Public Relations Specialists Salary 2025: $72,327 Median Pay (BLS OEWS)
$72,327 per year is the national median annual wage for public relations specialists (BLS OEWS, May 2025 reference period). That works out to about $35/hour, with a 10th–90th percentile range of $61,130 to $212,960. The Bureau of Labor Statistics classifies this role under SOC code 27-3031.
Key Facts (BLS OEWS, May 2025)
- Median annual wage
- $72,327
- Median hourly wage
- $35/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $89,449
- Total US employment
- 194,140
- Top-paying metro
- San Jose, CA, CA ($117,620)
- BLS SOC code
- 27-3031
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 release.
Public Relations Specialist (SOC 27-3031) is a mid-paying occupation, with a national median wage of $72,327. BLS OEWS reports 194,140 workers in this role nationally.
Geographic wage spread is wide: across the 70 cities reporting data, median Public Relations Specialist wages range from $55,910 to $117,620 — roughly 110% above the floor. The spread reflects cost-of-living, regional supply-and-demand, and industry-mix differences. Public Relations Specialist is in the {{category}} category. BLS OEWS captures base wage but not bonuses, equity compensation, or commissions; total compensation for many roles runs meaningfully above the reported wage.
Salary Range (BLS Percentiles)
Public Relations Specialists salaries range from $55,910 to $117,620 median across cities, depending on location, experience, and industry.
Public Relations Specialists Salary by City (BLS OEWS)
| City | 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | COL-Adjusted | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose, CA | $61,130 | $83,726 | $117,620 | $165,290 | $212,960 | $60,072 | 2,200 |
| San Francisco, CA | $58,030 | $75,826 | $102,520 | $141,115 | $179,710 | $57,082 | 6,290 |
| Washington, DC | $61,520 | $77,584 | $101,680 | $148,835 | $195,990 | $66,545 | 22,810 |
| Seattle, WA | $62,330 | $75,798 | $96,000 | $121,110 | $146,220 | $64,257 | 3,980 |
| Sacramento, CA | $55,920 | $69,408 | $89,640 | $112,550 | $135,460 | $71,885 | 2,620 |
| Hartford, CT | $53,380 | $67,160 | $87,830 | $123,320 | $158,810 | $78,002 | 710 |
| Bridgeport, CT | $52,580 | $65,544 | $84,990 | $126,340 | $167,690 | $61,811 | 450 |
| New York, NY | $55,410 | $66,898 | $84,130 | $123,150 | $162,170 | $44,941 | 24,820 |
| Denver, CO | $56,720 | $67,204 | $82,930 | $116,460 | $149,990 | $73,520 | 4,560 |
| Boston, MA | $53,800 | $64,856 | $81,440 | $113,580 | $145,720 | $53,544 | 5,380 |
| San Diego, CA | $50,390 | $62,730 | $81,240 | $114,400 | $147,560 | $50,712 | 2,730 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $48,090 | $60,798 | $79,860 | $108,365 | $136,870 | $48,108 | 11,910 |
| Atlanta, GA | $46,540 | $59,492 | $78,920 | $105,775 | $132,630 | $79,556 | 4,750 |
| Portland, OR | $48,170 | $60,254 | $78,380 | $103,890 | $129,400 | $60,246 | 3,050 |
| Baltimore, MD | $47,750 | $59,678 | $77,570 | $105,720 | $133,870 | $67,925 | 1,880 |
| Providence, RI | $47,200 | $59,204 | $77,210 | $102,920 | $128,630 | $64,665 | 1,250 |
| Chicago, IL | $49,460 | $60,496 | $77,050 | $113,970 | $150,890 | $71,808 | 4,920 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino, CA | $44,970 | $57,786 | $77,010 | $102,515 | $128,020 | $62,917 | 1,470 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $45,860 | $58,148 | $76,580 | $101,385 | $126,190 | $76,123 | 270 |
| Reno, NV | $44,710 | $57,162 | $75,840 | $110,330 | $144,820 | $71,211 | 290 |
| Richmond, VA | $46,870 | $58,414 | $75,730 | $101,925 | $128,120 | $74,172 | 1,760 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | $48,870 | $59,542 | $75,550 | $103,620 | $131,690 | $72,297 | 750 |
| Charlotte, NC | $43,920 | $56,428 | $75,190 | $112,590 | $149,990 | $77,756 | 2,470 |
| Spokane, WA | $52,510 | $61,350 | $74,610 | $98,180 | $121,750 | $76,602 | 320 |
| Las Vegas, NV | $45,310 | $56,722 | $73,840 | $94,100 | $114,360 | $67,743 | 1,180 |
| Minneapolis, MN | $44,970 | $56,494 | $73,780 | $96,890 | $120,000 | $69,473 | 6,170 |
| Albuquerque, NM | $47,990 | $58,250 | $73,640 | $100,395 | $127,150 | $78,340 | 560 |
| Madison, WI | $49,440 | $59,068 | $73,510 | $91,065 | $108,620 | $70,819 | 1,410 |
| Columbus, OH | $45,190 | $56,426 | $73,280 | $98,855 | $124,430 | $78,711 | 1,840 |
| Fresno, CA | $39,920 | $53,100 | $72,870 | $93,145 | $113,420 | $69,071 | 490 |
| Rochester, NY | $43,640 | $54,880 | $71,740 | $93,510 | $115,280 | $77,223 | 880 |
| Anchorage, AK | $53,240 | $60,548 | $71,510 | $95,875 | $120,240 | $56,307 | 360 |
