230 | +6.2% | $53,953 | $39,840 – $136,450 | 9,910 |
| Arizona | $66,710 | +2.9% | $54,301 | $45,080 – $111,220 | 5,350 |
| Vermont | $66,060 | +16.4% | $53,359 | $45,330 – $101,520 | 1,260 |
| Michigan | $65,300 | +6.9% | $52,124 | $38,560 – $117,290 | 7,510 |
| Texas | $65,160 | +6.6% | $54,536 | $39,840 – $109,640 | 25,220 |
| Arkansas | $65,000 | +0.7% | $52,085 | $39,170 – $137,190 | 980 |
| Oklahoma | $64,920 | +8.2% | $51,967 | $39,380 – $113,780 | 2,280 |
| Indiana | $64,900 | +6.2% | $52,442 | $42,060 – $105,580 | 3,750 |
| Kansas | $64,860 | +4.8% | $51,476 | $39,820 – $105,500 | 2,340 |
| Ohio | $64,840 | +3.6% | $53,278 | $41,540 – $121,460 | 6,670 |
| South Dakota | $64,520 | −0.7% | $54,022 | $48,460 – $102,480 | 210 |
| Hawaii | $63,880 | +0.6% | $50,183 | $42,070 – $104,240 | 1,800 |
| Montana | $63,780 | +8.8% | $51,185 | $43,770 – $96,050 | 1,760 |
| Florida | $63,660 | +5.7% | $53,331 | $37,000 – $115,680 | 17,820 |
| Iowa | $62,970 | +5.8% | $51,035 | $38,890 – $104,700 | 2,890 |
| South Carolina | $62,730 | +3.6% | $49,977 | $38,920 – $143,940 | 2,950 |
| Utah | $62,670 | −17.2% | $50,681 | $41,410 – $119,270 | 1,800 |
| Maine | $62,450 | +8.2% | $49,325 | $38,890 – $100,770 | 1,400 |
| Nebraska | $61,780 | +9.5% | $49,889 | $41,490 – $93,990 | 1,590 |
| Alabama | $61,710 | +0.9% | $48,943 | $39,320 – $111,970 | 2,410 |
| Missouri | $61,130 | −1.8% | $49,362 | $38,490 – $102,850 | 4,820 |
| Idaho | $61,110 | +5.9% | $49,151 | $36,580 – $101,890 | 1,220 |
| Tennessee | $60,900 | +8.4% | $51,113 | $37,450 – $98,370 | 3,380 |
| Louisiana | $60,470 | −1.1% | $49,340 | $38,640 – $98,610 | 1,710 |
| Kentucky | $60,150 | +3.4% | $48,523 | $37,190 – $103,530 | 2,580 |
| Mississippi | $59,810 | +9.2% | $48,577 | $38,630 – $96,690 | 950 |
| Pennsylvania | $57,460 | −3.0% | $46,585 | $32,810 – $102,330 | 11,180 |
| West Virginia | $56,730 | +8.9% | $45,943 | $39,720 – $103,380 | 350 |
Related jobs
| Job | Median salary | Education | Growth 2025–35 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Media and Communication Workers, All Other | $73,620 | High school diploma or equivalent | +3.9% |
| Writer and Author | $76,910 | Bachelor's degree | -0.3% |
| Court Reporter and Simultaneous Captioner | $72,420 | Postsecondary nondegree award | -0.1% |
| Editor | $77,920 | Bachelor's degree | -1.1% |
| News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists | $62,200 | Bachelor's degree | -5.9% |
| Interpreter and Translator | $60,170 | Bachelor's degree | +2.0% |
| Technical Writer | $90,390 | Bachelor's degree | +0.8% |
| Broadcast Announcer and Radio Disc Jockey | $47,340 | Bachelor's degree | -7.6% |
| Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film | $74,990 | Bachelor's degree | +1.3% |
| Set and Exhibit Designer | $75,240 | Bachelor's degree | +1.4% |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a public relations specialist make?
The national median salary for public relations specialists is $74,750 a year ($35.94 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $44,110 and the top 10% earn over $135,150. Source: BLS, May 2025.
Which state pays public relations specialists the most?
District of Columbia has the highest median pay at $102,740. After taxes and local prices, Seattle, WA offers the best real take-home pay of any metro area.
How many public relations specialists are there in the U.S.?
About 283,380 people work as public relations specialists nationwide.