Public Relations Specialist Salary in Riverside, CA
Public Relations Specialists in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area earn a median $77,010 a year — 3% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $59,057 take-home, or $4,921 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median public relations specialist salary in Riverside, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$8,112
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,775
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,117
- California income tax$2,949
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$1,001
- Take-home pay$59,057
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 8.00% state
Public Relations Specialist pay by experience in Riverside, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $44,970 | $21.62 | $36,941 | $3,078 |
| 25th percentile | $58,610 | $28.18 | $46,945 | $3,912 |
| Median (50th) | $77,010 | $37.02 | $59,057 | $4,921 |
| 75th percentile | $100,920 | $48.52 | $73,359 | $6,113 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $128,020 | $61.55 | $89,427 | $7,452 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $77,010 buys in Riverside, CA
Prices in Riverside, CA are 6.4% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.29× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median public relations specialist's $59,057 take-home pay has the buying power of $55,483 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 Riverside, CA than nationally (location quotient 0.47), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for public relations specialists, adjusted for cost of living
Riverside, CA ranks #48 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 |
| 48 | Riverside, CA | $77,010 | $59,057 | $55,483 |
*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 California
- San Jose, CA — $117,620
- San Francisco, CA — $102,520
- Sacramento, CA — $89,640
- Fresno, CA — $72,870
- San Diego, CA — $81,240
- Los Angeles, CA — $79,860
Frequently asked questions
How much does a public relations specialist make in Riverside, CA?
The median public relations specialist salary in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area is $77,010 a year, or about $37.02 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $58,610 and $100,920.
What is a public relations specialist’s take-home pay in Riverside, CA?
On the median $77,010 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $59,057 a year ($4,921 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,950 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Riverside, CA a good place to work as a public relations specialist?
Pay here is 3% above the national median of $74,750. Local prices are 6.4% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $55,483 would in a typical U.S. city. Riverside, CA ranks #48 of 89 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a public relations specialist afford rent in Riverside, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Riverside, CA is $1,777 a month ($2,201 for two bedrooms) — 36% of a median public relations specialist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Riverside, CA
- Producer and Director — $97,360
- Interpreter and Translator — $74,310
- Graphic Designer — $65,900
- Audio and Video Technician — $58,380
- Merchandise Displayer and Window Trimmer — $46,320
- Coach and Scout — $45,260
- Photographer — $43,710