Public Relations Specialist Salary in New York, NY
Public Relations Specialists in the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro area earn a median $84,130 a year — 13% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $64,069 take-home, or $5,339 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median public relations specialist salary in New York, NY. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$9,679
- Social Security (6.2%)$5,216
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,220
- New York income tax$3,946
- Take-home pay$64,069
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 5.40% state
Living in New York City? City residents also pay New York City’s city income tax — about $2,826 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $61,243 ($5,104 a month). Choose “New York City” under City income tax in the calculator. Suburban residents usually don’t pay it.
The New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro spans New York, New Jersey. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Public Relations Specialist pay by experience in New York, NY
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $55,410 | $26.64 | $44,307 | $3,692 |
| 25th percentile | $64,390 | $30.96 | $51,037 | $4,253 |
| Median (50th) | $84,130 | $40.45 | $64,069 | $5,339 |
| 75th percentile | $116,590 | $56.05 | $85,013 | $7,084 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $162,170 | $77.97 | $113,581 | $9,465 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, New York resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $84,130 buys in New York, NY
Prices in New York, NY are 12.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.49× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median public relations specialist's $64,069 take-home pay has the buying power of $56,919 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
New York, NY has 1.4× 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
New York, NY ranks #12 of 22 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $96,000 | $76,366 | $68,716 |
| 2 | Washington, DC | $101,680 | $74,688 | $68,594 |
| 3 | San Francisco, CA | $102,520 | $74,315 | $64,279 |
| 4 | Sacramento, CA | $89,640 | $66,619 | $62,454 |
| 5 | Charlotte, NC | $75,190 | $59,235 | $60,849 |
| 6 | Atlanta, GA | $78,920 | $60,877 | $60,842 |
| 7 | Denver, CO | $82,930 | $64,231 | $60,720 |
| 8 | Austin, TX | $69,470 | $57,702 | $58,840 |
| 12 | New York, NY | $84,130 | $64,069 | $56,919 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 22 metros →
About the job: public relations specialists
Promote or create an intended public image for individuals, groups, or organizations. May write or select material for release to various communications media. May specialize in using social media.
- Typical education
- Bachelor's degree
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +1.8% (slower than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a public relations specialist make in New York, NY?
The median public relations specialist salary in the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro area is $84,130 a year, or about $40.45 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $64,390 and $116,590.
What is a public relations specialist’s take-home pay in New York, NY?
On the median $84,130 salary, a single filer living in New York takes home about $64,069 a year ($5,339 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,946 in New York taxes in 2026.
Is New York, NY a good place to work as a public relations specialist?
Pay here is 13% above the national median of $74,750. Local prices are 12.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $56,919 would in a typical U.S. city. New York, NY ranks #12 of 22 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a public relations specialist afford rent in New York, NY?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in New York, NY is $2,378 a month ($2,697 for two bedrooms) — 45% of a median public relations specialist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in New York, NY
- Art Director — $142,990
- Producer and Director — $108,460
- Film and Video Editor — $104,590
- Editor — $102,120
- News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists — $101,670
- Fashion Designer — $99,560
- Commercial and Industrial Designer — $94,890
- Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film — $93,410
- Interpreter and Translator — $87,590
- Graphic Designer — $79,280
- Interior Designer — $76,580
- Audio and Video Technician — $72,300