363 metro areas

Public Relations Specialist Salary by City (2026)

Public relations specialists earn the most in San Jose, CA, an average of $126,860 a year, against $84,120 nationally. After local prices, pay goes furthest in San Jose, CA ($114,890 in national-average dollars). Every metro area with its own BLS estimate is ranked below.

US average (mean): $84,120BLS OEWS, May 2025
Highest-paying city: $126,860San Jose, CA
Best after cost of living: $114,890San Jose, CA
Metro areas: 363With their own estimate

Top cities

Highest-paying cities for public relations specialists

Mean annual wage

Top 10 metro areas

San Jose, CA$126,860
Washington, DC-VA-MD-WV$116,920
San Francisco, CA$114,320
Lexington Park, MD$107,990
Kennewick, WA$102,230
Denver, CO$101,030
Seattle, WA$100,940
Bridgeport, CT$100,460
New York, NY-NJ$99,240
Napa, CA$98,950

Top 10 metro areas by mean wage for public relations specialists
Item	Value
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA	$126,860
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV	$116,920
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA	$114,320
Lexington Park, MD	$107,990
Kennewick-Richland, WA	$102,230
Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO	$101,030
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA	$100,940
Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT	$100,460
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ	$99,240
Napa, CA	$98,950

Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025

At national-average prices

Mean wage ÷ BEA price level

San Jose, CA$126,860 nominal$114,890
Washington, DC-VA-MD-WV$116,920 nominal$107,380
Lexington Park, MD$107,990 nominal$107,180
Fayetteville, AR$97,360 nominal$106,580
Kennewick, WA$102,230 nominal$102,150
El Centro, CA$95,990 nominal$100,860
San Francisco, CA$114,320 nominal$98,880
Bloomington, IL$92,230 nominal$98,600
Watertown, NY$84,410 nominal$96,260
Denver, CO$101,030 nominal$95,510

Top 10 metro areas by price-adjusted mean wage for public relations specialists
Item	Value
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA	$114,890
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV	$107,380
Lexington Park, MD	$107,180
Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR	$106,580
Kennewick-Richland, WA	$102,150
El Centro, CA	$100,860
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA	$98,880
Bloomington, IL	$98,600
Watertown-Fort Drum, NY	$96,260
Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO	$95,510

Source: BLS OEWS 2025 · BEA RPP 2024

Every city

Public Relations Specialist salary in every metro area

Mean annual wage, with the Department of Labor's entry (Level I) and experienced (Level IV) prevailing-wage benchmarks for the same metro, and the mean at national-average prices. Sorted by mean pay.

