Public Relations Manager Salary in San Francisco, CA
Public Relations Managers in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area earn a median $192,720 a year — 31% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $127,301 take-home, or $10,608 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median public relations manager salary in San Francisco, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$34,987
- Social Security (6.2%)$11,439
- Medicare (1.45%)$2,794
- California income tax$13,693
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$2,505
- Take-home pay$127,301
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 9.30% state
Public Relations Manager pay by experience in San Francisco, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $110,370 | $53.06 | $79,006 | $6,584 |
| 25th percentile | $145,460 | $69.93 | $99,499 | $8,292 |
| Median (50th) | $192,720 | $92.65 | $127,301 | $10,608 |
| 75th percentile | $251,640+ | $120.98 | $161,814 | $13,485 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $312,430+ | $150.21 | $194,076 | $16,173 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $192,720 buys in San Francisco, CA
Prices in San Francisco, CA are 15.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.95× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median public relations manager's $127,301 take-home pay has the buying power of $110,110 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
San Francisco, CA has 1.6× 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
San Francisco, CA ranks #6 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 |
*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
- Sacramento, CA — $161,320
- Los Angeles, CA — $163,830
- San Diego, CA — $157,630
Frequently asked questions
How much does a public relations manager make in San Francisco, CA?
The median public relations manager salary in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area is $192,720 a year, or about $92.65 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $145,460 and $239,200+.
What is a public relations manager’s take-home pay in San Francisco, CA?
On the median $192,720 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $127,301 a year ($10,608 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $16,199 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Francisco, CA a good place to work as a public relations manager?
Pay here is 31% above the national median of $146,910. Local prices are 15.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $110,110 would in a typical U.S. city. San Francisco, CA ranks #6 of 23 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a public relations manager afford rent in San Francisco, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in San Francisco, CA is $2,620 a month ($3,187 for two bedrooms) — 25% of a median public relations manager’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in San Francisco, CA
- Chief Executive — $239,200+
- Computer and Information Systems Manager — $232,890
- Natural Sciences Manager — $225,230
- Architectural and Engineering Manager — $221,580
- Marketing Manager — $220,480
- Financial Manager — $216,150
- Managers, All Other — $210,080
- Human Resources Manager — $209,340
- Compensation and Benefits Manager — $188,850
- Advertising and Promotions Manager — $181,250
- Training and Development Manager — $173,530
- Sales Manager — $170,810