Public Relations Managers Pay Range in California
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$97,800
- 25th Percentile — Junior$125,550
- 50th Percentile — Median$167,980
- 75th Percentile — Senior$222,310
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$300,800
Half of Public Relations Managers in California earn more than $167,980. The top 10% make $300,800 or more, while entry-level workers start around $97,800.
Public Relations Managers in California: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- California ranks 5th of 48 states for Public Relations Managers pay, at $185,180 per year (12.4% above the U.S. average of $164,760).
- 9,400 people work as Public Relations Managers in California — 12.6% of all U.S. Public Relations Managers jobs.
- Location quotient 1.07: Public Relations Managers jobs are more concentrated in California than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $97,800; the top 10% earn over $300,800.
- Hourly equivalent: $89.03 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- The highest-paying state is District of Columbia at $217,060.
- Among management jobs in California, Chief Executives pays the most ($272,920).
Public Relations Managers Job Market in California
Key factors affecting compensation
California's key industries are Technology, Entertainment, Agriculture, and its job market is rated very strong. Public Relations Managers here earn $185,180 on average, placing the state 5th nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 1.42 (U.S. = 1.00), a California salary of $185,180 is roughly equivalent to $130,408 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, District of Columbia ($217,060), New York ($203,900), Virginia ($192,100) are the closest alternatives for Public Relations Managers weighing a move.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
Other Management Jobs in California
Related career salary benchmarks
- Chief Executives $272,920/yr California +47.4% vs this role
- Computer and Information Systems Managers $238,440/yr California +28.8% vs this role
- Natural Sciences Managers $223,850/yr California +20.9% vs this role
- Architectural and Engineering Managers $213,110/yr California +15.1% vs this role
- Financial Managers $210,490/yr California +13.7% vs this role
- Marketing Managers $207,860/yr California +12.2% vs this role
- Purchasing Managers $165,780/yr California 10.5% vs this role
- Sales Managers $160,260/yr California 13.5% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Public Relations Managers salary in California?
The average Public Relations Managers salary in California is $185,180 per year (median $167,980), which is 12.4% above the national average of $164,760.
How does California rank for Public Relations Managers pay?
California ranks 5th out of 48 states. The highest-paying state is District of Columbia ($217,060/yr).
How much do entry-level Public Relations Managers make in California?
The lowest-paid 10% of Public Relations Managers in California earn about $97,800 per year and the 25th percentile is $125,550.
How much do Public Relations Managers make per hour in California?
About $89.03 per hour, based on the $185,180 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Public Relations Managers work in California?
BLS counts 9,400 Public Relations Managers jobs in California (OEWS May 2025).
Related Salary Pages
Explore more salary data