Public Relations Specialist Salary in Houston, TX
Public Relations Specialists in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area earn a median $68,320 a year — 9% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $56,893 take-home, or $4,741 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median public relations specialist salary in Houston, TX. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$6,200
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,236
- Medicare (1.45%)$991
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$56,893
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 0.00% state
Public Relations Specialist pay by experience in Houston, TX
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $40,290 | $19.37 | $34,553 | $2,879 |
| 25th percentile | $52,580 | $25.28 | $44,428 | $3,702 |
| Median (50th) | $68,320 | $32.85 | $56,893 | $4,741 |
| 75th percentile | $89,990 | $43.26 | $72,138 | $6,011 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $109,640 | $52.71 | $85,962 | $7,163 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Texas resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $68,320 buys in Houston, TX
Prices in Houston, TX are 1.4% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.05× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median public relations specialist's $56,893 take-home pay has the buying power of $57,684 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 Houston, TX as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.86).
Best-paying cities for public relations specialists, adjusted for cost of living
Houston, TX ranks #32 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 |
| 32 | Houston, TX | $68,320 | $56,893 | $57,684 |
*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 Texas
- Austin, TX — $69,470
- San Antonio, TX — $64,690
- Dallas, TX — $69,280
- McAllen, TX — $48,980
Frequently asked questions
How much does a public relations specialist make in Houston, TX?
The median public relations specialist salary in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area is $68,320 a year, or about $32.85 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $52,580 and $89,990.
What is a public relations specialist’s take-home pay in Houston, TX?
On the median $68,320 salary, a single filer living in Texas takes home about $56,893 a year ($4,741 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Houston, TX a good place to work as a public relations specialist?
Pay here is 9% below the national median of $74,750. Local prices are 1.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $57,684 would in a typical U.S. city. Houston, TX ranks #32 of 89 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a public relations specialist afford rent in Houston, TX?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Houston, TX is $1,316 a month ($1,558 for two bedrooms) — 28% of a median public relations specialist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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