Public Relations Manager Salary in Seattle, WA
Public Relations Managers in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area earn a median $166,590 a year — 13% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $125,130 take-home, or $10,428 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median public relations manager salary in Seattle, WA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$28,716
- Social Security (6.2%)$10,329
- Medicare (1.45%)$2,416
- Washington income tax$0
- Take-home pay$125,130
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 0.00% state
Public Relations Manager pay by experience in Seattle, WA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $107,650 | $51.75 | $84,562 | $7,047 |
| 25th percentile | $131,030 | $63.00 | $100,825 | $8,402 |
| Median (50th) | $166,590 | $80.09 | $125,130 | $10,428 |
| 75th percentile | $211,770 | $101.81 | $157,596 | $13,133 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $273,070+ | $131.28 | $198,305 | $16,525 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Washington resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $166,590 buys in Seattle, WA
Prices in Seattle, WA are 11.1% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.51× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median public relations manager's $125,130 take-home pay has the buying power of $112,595 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 Seattle, WA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.11).
Best-paying cities for public relations managers, adjusted for cost of living
Seattle, WA ranks #5 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 →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a public relations manager make in Seattle, WA?
The median public relations manager salary in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area is $166,590 a year, or about $80.09 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $131,030 and $211,770.
What is a public relations manager’s take-home pay in Seattle, WA?
On the median $166,590 salary, a single filer living in Washington takes home about $125,130 a year ($10,428 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Seattle, WA a good place to work as a public relations manager?
Pay here is 13% above the national median of $146,910. Local prices are 11.1% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $112,595 would in a typical U.S. city. Seattle, WA ranks #5 of 23 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a public relations manager afford rent in Seattle, WA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Seattle, WA is $2,022 a month ($2,379 for two bedrooms) — 19% of a median public relations manager’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Seattle, WA
- Chief Executive — $239,200+
- Computer and Information Systems Manager — $214,680
- Architectural and Engineering Manager — $204,340
- Natural Sciences Manager — $203,150
- Financial Manager — $185,550
- Sales Manager — $184,320
- Marketing Manager — $175,850
- Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary — $174,260
- Human Resources Manager — $171,360
- Managers, All Other — $168,980
- Training and Development Manager — $168,240
- Purchasing Manager — $165,430