Salary Range & Percentiles
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$44,110
- 25th Percentile — Junior$56,260
- 50th Percentile — Median$74,750
- 75th Percentile — Senior$100,370
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$135,150
The top 10% of Public Relations Specialists earn $135,150 or more per year. Entry-level professionals can expect to start around $44,110, with significant growth over the first 5 years.
Salary by State
Geographic salary comparison
| State | Avg Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $120,200 | +42.9% |
| California | $97,140 | +15.5% |
| Colorado | $95,790 | +13.9% |
| New York | $95,760 | +13.8% |
| Washington | $95,030 | +13.0% |
| Connecticut | $95,000 | +12.9% |
| Virginia | $92,860 | +10.4% |
| Massachusetts | $90,400 | +7.5% |
| Maryland | $88,560 | +5.3% |
| New Jersey | $88,460 | +5.2% |
| Illinois | $86,060 | +2.3% |
| Rhode Island | $84,730 | +0.7% |
| Georgia | $84,550 | +0.5% |
| New Hampshire | $81,020 | -3.7% |
| Oregon | $80,470 | -4.3% |
| South Carolina | $80,010 | -4.9% |
| Delaware | $79,960 | -4.9% |
| Nevada | $79,430 | -5.6% |
| North Carolina | $78,940 | -6.2% |
| Alaska | $77,650 | -7.7% |
| Arkansas | $77,080 | -8.4% |
| Arizona | $76,700 | -8.8% |
| Wyoming | $75,790 | -9.9% |
| New Mexico | $75,750 | -10.0% |
| Minnesota | $74,790 | -11.1% |
| Ohio | $74,520 | -11.4% |
| Utah | $74,170 | -11.8% |
| North Dakota | $73,940 | -12.1% |
| Wisconsin | $73,830 | -12.2% |
| Michigan | $73,660 | -12.4% |
| Texas | $72,860 | -13.4% |
| Oklahoma | $72,520 | -13.8% |
| Indiana | $72,510 | -13.8% |
| Florida | $71,950 | -14.5% |
| South Dakota | $71,890 | -14.5% |
| Alabama | $70,760 | -15.9% |
| Hawaii | $70,190 | -16.6% |
| Vermont | $69,920 | -16.9% |
| Kansas | $69,850 | -17.0% |
| Iowa | $68,340 | -18.8% |
| Montana | $67,960 | -19.2% |
| Missouri | $67,840 | -19.4% |
| Kentucky | $67,550 | -19.7% |
| Louisiana | $67,520 | -19.7% |
| Maine | $67,260 | -20.0% |
| Idaho | $66,910 | -20.5% |
| Nebraska | $66,120 | -21.4% |
| Pennsylvania | $65,660 | -21.9% |
| Tennessee | $65,360 | -22.3% |
| Mississippi | $64,830 | -22.9% |
| West Virginia | $64,450 | -23.4% |
What Factors Affect Public Relations Specialists Salary?
Key factors affecting compensation
Pay for Public Relations Specialists 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 $120,200, while West Virginia pays $64,450 — a gap of $55,750 per year.
The middle half of Public Relations Specialists earn between $56,260 and $100,370 per year. The lowest-paid 10% earn under $44,110, while the top 10% earn more than $135,150.
These figures are the wages employers report to BLS: base pay plus commissions, production bonuses and tips. They exclude overtime pay, shift differentials, year-end bonuses, benefits and self-employed workers, so total compensation can be higher than the numbers shown.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
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Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average salary for Public Relations Specialists?
The average salary for Public Relations Specialists in the United States is $84,120 per year, with a median of $74,750.
What is the starting salary for Public Relations Specialists?
Entry-level Public Relations Specialists typically earn between $44,110 and $56,260 per year depending on location and employer.
What state pays Public Relations Specialists the most?
District of Columbia pays Public Relations Specialists the most at $120,200 per year on average, followed by California ($97,140) and Colorado ($95,790).
How much do Public Relations Specialists make per hour?
Based on the average annual salary of $84,120, Public Relations Specialists earn approximately $40.44 per hour (based on 2,080 working hours/year).
Is Public Relations Specialists a good career in 2026?
BLS counts 283,380 Public Relations Specialists jobs in the United States, with a mean annual wage of $84,120 and a median of $74,750 (OEWS May 2025). This site does not publish job-growth projections; the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook covers the outlook for each occupation.
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