Public Relations Manager Salary in San Diego, CA
Public Relations Managers in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earn a median $157,630 a year — 7% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $106,527 take-home, or $8,877 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median public relations manager salary in San Diego, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$26,565
- Social Security (6.2%)$9,773
- Medicare (1.45%)$2,286
- California income tax$10,430
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$2,049
- Take-home pay$106,527
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 9.30% state
Public Relations Manager pay by experience in San Diego, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $84,530 | $40.64 | $63,566 | $5,297 |
| 25th percentile | $116,030 | $55.78 | $82,388 | $6,866 |
| Median (50th) | $157,630 | $75.78 | $106,527 | $8,877 |
| 75th percentile | $203,170 | $97.68 | $133,955 | $11,163 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $277,700+ | $133.51 | $175,999 | $14,667 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $157,630 buys in San Diego, CA
Prices in San Diego, CA are 11.9% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.79× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median public relations manager's $106,527 take-home pay has the buying power of $95,209 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 Manager jobs are about as common in San Diego, CA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.88).
Best-paying cities for public relations managers, adjusted for cost of living
San Diego, CA ranks #16 of 23 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $213,510 | $140,475 | $127,215 |
| 2 | Washington, DC | $195,190 | $131,718 | $120,971 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $192,360 | $132,922 | $118,087 |
| 4 | Boston, MA | $176,390 | $123,229 | $113,821 |
| 5 | Seattle, WA | $166,590 | $125,130 | $112,595 |
| 6 | San Francisco, CA | $192,720 | $127,301 | $110,110 |
| 7 | Austin, TX | $130,770 | $100,647 | $102,632 |
| 8 | Houston, TX | $130,530 | $100,483 | $101,880 |
| 16 | San Diego, CA | $157,630 | $106,527 | $95,209 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 23 metros →
Public Relations Manager salaries elsewhere in California
- San Jose, CA — $213,510
- San Francisco, CA — $192,720
- Sacramento, CA — $161,320
- Los Angeles, CA — $163,830
Frequently asked questions
How much does a public relations manager make in San Diego, CA?
The median public relations manager salary in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $157,630 a year, or about $75.78 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $116,030 and $203,170.
What is a public relations manager’s take-home pay in San Diego, CA?
On the median $157,630 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $106,527 a year ($8,877 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $12,479 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Diego, CA a good place to work as a public relations manager?
Pay here is 7% above the national median of $146,910. Local prices are 11.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $95,209 would in a typical U.S. city. San Diego, CA ranks #16 of 23 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a public relations manager afford rent in San Diego, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in San Diego, CA is $2,459 a month ($3,001 for two bedrooms) — 28% of a median public relations manager’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in San Diego, CA
- Chief Executive — $238,440
- Natural Sciences Manager — $207,200
- Computer and Information Systems Manager — $206,740
- Architectural and Engineering Manager — $202,810
- Marketing Manager — $174,840
- Financial Manager — $174,210
- Managers, All Other — $169,240
- Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary — $163,200
- Human Resources Manager — $163,190
- Purchasing Manager — $158,620
- Training and Development Manager — $148,860
- Medical and Health Services Manager — $138,080