Public Relations Specialists pay in the United States
What this work is
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.
Where the money actually goes furthest
District of Columbia pays the most both before and after cost of living — $102,740, worth $93,484 once local prices are counted.
Pay by state
54 states and territories publish a median for this occupation. Switch the ranking to see how much the order changes.
Adjusted for what things cost in that state.
| State | Hourly | Annual | Worth locally | After state tax | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $49.40/hr | $102,740 | $93,484 | $96,848 | 16,720 |
| Connecticut | $40.86/hr | $84,990 | $82,028 | $81,065 | 1,910 |
| Washington | $42.05/hr | $87,470 | $81,740 | $87,470 | 6,430 |
| Virginia | $38.65/hr | $80,380 | $79,505 | $76,504 | 9,990 |
| North Dakota | $33.79/hr | $70,280 | $79,001 | $70,139 | 640 |
| Colorado | $38.79/hr | $80,680 | $78,292 | $77,871 | 7,410 |
| California | $40.88/hr | $85,030 | $76,797 | $81,095 | 32,710 |
| Illinois | $36.72/hr | $76,380 | $76,410 | $72,736 | 6,200 |
| Delaware | $36.59/hr | $76,120 | $76,264 | $72,327 | 930 |
| Georgia | $35.19/hr | $73,200 | $76,020 | $70,023 | 6,860 |
| Rhode Island | $37.28/hr | $77,540 | $75,811 | $75,027 | 1,140 |
| Maryland | $38.25/hr | $79,560 | $75,800 | $75,961 | 4,190 |
| Massachusetts | $38.30/hr | $79,660 | $75,321 | $75,677 | 6,760 |
| New York | $39.06/hr | $81,250 | $75,287 | $77,386 | 28,250 |
| Arkansas | $31.25/hr | $65,000 | $74,764 | $62,641 | 980 |
| New Mexico | $33.03/hr | $68,700 | $74,503 | $66,446 | 1,130 |
| Oklahoma | $31.21/hr | $64,920 | $73,907 | $62,326 | 2,280 |
| Nevada | $35.50/hr | $73,840 | $73,854 | $73,840 | 1,600 |
| New Jersey | $38.52/hr | $80,130 | $73,642 | $77,151 | 4,980 |
| South Dakota | $31.02/hr | $64,520 | $72,829 | $64,520 | 210 |
| Wyoming | $32.45/hr | $67,490 | $72,812 | $67,490 | 480 |
| Oregon | $36.01/hr | $74,900 | $72,465 | $68,887 | 4,510 |
| Kansas | $31.18/hr | $64,860 | $72,010 | $61,529 | 2,340 |
| Iowa | $30.27/hr | $62,970 | $71,752 | $61,131 | 2,890 |
| Wisconsin | $32.33/hr | $67,240 | $71,455 | $64,773 | 4,410 |
| North Carolina | $32.32/hr | $67,230 | $71,271 | $64,914 | 9,910 |
| New Hampshire | $35.23/hr | $73,280 | $70,346 | $73,280 | 1,140 |
| Ohio | $31.18/hr | $64,840 | $69,893 | $63,773 | 6,670 |
| Minnesota | $32.99/hr | $68,620 | $69,580 | $65,417 | 8,260 |
| Indiana | $31.20/hr | $64,900 | $69,538 | $62,983 | 3,750 |
| Alabama | $29.67/hr | $61,710 | $69,477 | $58,814 | 2,410 |
| Mississippi | $28.75/hr | $59,810 | $68,786 | $57,279 | 950 |
| Nebraska | $29.70/hr | $61,780 | $68,568 | $59,477 | 1,590 |
| Louisiana | $29.07/hr | $60,470 | $68,552 | $59,030 | 1,710 |
| Alaska | $33.68/hr | $70,050 | $68,434 | $70,050 | 640 |
| Michigan | $31.39/hr | $65,300 | $67,865 | $62,762 | 7,510 |
| Vermont | $31.76/hr | $66,060 | $67,435 | $63,637 | 1,260 |
| Montana | $30.66/hr | $63,780 | $67,385 | $61,131 | 1,760 |
| Missouri | $29.39/hr | $61,130 | $67,308 | $59,113 | 4,820 |
| Texas | $31.33/hr | $65,160 | $67,133 | $65,160 | 25,220 |
| South Carolina | $30.16/hr | $62,730 | $66,912 | $60,423 | 2,950 |
| Kentucky | $28.92/hr | $60,150 | $66,714 | $57,870 | 2,580 |
| Tennessee | $29.28/hr | $60,900 | $66,289 | $60,900 | 3,380 |
| Arizona | $32.07/hr | $66,710 | $66,259 | $65,407 | 5,350 |
| Maine | $30.02/hr | $62,450 | $64,348 | $59,474 | 1,400 |
| Idaho | $29.38/hr | $61,110 | $63,996 | $58,644 | 1,220 |
| Utah | $30.13/hr | $62,670 | $63,392 | $59,818 | 1,800 |
| West Virginia | $27.27/hr | $56,730 | $63,385 | $54,821 | 350 |
| Florida | $30.61/hr | $63,660 | $61,560 | $63,660 | 17,820 |
| Pennsylvania | $27.62/hr | $57,460 | $58,891 | $55,695 | 11,180 |
| Hawaii | $30.71/hr | $63,880 | $58,099 | $60,468 | 1,800 |
| Virgin Islands | $28.84/hr | $59,990 | Not published | Not published | 60 |
| Guam | $23.30/hr | $48,460 | Not published | Not published | Not published |
| Puerto Rico | $21.61/hr | $44,950 | Not published | Not published | 520 |
National median for comparison: $74,750. “Worth locally” divides pay by the area’s price level, so a figure above the headline means money goes further there than the US average.
$35.94/hr an hour, national median
Across the states
25th to 75th percentile, lowest and highest state
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