Public Relations Specialist Salary in Baltimore, MD
Public Relations Specialists in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD metro area earn a median $77,570 a year — 4% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $60,080 take-home, or $5,007 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median public relations specialist salary in Baltimore, MD. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$8,235
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,809
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,125
- Maryland income tax$3,321
- Take-home pay$60,080
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 4.75% state
Public Relations Specialist pay by experience in Baltimore, MD
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $47,750 | $22.96 | $38,643 | $3,220 |
| 25th percentile | $59,990 | $28.84 | $47,896 | $3,991 |
| Median (50th) | $77,570 | $37.29 | $60,080 | $5,007 |
| 75th percentile | $104,680 | $50.33 | $77,864 | $6,489 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $133,870 | $64.36 | $96,697 | $8,058 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Maryland resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $77,570 buys in Baltimore, MD
Prices in Baltimore, MD are 4.5% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.18× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median public relations specialist's $60,080 take-home pay has the buying power of $57,500 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 less concentrated in Baltimore, MD than nationally (location quotient 0.76), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for public relations specialists, adjusted for cost of living
Baltimore, MD ranks #34 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 |
| 34 | Baltimore, MD | $77,570 | $60,080 | $57,500 |
*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 Baltimore, MD?
The median public relations specialist salary in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD metro area is $77,570 a year, or about $37.29 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $59,990 and $104,680.
What is a public relations specialist’s take-home pay in Baltimore, MD?
On the median $77,570 salary, a single filer living in Maryland takes home about $60,080 a year ($5,007 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,321 in Maryland taxes in 2026.
Is Baltimore, MD a good place to work as a public relations specialist?
Pay here is 4% above the national median of $74,750. Local prices are 4.5% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $57,500 would in a typical U.S. city. Baltimore, MD ranks #34 of 89 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a public relations specialist afford rent in Baltimore, MD?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Baltimore, MD is $1,511 a month ($1,857 for two bedrooms) — 30% of a median public relations specialist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Baltimore, MD
- Technical Writer — $102,140
- Producer and Director — $80,850
- Editor — $79,730
- Graphic Designer — $75,790
- Audio and Video Technician — $65,270
- Interior Designer — $63,080
- Coach and Scout — $48,440
- Photographer — $46,170
- Merchandise Displayer and Window Trimmer — $42,660