Public Relations Specialist Salary in St. Louis, MO
Public Relations Specialists in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area earn a median $65,170 a year — 13% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $52,418 take-home, or $4,368 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median public relations specialist salary in St. Louis, MO. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$5,640
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,041
- Medicare (1.45%)$945
- Missouri income tax$2,126
- Take-home pay$52,418
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.70% state
The St. Louis, MO-IL metro spans Missouri, Illinois. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Public Relations Specialist pay by experience in St. Louis, MO
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $43,640 | $20.98 | $36,131 | $3,011 |
| 25th percentile | $51,770 | $24.89 | $42,281 | $3,523 |
| Median (50th) | $65,170 | $31.33 | $52,418 | $4,368 |
| 75th percentile | $83,150 | $39.98 | $64,355 | $5,363 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $107,990 | $51.92 | $80,663 | $6,722 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Missouri resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $65,170 buys in St. Louis, MO
Prices in St. Louis, MO are 4.9% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 21% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median public relations specialist's $52,418 take-home pay has the buying power of $55,126 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 St. Louis, MO as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.81).
Best-paying cities for public relations specialists, adjusted for cost of living
St. Louis, MO ranks #52 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 |
| 52 | St. Louis, MO | $65,170 | $52,418 | $55,126 |
*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 Missouri
- Kansas City, MO — $68,050
- Columbia, MO — $47,700
Frequently asked questions
How much does a public relations specialist make in St. Louis, MO?
The median public relations specialist salary in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area is $65,170 a year, or about $31.33 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $51,770 and $83,150.
What is a public relations specialist’s take-home pay in St. Louis, MO?
On the median $65,170 salary, a single filer living in Missouri takes home about $52,418 a year ($4,368 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,126 in Missouri taxes in 2026.
Is St. Louis, MO a good place to work as a public relations specialist?
Pay here is 13% below the national median of $74,750. Local prices are 4.9% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $55,126 would in a typical U.S. city. St. Louis, MO ranks #52 of 89 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a public relations specialist afford rent in St. Louis, MO?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in St. Louis, MO is $989 a month ($1,211 for two bedrooms) — 23% of a median public relations specialist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in St. Louis, MO
- Producer and Director — $82,750
- Interior Designer — $61,570
- Graphic Designer — $61,000
- Audio and Video Technician — $52,030
- Merchandise Displayer and Window Trimmer — $48,020
- Coach and Scout — $37,970
- Floral Designer — $35,430
- Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials — $34,360