Public Relations Specialist Salary in Sacramento, CA
Public Relations Specialists in the Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA metro area earn a median $89,640 a year — 20% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $66,619 take-home, or $5,552 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median public relations specialist salary in Sacramento, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$10,891
- Social Security (6.2%)$5,558
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,300
- California income tax$4,107
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$1,165
- Take-home pay$66,619
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 9.30% state
Public Relations Specialist pay by experience in Sacramento, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $55,920 | $26.88 | $44,980 | $3,748 |
| 25th percentile | $72,910 | $35.05 | $56,554 | $4,713 |
| Median (50th) | $89,640 | $43.10 | $66,619 | $5,552 |
| 75th percentile | $111,320 | $53.52 | $79,573 | $6,631 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $135,460 | $65.13 | $93,724 | $7,810 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $89,640 buys in Sacramento, CA
Prices in Sacramento, CA are 6.7% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.30× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median public relations specialist's $66,619 take-home pay has the buying power of $62,454 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Sacramento, CA has 1.3× 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
Sacramento, CA ranks #8 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 California
- San Jose, CA — $117,620
- San Francisco, CA — $102,520
- Riverside, CA — $77,010
- 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 Sacramento, CA?
The median public relations specialist salary in the Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA metro area is $89,640 a year, or about $43.10 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $72,910 and $111,320.
What is a public relations specialist’s take-home pay in Sacramento, CA?
On the median $89,640 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $66,619 a year ($5,552 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $5,272 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Sacramento, CA a good place to work as a public relations specialist?
Pay here is 20% above the national median of $74,750. Local prices are 6.7% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $62,454 would in a typical U.S. city. Sacramento, CA ranks #8 of 89 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a public relations specialist afford rent in Sacramento, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Sacramento, CA is $1,812 a month ($2,241 for two bedrooms) — 33% of a median public relations specialist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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