Public Relations Specialist Salary in Atlanta, GA
Public Relations Specialists in the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA metro area earn a median $78,920 a year — 6% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $60,877 take-home, or $5,073 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median public relations specialist salary in Atlanta, GA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$8,532
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,893
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,144
- Georgia income tax$3,473
- Take-home pay$60,877
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 5.19% state
Public Relations Specialist pay by experience in Atlanta, GA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $46,540 | $22.38 | $37,782 | $3,149 |
| 25th percentile | $61,110 | $29.38 | $48,733 | $4,061 |
| Median (50th) | $78,920 | $37.94 | $60,877 | $5,073 |
| 75th percentile | $102,010 | $49.04 | $75,923 | $6,327 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $132,630 | $63.76 | $95,658 | $7,971 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Georgia resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $78,920 buys in Atlanta, GA
Prices in Atlanta, GA are 0.1% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.11× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median public relations specialist's $60,877 take-home pay has the buying power of $60,842 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 Specialist jobs are about as common in Atlanta, GA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.90).
Best-paying cities for public relations specialists, adjusted for cost of living
Atlanta, GA ranks #16 of 89 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $117,620 | $83,338 | $75,471 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $96,000 | $76,366 | $68,716 |
| 3 | Washington, DC | $101,680 | $74,688 | $68,594 |
| 4 | Olympia, WA | $84,470 | $68,255 | $65,838 |
| 5 | Hartford, CT | $87,830 | $67,363 | $65,562 |
| 6 | San Francisco, CA | $102,520 | $74,315 | $64,279 |
| 7 | Trenton, NJ | $84,990 | $65,397 | $63,381 |
| 8 | Sacramento, CA | $89,640 | $66,619 | $62,454 |
| 16 | Atlanta, GA | $78,920 | $60,877 | $60,842 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 89 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a public relations specialist make in Atlanta, GA?
The median public relations specialist salary in the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA metro area is $78,920 a year, or about $37.94 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $61,110 and $102,010.
What is a public relations specialist’s take-home pay in Atlanta, GA?
On the median $78,920 salary, a single filer living in Georgia takes home about $60,877 a year ($5,073 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,473 in Georgia taxes in 2026.
Is Atlanta, GA a good place to work as a public relations specialist?
Pay here is 6% above the national median of $74,750. Local prices are 0.1% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $60,842 would in a typical U.S. city. Atlanta, GA ranks #16 of 89 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a public relations specialist afford rent in Atlanta, GA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Atlanta, GA is $1,646 a month ($1,806 for two bedrooms) — 32% of a median public relations specialist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Atlanta, GA
- Art Director — $111,480
- News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists — $85,040
- Writer and Author — $81,990
- Producer and Director — $79,950
- Editor — $77,680
- Media and Communication Workers, All Other — $75,740
- Technical Writer — $75,140
- Interior Designer — $72,490
- Graphic Designer — $62,680
- Interpreter and Translator — $60,420
- Designers, All Other — $58,560
- Audio and Video Technician — $52,180