Updated · 2026 tax rules · Data: IRS, BLS, BEA, HUD · How we calculate

Public Relations Manager Salary in Los Angeles, CA

Public Relations Managers in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area earn a median $163,830 a year — 12% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $110,107 take-home, or $9,176 a month.

Median salary
$163,830
$78.76 per hour
Typical range
$96,100 – $239,200+
10th to 90th percentile
Jobs in Los Angeles, CA
3,610
1.20× national concentration
▲11.7%
Pay trend: The median for public relations managers in Los Angeles, CA rose from $146,630 (May 2024) to $163,830 (May 2025). That beat inflation (2.4%), a real raise of about 9.3%.

Take-home pay calculator

Pre-filled with the median public relations manager salary in Los Angeles, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.

Public Relations Manager in Los Angeles, CA
Deductions, kids & local tax

2026 tax year. Federal brackets from IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32.

Your take-home pay
$110,107
per year · effective tax rate 32.8%
$9,176Monthly
$4,588Twice a month
$4,235Every 2 weeks
$52.94Hourly
  • Federal income tax$28,053
  • Social Security (6.2%)$10,157
  • Medicare (1.45%)$2,376
  • California income tax$11,007
  • CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$2,130
  • Take-home pay$110,107

Marginal rate: 24% federal + 9.30% state

Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →

Public Relations Manager pay by experience in Los Angeles, CA

PercentileSalaryHourlyTake-home / yrPer month
10th percentile (entry level)$96,100$46.20$70,479$5,873
25th percentile$118,990$57.21$84,156$7,013
Median (50th)$163,830$78.76$110,107$9,176
75th percentile$217,220$104.43$142,814$11,901
90th percentile (top earners)$281,890+$135.52$178,180$14,848

Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.

What $163,830 buys in Los Angeles, CA

Prices in Los Angeles, CA are 13.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.70× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median public relations manager's $110,107 take-home pay has the buying power of $96,955 in a typical American city.

1-bedroom rent
$2,245
24% of monthly take-home
2-bedroom rent
$2,755
30% of monthly take-home
Left after 1-BR rent
$6,931
per month for everything else

Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.

Los Angeles, CA has 1.2× the national concentration of public relations manager jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.

Best-paying cities for public relations managers, adjusted for cost of living

Los Angeles, CA ranks #4 of 4 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.

#Metro areaMedian salaryTake-homeReal value*
1Washington, DC $195,190$131,718$120,971
2New York, NY $192,360$132,922$118,087
3Dallas, TX $130,950$100,770$97,750
4Los Angeles, CA $163,830$110,107$96,955

*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 4 metros →

About the job: public relations managers

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)

Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a public relations manager make in Los Angeles, CA?

The median public relations manager salary in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area is $163,830 a year, or about $78.76 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $118,990 and $217,220.

What is a public relations manager’s take-home pay in Los Angeles, CA?

On the median $163,830 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $110,107 a year ($9,176 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $13,136 in California taxes in 2026.

Is Los Angeles, CA a good place to work as a public relations manager?

Pay here is 12% above the national median of $146,910. Local prices are 13.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $96,955 would in a typical U.S. city. Los Angeles, CA ranks #4 of 4 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.

Can a public relations manager afford rent in Los Angeles, CA?

HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Los Angeles, CA is $2,245 a month ($2,755 for two bedrooms) — 24% of a median public relations manager’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.

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