Public Relations Specialist Salary in Boston, MA
Public Relations Specialists in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area earn a median $81,440 a year — 9% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $62,271 take-home, or $5,189 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median public relations specialist salary in Boston, MA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$9,087
- Social Security (6.2%)$5,049
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,181
- Massachusetts income tax$3,852
- Take-home pay$62,271
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 5.00% state
The Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro spans Massachusetts, New Hampshire. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Public Relations Specialist pay by experience in Boston, MA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $53,800 | $25.87 | $42,938 | $3,578 |
| 25th percentile | $62,940 | $30.26 | $49,825 | $4,152 |
| Median (50th) | $81,440 | $39.15 | $62,271 | $5,189 |
| 75th percentile | $111,860 | $53.78 | $82,151 | $6,846 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $145,720 | $70.06 | $103,800 | $8,650 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Massachusetts resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $81,440 buys in Boston, MA
Prices in Boston, MA are 8.3% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.48× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median public relations specialist's $62,271 take-home pay has the buying power of $57,517 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 Boston, MA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.09).
Best-paying cities for public relations specialists, adjusted for cost of living
Boston, MA ranks #33 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 |
| 33 | Boston, MA | $81,440 | $62,271 | $57,517 |
*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 Boston, MA?
The median public relations specialist salary in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area is $81,440 a year, or about $39.15 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $62,940 and $111,860.
What is a public relations specialist’s take-home pay in Boston, MA?
On the median $81,440 salary, a single filer living in Massachusetts takes home about $62,271 a year ($5,189 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,852 in Massachusetts taxes in 2026.
Is Boston, MA a good place to work as a public relations specialist?
Pay here is 9% above the national median of $74,750. Local prices are 8.3% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $57,517 would in a typical U.S. city. Boston, MA ranks #33 of 89 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a public relations specialist afford rent in Boston, MA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Boston, MA is $2,276 a month ($2,762 for two bedrooms) — 44% of a median public relations specialist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Boston, MA
- Art Director — $151,820
- Technical Writer — $111,750
- Fashion Designer — $106,630
- Commercial and Industrial Designer — $102,530
- Editor — $86,410
- Writer and Author — $85,260
- Producer and Director — $83,850
- Interior Designer — $81,480
- Graphic Designer — $78,270
- Interpreter and Translator — $75,120
- News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists — $62,750
- Coach and Scout — $56,220