| Des Moines, IA | $43,850 | $54,574 | $70,660 | $94,500 | $118,340 | $75,734 | 1,050 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $46,430 | $56,054 | $70,490 | $93,425 | $116,360 | $70,000 | 3,860 |
| Austin, TX | $44,320 | $54,380 | $69,470 | $91,370 | $113,270 | $67,447 | 4,170 |
| Buffalo, NY | $41,640 | $52,736 | $69,380 | $90,815 | $112,250 | $75,005 | 820 |
| Dallas, TX | $44,480 | $54,400 | $69,280 | $91,530 | $113,780 | $66,551 | 7,300 |
| Raleigh, NC | $44,540 | $54,240 | $68,790 | $108,960 | $149,130 | $68,928 | 2,330 |
| New Orleans, LA | $45,390 | $54,674 | $68,600 | $92,260 | $115,920 | $71,533 | 490 |
| Houston, TX | $40,290 | $51,502 | $68,320 | $88,980 | $109,640 | $70,798 | 5,160 |
| Albany, NY | $44,050 | $53,726 | $68,240 | $91,960 | $115,680 | $67,766 | 1,580 |
| Kansas City, MO | $43,750 | $53,470 | $68,050 | $90,430 | $112,810 | $71,331 | 1,950 |
| Orlando, FL | $38,980 | $50,336 | $67,370 | $91,525 | $115,680 | $65,344 | 2,320 |
| Indianapolis, IN | $45,440 | $53,844 | $66,450 | $86,780 | $107,110 | $73,751 | 1,740 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $43,920 | $52,916 | $66,410 | $90,095 | $113,780 | $76,775 | 920 |
| Detroit, MI | $39,470 | $50,122 | $66,100 | $96,325 | $126,550 | $69,506 | 2,930 |
| Milwaukee, WI | $46,160 | $53,904 | $65,520 | $88,690 | $111,860 | $67,269 | 1,330 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $43,040 | $52,000 | $65,440 | $92,355 | $119,270 | $64,536 | 1,000 |
| St. Louis, MO | $43,640 | $52,252 | $65,170 | $86,580 | $107,990 | $72,411 | 1,990 |
| Birmingham, AL | $42,420 | $51,404 | $64,880 | $94,940 | $125,000 | $71,770 | 710 |
| Tampa, FL | $39,750 | $49,726 | $64,690 | $90,185 | $115,680 | $64,950 | 2,590 |
| San Antonio, TX | $40,100 | $49,936 | $64,690 | $85,855 | $107,020 | $70,699 | 1,870 |
| Miami, FL | $35,110 | $46,906 | $64,600 | $90,130 | $115,660 | $52,478 | 5,460 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $39,540 | $49,544 | $64,550 | $89,320 | $114,090 | $54,519 | 5,220 |
| Cincinnati, OH | $39,610 | $49,382 | $64,040 | $88,900 | $113,760 | $70,219 | 1,470 |
| Tulsa, OK | $36,470 | $47,386 | $63,760 | $84,010 | $104,260 | $73,456 | 680 |
| Omaha, NE | $41,490 | $50,374 | $63,700 | $79,635 | $95,570 | $69,390 | 780 |
| Jacksonville, FL | $37,450 | $47,918 | $63,620 | $94,875 | $126,130 | $66,898 | 1,070 |
| Wichita, KS | $39,690 | $49,186 | $63,430 | $86,360 | $109,290 | $75,512 | 370 |
| Greenville, SC | $39,520 | $49,036 | $63,310 | $103,625 | $143,940 | $70,266 | 470 |
| Boise, ID | $39,570 | $48,994 | $63,130 | $89,170 | $115,210 | $61,832 | 610 |
| Nashville, TN | $40,200 | $49,268 | $62,870 | $81,060 | $99,250 | $62,682 | 1,350 |
| Greensboro, NC | $40,070 | $49,074 | $62,580 | $81,800 | $101,020 | $68,543 | 490 |
| Lexington, KY | $41,060 | $49,588 | $62,380 | $85,100 | $107,820 | $68,324 | 520 |
| Little Rock, AR | $40,660 | $49,080 | $61,710 | $82,125 | $102,540 | $69,966 | 330 |
| Louisville, KY | $37,280 | $47,024 | $61,640 | $85,255 | $108,870 | $68,337 | 820 |
| Tucson, AZ | $40,210 | $48,778 | $61,630 | $77,995 | $94,360 | $64,602 | 800 |
| Memphis, TN | $37,980 | $47,188 | $61,000 | $82,190 | $103,380 | $72,619 | 670 |
| Knoxville, TN | $38,900 | $46,284 | $57,360 | $80,235 | $103,110 | $63,522 | 420 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $31,200 | $41,084 | $55,910 | $75,895 | $95,880 | $60,574 | 1,970 |
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Frequently Asked Questions
The national median salary for Public Relations Specialist is $72,327 as of 2025. The national mean (average) is $89,449. Salaries range from $55,910 to $117,620 depending on city and cost of living.
Public Relations Specialist salaries vary significantly by metro area. The highest-paying cities offer median salaries well above the national average of $72,327, though cost of living should be factored in. Check the city breakdown table above for COL-adjusted figures.
There are approximately 194,140 Public Relations Specialist positions in the US across 70 metropolitan areas tracked by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Public Relations Specialist positions at the 90th percentile earn significantly more than the median, suggesting strong income growth potential with experience and specialization. The gap between the 10th and 90th percentile indicates the impact that skills, location, and seniority have on compensation.
Salary data from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. COL adjustments use BEA Regional Price Parities.
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2026.