Salary Range & Percentiles
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$82,410
- 25th Percentile — Junior$106,580
- 50th Percentile — Median$146,910
- 75th Percentile — Senior$204,520
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$284,990
The top 10% of Public Relations Managers earn $284,990 or more per year. Entry-level professionals can expect to start around $82,410, with significant growth over the first 5 years.
Salary by State
Geographic salary comparison
| State | Avg Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $217,060 | +31.7% |
| New York | $203,900 | +23.8% |
| Virginia | $192,100 | +16.6% |
| New Jersey | $185,230 | +12.4% |
| California | $185,180 | +12.4% |
| Massachusetts | $181,950 | +10.4% |
| Vermont (est.) | $177,941 | +8.0% |
| Colorado | $170,820 | +3.7% |
| Washington | $168,850 | +2.5% |
| Connecticut | $167,860 | +1.9% |
| Maryland | $166,120 | +0.8% |
| Delaware | $165,760 | +0.6% |
| Rhode Island | $163,300 | -0.9% |
| Wyoming (est.) | $153,227 | -7.0% |
| Maine | $151,990 | -7.8% |
| Georgia | $150,060 | -8.9% |
| Minnesota | $148,840 | -9.7% |
| Utah | $148,790 | -9.7% |
| North Carolina | $146,900 | -10.8% |
| South Dakota (est.) | $143,341 | -13.0% |
| Illinois | $142,720 | -13.4% |
| New Hampshire | $142,510 | -13.5% |
| Texas | $142,060 | -13.8% |
| Oregon | $138,720 | -15.8% |
| Florida | $137,560 | -16.5% |
| Arkansas | $136,310 | -17.3% |
| Nevada | $135,800 | -17.6% |
| Kansas | $135,260 | -17.9% |
| Ohio | $132,030 | -19.9% |
| Tennessee | $131,930 | -19.9% |
| Michigan | $131,830 | -20.0% |
| Arizona | $131,310 | -20.3% |
| Pennsylvania | $130,880 | -20.6% |
| Alaska | $129,370 | -21.5% |
| Wisconsin | $129,050 | -21.7% |
| Missouri | $128,330 | -22.1% |
| Indiana | $128,300 | -22.1% |
| Iowa | $128,080 | -22.3% |
| New Mexico | $127,030 | -22.9% |
| South Carolina | $125,350 | -23.9% |
| Kentucky | $123,770 | -24.9% |
| North Dakota | $122,450 | -25.7% |
| Nebraska | $117,790 | -28.5% |
| Hawaii | $115,930 | -29.6% |
| Mississippi | $114,260 | -30.7% |
| Alabama | $112,490 | -31.7% |
| Montana | $111,870 | -32.1% |
| Louisiana | $110,400 | -33.0% |
| Oklahoma | $110,350 | -33.0% |
| Idaho | $103,660 | -37.1% |
| West Virginia | $94,410 | -42.7% |
What Factors Affect Public Relations Managers Salary?
Key factors affecting compensation
Pay for Public Relations Managers is influenced by geographic location, years of experience, employer type, and educational background. Location alone is a large factor: District of Columbia pays an average of $217,060, while West Virginia pays $94,410 — a gap of $122,650 per year.
Experience plays a major role in compensation. Entry-level Public Relations Managers typically earn $82,410–$106,580 per year, while senior professionals with 10+ years of experience can command $204,520–$284,990 annually. Specialization and advanced certifications can further boost earning potential.
Employer size also matters. Large corporations and government agencies tend to offer more competitive packages including benefits, retirement plans, and bonuses. The Public Relations Managers role currently has medium demand in the job market with a 3.5% growth rate, making it one of the steadily growing careers in the Management sector.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
Compare with Similar Jobs
Related career salary benchmarks
- General and Operations Managers $134,940/yr United States 18.1% vs this role
- Computer and Information Systems Managers $192,160/yr United States +16.6% vs this role
- Financial Managers $186,910/yr United States +13.4% vs this role
- Marketing Managers $177,770/yr United States +7.9% vs this role
- Sales Managers $164,350/yr United States 0.2% vs this role
- Construction Managers $124,360/yr United States 24.5% vs this role
- Registered Nurses $101,420/yr United States 38.4% vs this role
- Nurse Practitioners $137,300/yr United States 16.7% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average salary for Public Relations Managers?
The average salary for Public Relations Managers in the United States is $164,760 per year, with a median of $146,910.
What is the starting salary for Public Relations Managers?
Entry-level Public Relations Managers typically earn between $82,410 and $106,580 per year depending on location and employer.
What state pays Public Relations Managers the most?
District of Columbia pays Public Relations Managers the most at $217,060 per year on average, followed by New York ($203,900) and Virginia ($192,100).
How much do Public Relations Managers make per hour?
Based on the average annual salary of $164,760, Public Relations Managers earn approximately $79.21 per hour (based on 2,080 working hours/year).
Is Public Relations Managers a good career in 2026?
BLS counts 74,850 Public Relations Managers jobs in the United States, with a mean annual wage of $164,760 and a median of $146,910 (OEWS May 2025). This site does not publish job-growth projections; the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook covers the outlook for each occupation.
Related Salary Pages
Explore more salary data