Media & Communications

Public Relations Specialist Salary

PR specialists manage media relations and develop communications strategies for organizations.

Median Salary
$67,440
Mean Salary
$73,200
Total Employed
278,400
Job Growth
+6%

Public Relations Specialist Salary by Experience Level

Entry-level public relations specialists earn around $42,000 per year, while mid-career professionals earn $70,000. Senior-level public relations specialists can earn $112,000 or more.

Entry Level (0-2 yrs)
$42,000
Mid Level (3-7 yrs)
$70,000
Senior Level (8+ yrs)
$112,000

Salary Percentile Breakdown

The salary range for public relations specialists varies significantly. The bottom 10% earn $38,000, while the top 10% earn $120,000.

Percentile Annual Salary
10th Percentile $38,000
25th Percentile $50,000
50th Percentile (Median) $67,440
75th Percentile $91,000
90th Percentile $120,000

Public Relations Specialist Salary by State

Public Relations Specialist salaries vary significantly by state due to cost of living, demand, and industry concentration. The highest paying state is Hawaii at $114,648, while Mississippi offers the lowest at $55,975.

State Median
#1 Hawaii $114,648 Details →
#2 California $93,067 Details →
#3 Massachusetts $91,044 Details →
#4 Alaska $83,626 Details →
#5 New York $82,277 Details →
#6 New Jersey $77,556 Details →
#7 Washington $77,556 Details →
#8 Connecticut $75,533 Details →
#9 Maryland $74,184 Details →
#10 Oregon $74,184 Details →
#11 Colorado $70,812 Details →
#12 New Hampshire $70,812 Details →
#13 Rhode Island $70,812 Details →
#14 Virginia $70,138 Details →
#15 Delaware $68,114 Details →
#16 Vermont $68,114 Details →
#17 Florida $66,091 Details →
#18 Maine $66,091 Details →
#19 Arizona $65,417 Details →
#20 Minnesota $65,417 Details →
#21 Nevada $65,417 Details →
#22 Utah $65,417 Details →
#23 Pennsylvania $64,742 Details →
#24 Illinois $64,068 Details →
#25 Montana $64,068 Details →
#26 Idaho $63,394 Details →
#27 Georgia $62,719 Details →
#28 New Mexico $62,719 Details →
#29 North Carolina $62,045 Details →
#30 Texas $62,045 Details →
#31 Wisconsin $62,045 Details →
#32 Wyoming $62,045 Details →
#33 Louisiana $61,370 Details →
#34 Indiana $60,696 Details →
#35 Michigan $60,696 Details →
#36 Nebraska $60,696 Details →
#37 North Dakota $60,696 Details →
#38 Ohio $60,696 Details →
#39 Iowa $60,022 Details →
#40 South Carolina $60,022 Details →
#41 Tennessee $60,022 Details →
#42 Missouri $59,347 Details →
#43 South Dakota $59,347 Details →
#44 Alabama $58,673 Details →
#45 Kansas $58,673 Details →
#46 Kentucky $58,673 Details →
#47 Oklahoma $57,998 Details →
#48 Arkansas $56,650 Details →
#49 West Virginia $56,650 Details →
#50 Mississippi $55,975 Details →

Key Responsibilities

  • Write press releases
  • Manage media relations
  • Execute PR campaigns
  • Monitor media coverage
  • Organize press events

Top Skills

Media Relations Press Releases Crisis Communications Social Media Event Planning Brand Management

Education Required

Bachelor's degree

Job Outlook

Faster than average — projected 6% growth over the next decade