Public Relations Specialists Pay Range in Illinois
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$47,690
- 25th Percentile — Junior$59,400
- 50th Percentile — Median$76,380
- 75th Percentile — Senior$102,950
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$139,570
Half of Public Relations Specialists in Illinois earn more than $76,380. The top 10% make $139,570 or more, while entry-level workers start around $47,690.
Public Relations Specialists in Illinois: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- Illinois ranks 11th of 51 states for Public Relations Specialists pay, at $86,060 per year (2.3% above the U.S. average of $84,120).
- 6,200 people work as Public Relations Specialists in Illinois — 2.2% of all U.S. Public Relations Specialists jobs.
- Location quotient 0.56: Public Relations Specialists jobs are less concentrated in Illinois than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $47,690; the top 10% earn over $139,570.
- Hourly equivalent: $41.38 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- The highest-paying state is District of Columbia at $120,200.
- Among creative jobs in Illinois, Art Directors pays the most ($114,870).
Public Relations Specialists Job Market in Illinois
Key factors affecting compensation
Illinois's key industries are Finance, Manufacturing, Agriculture, and its job market is rated strong. Public Relations Specialists here earn $86,060 on average, placing the state 11th nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 1.05 (U.S. = 1.00), a Illinois salary of $86,060 is roughly equivalent to $81,962 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Virginia ($92,860), Massachusetts ($90,400), Maryland ($88,560) 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 Illinois
Related career salary benchmarks
- Art Directors $114,870/yr Illinois +33.5% vs this role
- Camera Operators Television Video Motion Picture $96,520/yr Illinois +12.2% vs this role
- Producers and Directors $95,920/yr Illinois +11.5% vs this role
- Special Effects Artists and Animators $92,680/yr Illinois +7.7% vs this role
- News Analysts Reporters and Journalists $87,560/yr Illinois +1.7% vs this role
- Interior Designers $85,520/yr Illinois 0.6% vs this role
- Editors $80,620/yr Illinois 6.3% vs this role
- Writers and Authors $77,240/yr Illinois 10.2% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Public Relations Specialists salary in Illinois?
The average Public Relations Specialists salary in Illinois is $86,060 per year (median $76,380), which is 2.3% above the national average of $84,120.
How does Illinois rank for Public Relations Specialists pay?
Illinois ranks 11th 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 Illinois?
The lowest-paid 10% of Public Relations Specialists in Illinois earn about $47,690 per year and the 25th percentile is $59,400.
How much do Public Relations Specialists make per hour in Illinois?
About $41.38 per hour, based on the $86,060 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Public Relations Specialists work in Illinois?
BLS counts 6,200 Public Relations Specialists jobs in Illinois (OEWS May 2025).
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