Public Relations Specialist Salary in Chicago, IL
Public Relations Specialists in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median $77,050 a year — 3% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $59,365 take-home, or $4,947 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median public relations specialist salary in Chicago, IL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$8,121
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,777
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,117
- Illinois income tax$3,669
- Take-home pay$59,365
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 4.95% state
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro spans Illinois, Indiana. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Public Relations Specialist pay by experience in Chicago, IL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $49,460 | $23.78 | $39,618 | $3,301 |
| 25th percentile | $60,610 | $29.14 | $48,025 | $4,002 |
| Median (50th) | $77,050 | $37.04 | $59,365 | $4,947 |
| 75th percentile | $107,110 | $51.50 | $79,025 | $6,585 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $150,890 | $72.54 | $107,075 | $8,923 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Illinois resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $77,050 buys in Chicago, IL
Prices in Chicago, IL are 3.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.12× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median public relations specialist's $59,365 take-home pay has the buying power of $57,305 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 Chicago, IL than nationally (location quotient 0.60), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for public relations specialists, adjusted for cost of living
Chicago, IL ranks #35 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 |
| 35 | Chicago, IL | $77,050 | $59,365 | $57,305 |
*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 Chicago, IL?
The median public relations specialist salary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $77,050 a year, or about $37.04 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $60,610 and $107,110.
What is a public relations specialist’s take-home pay in Chicago, IL?
On the median $77,050 salary, a single filer living in Illinois takes home about $59,365 a year ($4,947 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,669 in Illinois taxes in 2026.
Is Chicago, IL a good place to work as a public relations specialist?
Pay here is 3% above the national median of $74,750. Local prices are 3.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $57,305 would in a typical U.S. city. Chicago, IL ranks #35 of 89 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a public relations specialist afford rent in Chicago, IL?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Chicago, IL is $1,534 a month ($1,743 for two bedrooms) — 31% of a median public relations specialist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Chicago, IL
- Art Director — $104,570
- Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film — $102,370
- Broadcast Technician — $96,060
- Technical Writer — $89,960
- Producer and Director — $85,040
- Special Effects Artist and Animator — $83,200
- Editor — $80,380
- Court Reporter and Simultaneous Captioner — $76,790
- Interior Designer — $76,570
- Writer and Author — $75,940
- Sound Engineering Technician — $73,140
- News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists — $70,350