Public Relations Specialists Pay Range in California
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$49,550
- 25th Percentile — Junior$64,460
- 50th Percentile — Median$85,030
- 75th Percentile — Senior$121,180
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$160,520
Half of Public Relations Specialists in California earn more than $85,030. The top 10% make $160,520 or more, while entry-level workers start around $49,550.
Public Relations Specialists in California: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- California ranks 2nd of 51 states for Public Relations Specialists pay, at $97,140 per year (15.5% above the U.S. average of $84,120).
- 32,710 people work as Public Relations Specialists in California — 11.5% of all U.S. Public Relations Specialists jobs.
- Location quotient 0.99: Public Relations Specialists jobs are less concentrated in California than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $49,550; the top 10% earn over $160,520.
- Hourly equivalent: $46.7 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- The highest-paying state is District of Columbia at $120,200.
- Among creative jobs in California, Art Directors pays the most ($156,060).
Public Relations Specialists 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 Specialists here earn $97,140 on average, placing the state 2nd nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 1.42 (U.S. = 1.00), a California salary of $97,140 is roughly equivalent to $68,408 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, District of Columbia ($120,200), Colorado ($95,790), New York ($95,760) are the closest alternatives for Public Relations Specialists weighing a move.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
Other Creative Jobs in California
Related career salary benchmarks
- Art Directors $156,060/yr California +60.7% vs this role
- Producers and Directors $155,750/yr California +60.3% vs this role
- Special Effects Artists and Animators $134,360/yr California +38.3% vs this role
- Editors $111,810/yr California +15.1% vs this role
- Writers and Authors $106,560/yr California +9.7% vs this role
- Camera Operators Television Video Motion Picture $106,350/yr California +9.5% vs this role
- Interior Designers $89,740/yr California 7.6% vs this role
- Graphic Designers $86,800/yr California 10.6% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Public Relations Specialists salary in California?
The average Public Relations Specialists salary in California is $97,140 per year (median $85,030), which is 15.5% above the national average of $84,120.
How does California rank for Public Relations Specialists pay?
California ranks 2nd out of 51 states. The highest-paying state is District of Columbia ($120,200/yr).
How much do entry-level Public Relations Specialists make in California?
The lowest-paid 10% of Public Relations Specialists in California earn about $49,550 per year and the 25th percentile is $64,460.
How much do Public Relations Specialists make per hour in California?
About $46.7 per hour, based on the $97,140 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Public Relations Specialists work in California?
BLS counts 32,710 Public Relations Specialists jobs in California (OEWS May 2025).
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