Public Relations Specialist Salary in Denver, CO
Public Relations Specialists in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area earn a median $82,930 a year — 11% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $64,231 take-home, or $5,353 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median public relations specialist salary in Denver, CO. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$9,415
- Social Security (6.2%)$5,142
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,202
- Colorado income tax$2,941
- Take-home pay$64,231
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 4.40% state
Public Relations Specialist pay by experience in Denver, CO
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $56,720 | $27.27 | $45,967 | $3,831 |
| 25th percentile | $68,230 | $32.80 | $54,536 | $4,545 |
| Median (50th) | $82,930 | $39.87 | $64,231 | $5,353 |
| 75th percentile | $111,140 | $53.43 | $82,835 | $6,903 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $149,990 | $72.11 | $107,893 | $8,991 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Colorado resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $82,930 buys in Denver, CO
Prices in Denver, CO are 5.8% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.47× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median public relations specialist's $64,231 take-home pay has the buying power of $60,720 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Denver, CO has 1.6× the national concentration of public relations specialist jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for public relations specialists, adjusted for cost of living
Denver, CO ranks #17 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 |
| 17 | Denver, CO | $82,930 | $64,231 | $60,720 |
*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 Colorado
- Boulder, CO — $81,180
- Colorado Springs, CO — $75,550
Frequently asked questions
How much does a public relations specialist make in Denver, CO?
The median public relations specialist salary in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area is $82,930 a year, or about $39.87 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $68,230 and $111,140.
What is a public relations specialist’s take-home pay in Denver, CO?
On the median $82,930 salary, a single filer living in Colorado takes home about $64,231 a year ($5,353 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,941 in Colorado taxes in 2026.
Is Denver, CO a good place to work as a public relations specialist?
Pay here is 11% above the national median of $74,750. Local prices are 5.8% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $60,720 would in a typical U.S. city. Denver, CO ranks #17 of 89 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a public relations specialist afford rent in Denver, CO?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Denver, CO is $1,754 a month ($2,089 for two bedrooms) — 33% of a median public relations specialist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Denver, CO
- Technical Writer — $103,360
- Art Director — $99,990
- Producer and Director — $80,590
- Interior Designer — $80,150
- Editor — $78,670
- Broadcast Technician — $78,050
- Interpreter and Translator — $74,850
- Graphic Designer — $72,500
- Writer and Author — $69,100
- Audio and Video Technician — $57,970
- Photographer — $47,340
- Coach and Scout — $47,110