Public Relations Specialist Salary in Olympia, WA
Public Relations Specialists in the Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA metro area earn a median $84,470 a year — 13% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $68,255 take-home, or $5,688 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median public relations specialist salary in Olympia, WA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$9,753
- Social Security (6.2%)$5,237
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,225
- Washington income tax$0
- Take-home pay$68,255
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 0.00% state
Public Relations Specialist pay by experience in Olympia, WA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $62,880 | $30.23 | $52,704 | $4,392 |
| 25th percentile | $72,910 | $35.05 | $60,122 | $5,010 |
| Median (50th) | $84,470 | $40.61 | $68,255 | $5,688 |
| 75th percentile | $97,400 | $46.83 | $77,351 | $6,446 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $110,060 | $52.91 | $86,257 | $7,188 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Washington resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $84,470 buys in Olympia, WA
Prices in Olympia, WA are 3.7% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.17× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median public relations specialist's $68,255 take-home pay has the buying power of $65,838 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Olympia, WA has 2.7× 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
Olympia, WA ranks #4 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 |
*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 Washington
- Seattle, WA — $96,000
Frequently asked questions
How much does a public relations specialist make in Olympia, WA?
The median public relations specialist salary in the Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA metro area is $84,470 a year, or about $40.61 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $72,910 and $97,400.
What is a public relations specialist’s take-home pay in Olympia, WA?
On the median $84,470 salary, a single filer living in Washington takes home about $68,255 a year ($5,688 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Olympia, WA a good place to work as a public relations specialist?
Pay here is 13% above the national median of $74,750. Local prices are 3.7% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $65,838 would in a typical U.S. city. Olympia, WA ranks #4 of 89 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a public relations specialist afford rent in Olympia, WA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Olympia, WA is $1,682 a month ($1,960 for two bedrooms) — 30% of a median public relations specialist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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