Public Relations Specialists Salary in the United States
Median annual wage: $74,750 · Median hourly: $35.94 · Employment: 283,380
Annual Salary Percentiles
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $44,110 | $21.21 |
| 25th | $56,260 | $27.05 |
| Median | $74,750 | $35.94 |
| 75th | $100,370 | $48.25 |
| 90th | $135,150 | $64.98 |
Quick Facts
- Occupational code: 27-3031
- Total U.S. employment: 283,380
- Jobs per 1,000: —
- Hourly salary breakdown
- All-state comparison
How to interpret these figures
Pay spans a wide range: workers at the 10th percentile earn about $44,110, while those at the 90th percentile earn about $135,150 — a 3.1x gap between entry-level and top earners.
At $35.94 per hour, a full-time schedule (2,080 hours per year) works out to roughly $74,755 — in line with the reported median annual wage of $74,750.
Public Relations Specialists Salary by State
The table below ranks every state by median annual wage. Click a state for detailed local data.
| State | Median Annual | Median Hourly | vs National | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $61,710 | $29.67 | -17.4% | 2,410 |
| Alaska | $70,050 | $33.68 | -6.3% | 640 |
| Arizona | $66,710 | $32.07 | -10.8% | 5,350 |
| Arkansas | $65,000 | $31.25 | -13.0% | 980 |
| California | $85,030 | $40.88 | +13.8% | 32,710 |
| Colorado | $80,680 | $38.79 | +7.9% | 7,410 |
| Connecticut | $84,990 | $40.86 | +13.7% | 1,910 |
| Delaware | $76,120 | $36.59 | +1.8% | 930 |
| District of Columbia | $102,740 | $49.40 | +37.4% | 16,720 |
| Florida | $63,660 | $30.61 | -14.8% | 17,820 |
| Georgia | $73,200 | $35.19 | -2.1% | 6,860 |
| Hawaii | $63,880 | $30.71 | -14.5% | 1,800 |
| Idaho | $61,110 | $29.38 | -18.2% | 1,220 |
| Illinois | $76,380 | $36.72 | +2.2% | 6,200 |
| Indiana | $64,900 | $31.20 | -13.2% | 3,750 |
| Iowa | $62,970 | $30.27 | -15.8% | 2,890 |
| Kansas | $64,860 | $31.18 | -13.2% | 2,340 |
| Kentucky | $60,150 | $28.92 | -19.5% | 2,580 |
| Louisiana | $60,470 | $29.07 | -19.1% | 1,710 |
| Maine | $62,450 | $30.02 | -16.5% | 1,400 |
| Maryland | $79,560 | $38.25 | +6.4% | 4,190 |
| Massachusetts | $79,660 | $38.30 | +6.6% | 6,760 |
| Michigan | $65,300 | $31.39 | -12.6% | 7,510 |
| Minnesota | $68,620 | $32.99 | -8.2% | 8,260 |
| Mississippi | $59,810 | $28.75 | -20.0% | 950 |
| Missouri | $61,130 | $29.39 | -18.2% | 4,820 |
| Montana | $63,780 | $30.66 | -14.7% | 1,760 |
| Nebraska | $61,780 | $29.70 | -17.4% | 1,590 |
| Nevada | $73,840 | $35.50 | -1.2% | 1,600 |
| New Hampshire | $73,280 | $35.23 | -2.0% | 1,140 |
| New Jersey | $80,130 | $38.52 | +7.2% | 4,980 |
| New Mexico | $68,700 | $33.03 | -8.1% | 1,130 |
| New York | $81,250 | $39.06 | +8.7% | 28,250 |
| North Carolina | $67,230 | $32.32 | -10.1% | 9,910 |
| North Dakota | $70,280 | $33.79 | -6.0% | 640 |
| Ohio | $64,840 | $31.18 | -13.3% | 6,670 |
| Oklahoma | $64,920 | $31.21 | -13.2% | 2,280 |
| Oregon | $74,900 | $36.01 | +0.2% | 4,510 |
| Pennsylvania | $57,460 | $27.62 | -23.1% | 11,180 |
| Rhode Island | $77,540 | $37.28 | +3.7% | 1,140 |
| South Carolina | $62,730 | $30.16 | -16.1% | 2,950 |
| South Dakota | $64,520 | $31.02 | -13.7% | 210 |
| Tennessee | $60,900 | $29.28 | -18.5% | 3,380 |
| Texas | $65,160 | $31.33 | -12.8% | 25,220 |
| Utah | $62,670 | $30.13 | -16.2% | 1,800 |
| Vermont | $66,060 | $31.76 | -11.6% | 1,260 |
| Virginia | $80,380 | $38.65 | +7.5% | 9,990 |
| Washington | $87,470 | $42.05 | +17.0% | 6,430 |
| West Virginia | $56,730 | $27.27 | -24.1% | 350 |
| Wisconsin | $67,240 | $32.33 | -10.0% | 4,410 |
| Wyoming | $67,490 | $32.45 | -9.7% | 480 |
Data source: BLS OES state file · U.S. BLS OES, May 2024 (updated April 2025)
Related Occupations
- Cashiers — $32,880/yr
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $40,240/yr
- Stockers and Order Fillers — $37,330/yr
- Customer Service Representatives — $44,770/yr
- Office Clerks, General — $45,010/yr
- Waiters and Waitresses — $35,230/yr
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average salary for public relations specialists?
The median annual wage for public relations specialists is $74,750 ($35.94 per hour), according to the BLS OES survey for May 2024.
Which state pays public relations specialists the most?
Wages vary by state. Use the state table above to compare median annual pay across all 50 states and Washington, D.C.
How many public relations specialists are employed in the U.S.?
There are approximately 283,380 public relations specialists employed nationally, per BLS OES.
How much do public relations specialists make per hour?
The median hourly wage is $35.94. See the hourly salary page for the full percentile breakdown.