SOC 273031

Public Relations Specialists

Promote or create an intended public image for individuals, groups, or organizations. May write or select material for release to various communications media. May specialize in using social media.

National Median

$69,780

per year

National Salary Overview

Median Annual

$69,780

Entry Level (10th pct)

$40,750

Experienced (90th pct)

$129,480

Total Employed

280,590

Salary Distribution

Salary percentiles show the range from entry-level (10th) to top earners (90th)

Salary by Experience Level

Experience LevelEstimated Salary Range
Entry Level0-2 years experience$40,750 - $51,970
Mid Career2-8 years experience$51,970 - $95,940
Senior / Expert8+ years experience$95,940 - $129,480

Highest Paying Locations for Public Relations Specialists

Public Relations Specialists Salary by Location

Compare salaries across 50 metropolitan areas

Metropolitan AreaMedian SalaryEmployed
Lexington Park, MD$102,50060
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$101,2002,400
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$98,4606,040
District of Columbia$97,80018,110
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV$95,37024,000
Salt Lake City-Murray, UT$93,2201,680
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$92,0604,410
Boulder, CO$90,000N/A
Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA$89,940110
Kennewick-Richland, WA$86,960200
New Haven, CT$86,220440
Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT$85,690750
Washington$85,5006,650
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA$85,3602,250
Bloomington, IL$84,480140
Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT$84,080430
Connecticut$83,6201,990
Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR$83,040370
California$81,49031,070
Vallejo, CA$80,660130
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ$79,99023,640
Warner Robins, GA$79,79050
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA$79,110260
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA$78,940440
Western Wyoming nonmetropolitan area$78,94090
Dalton, GA$78,77050
New York$78,51025,780
Trenton-Princeton, NJ$78,420720
Sussex Delaware nonmetropolitan area$78,250140
Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA$78,110600
Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA$77,88040
Virginia$77,8009,580
Yuba City, CA$77,79040
Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO$77,5304,460
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA$77,38011,930
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA$77,2902,360
Colorado$77,1207,050
Rochester, MN$77,030200
Carson City, NV$77,02040
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA$76,9404,290
Northern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area$76,930110
Salem, OR$76,770500
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH$76,6806,460
St. George, UT$76,51090
Winchester, VA-WV$76,46070
Salinas, CA$76,320140
Fort Collins-Loveland, CO$76,320370
Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA$76,070230
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA$75,8402,960
Utah$75,7002,620

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average salary for a Public Relations Specialists?
The national median annual salary for Public Relations Specialists is $69,780, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data. This means half of workers in this occupation earn more, and half earn less.
Where do Public Relations Specialistss earn the most?
The highest-paying metro area for Public Relations Specialistss is Lexington Park, MD, with a median salary of $102,500.
How much can an experienced Public Relations Specialists make?
Top-earning Public Relations Specialistss (90th percentile) make $129,480 or more annually. This typically reflects workers with significant experience, specialized skills, or positions in high-paying regions.