Public Relations Specialist Salary in Charleston, SC
Public Relations Specialists in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area earn a median $63,780 a year — 15% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $50,758 take-home, or $4,230 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median public relations specialist salary in Charleston, SC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$5,474
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,954
- Medicare (1.45%)$925
- South Carolina income tax$2,670
- Take-home pay$50,758
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 6.00% state
Public Relations Specialist pay by experience in Charleston, SC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $40,830 | $19.63 | $33,694 | $2,808 |
| 25th percentile | $50,200 | $24.13 | $40,661 | $3,388 |
| Median (50th) | $63,780 | $30.66 | $50,758 | $4,230 |
| 75th percentile | $94,190 | $45.28 | $70,598 | $5,883 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $149,760 | $72.00 | $105,798 | $8,817 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, South Carolina resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $63,780 buys in Charleston, SC
Prices in Charleston, SC are 1.0% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.20× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median public relations specialist's $50,758 take-home pay has the buying power of $50,274 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 Charleston, SC than nationally (location quotient 0.79), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for public relations specialists, adjusted for cost of living
Charleston, SC ranks #81 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 |
| 81 | Charleston, SC | $63,780 | $50,758 | $50,274 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 89 metros →
Public Relations Specialist salaries elsewhere in South Carolina
- Greenville, SC — $63,310
- Columbia, SC — $61,610
Frequently asked questions
How much does a public relations specialist make in Charleston, SC?
The median public relations specialist salary in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area is $63,780 a year, or about $30.66 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $50,200 and $94,190.
What is a public relations specialist’s take-home pay in Charleston, SC?
On the median $63,780 salary, a single filer living in South Carolina takes home about $50,758 a year ($4,230 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,670 in South Carolina taxes in 2026.
Is Charleston, SC a good place to work as a public relations specialist?
Pay here is 15% below the national median of $74,750. Local prices are 1.0% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $50,274 would in a typical U.S. city. Charleston, SC ranks #81 of 89 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a public relations specialist afford rent in Charleston, SC?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Charleston, SC is $1,630 a month ($1,787 for two bedrooms) — 39% of a median public relations specialist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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