Public Relations Specialist pay in every metro area with a BLS estimate
#	Metro area	Mean	Entry (Level I)	Experienced (Level IV)	At US prices
1	San Jose, CA	$126,860	$68,970	$155,380	$114,890
2	Washington, DC-VA-MD-WV	$116,920	$66,410	$141,810	$107,380
3	San Francisco, CA	$114,320	$64,650	$138,780	$98,880
4	Lexington Park, MD	$107,990	$62,070	$130,600	$107,180
5	Kennewick, WA	$102,230	$65,730	$120,200	$102,150
6	Denver, CO	$101,030	$60,590	$120,950	$95,510
7	Seattle, WA	$100,940	$68,120	$117,100	$90,830
8	Bridgeport, CT	$100,460	$56,430	$122,160	$94,010
9	New York, NY-NJ	$99,240	$58,280	$119,410	$88,160
10	Napa, CA	$98,950	$62,300	$117,000	$87,910
11	Fayetteville, AR	$97,360	$49,880	$120,760	$106,580
12	El Centro, CA	$95,990	$62,210	$112,630	$100,860
13	Sacramento, CA	$95,120	$61,460	$111,700	$89,170
14	Hartford, CT	$94,410	$57,300	$112,690	$91,890
15	New Haven, CT	$94,140	$52,920	$114,440	$90,040
16	Boston, MA-NH	$93,810	$56,310	$112,280	$86,650
17	San Diego, CA	$93,200	$55,270	$111,900	$83,300
18	Bloomington, IL	$92,230	$53,480	$111,320	$98,600
19	Vallejo, CA	$91,520	$55,850	$109,100	$84,370
20	Boulder, CO	$91,420	$53,600	$110,050	$86,900
21	Oxnard, CA	$91,420	$53,660	$110,010	$82,710
22	Atlanta, GA	$90,250	$51,520	$109,300	$90,200
23	Los Angeles, CA	$89,790	$54,560	$107,140	$79,060
24	Bremerton, WA	$89,480	$59,200	$104,400	$84,730
25	Chicago, IL-IN	$88,860	$52,440	$106,810	$85,780
26	Santa Rosa, CA	$88,300	$53,910	$105,230	$81,920
27	Yuba City, CA	$88,130	$56,740	$103,580	$84,550
28	Santa Cruz, CA	$88,000	$56,280	$103,630	$80,080
29	Trenton, NJ	$87,710	$51,400	$105,580	$85,010
30	Mount Vernon, WA	$87,260	$56,120	$102,610	$85,180
31	Olympia, WA	$87,170	$65,980	$97,610	$84,080
32	Salinas, CA	$86,900	$49,690	$105,230	$79,690
33	Colorado Springs, CO	$86,760	$53,020	$103,380	$86,150
34	Charlotte, NC-SC	$86,360	$47,400	$105,560	$88,710
35	Merced, CA	$86,150	$56,350	$100,820	$87,660
36	Fort Collins, CO	$85,950	$52,810	$102,250	$84,990
37	Santa Maria, CA	$85,950	$51,500	$102,920	$79,000
38	Salem, OR	$85,760	$51,460	$102,670	$82,740
39	Stockton, CA	$85,470	$53,210	$101,340	$81,330
40	Charleston, SC	$85,220	$45,010	$105,040	$84,410
41	Jackson, MI	$84,930	$48,650	$102,790	$92,540
42	Baltimore, MD	$84,910	$51,670	$101,250	$81,260
43	Durham, NC	$84,780	$53,100	$100,380	$86,890
44	Portland, OR-WA	$84,470	$52,580	$100,170	$80,130
45	Watertown, NY	$84,410	$45,910	$103,360	$96,260
46	Norwich, CT	$84,260	$50,520	$100,880	$83,890
47	Salisbury, MD	$84,260	$53,980	$99,150	$88,120
48	Charlottesville, VA	$83,890	$52,150	$99,510	$84,610
49	Reno, NV	$83,720	$48,630	$100,980	$82,880
50	Providence, RI-MA	$83,510	$52,080	$99,010	$82,060
51	Bakersfield, CA	$82,910	$50,480	$98,880	$82,180
52	Richmond, VA	$82,890	$50,790	$98,700	$84,700
53	Riverside, CA	$82,870	$50,690	$98,720	$77,850
54	Glens Falls, NY	$82,760	$47,880	$99,940	$87,240
55	Spokane, WA	$82,640	$57,320	$95,100	$82,360
56	Huntsville, AL	$82,580	$48,880	$99,170	$88,730
57	Modesto, CA	$82,560	$49,440	$98,860	$79,300
58	Peoria, IL	$82,560	$47,530	$99,820	$90,500
59	Raleigh, NC	$82,220	$48,190	$98,990	$83,760
60	Worcester, MA	$82,120	$51,310	$97,300	$80,100
61	Kiryas Joel, NY	$81,600	$48,190	$98,050	$74,570
62	Carson City, NV	$81,520	$59,280	$92,480	$83,070
63	Barnstable Town, MA	$81,220	$52,710	$95,240	$82,580
64	Manchester, NH	$81,220	$53,190	$95,040	$76,870
65	Rapid City, SD	$81,200	$52,290	$95,450	$91,070
66	Wenatchee, WA	$81,120	$53,330	$94,790	$78,110
67	Walla Walla, WA	$81,020	$56,530	$93,060	$82,240
68	Waterbury, CT	$80,680	$47,400	$97,070	$80,860
69	Cheyenne, WY	$80,640	$59,070	$91,270	$83,570
70	Kingston, NY	$80,370	$48,210	$96,200	$79,800
71	Elmira, NY	$80,230	$46,590	$96,800	$84,990
72	Bellingham, WA	$80,140	$55,290	$92,370	$77,550
73	Pinehurst, NC	$79,980	$48,570	$95,450	$90,540
74	Anchorage, AK	$79,890	$53,660	$92,810	$75,780
75	Columbus, OH	$79,870	$48,050	$95,560	$83,660
76	Dalton, GA	$79,810	$48,610	$95,180	$88,830
77	Phoenix, AZ	$79,660	$49,500	$94,520	$77,100
78	Rochester, NY	$79,500	$50,610	$93,720	$81,930
79	Fayetteville, NC	$79,350	$51,790	$92,910	$86,270
80	Myrtle Beach, SC	$79,350	$41,950	$97,760	$84,740
81	San Luis Obispo, CA	$79,060	$48,650	$94,060	$72,800
82	Spartanburg, SC	$78,960	$47,240	$94,580	$86,720
83	Greenville, SC	$78,870	$44,010	$96,050	$84,570
84	Bismarck, ND	$78,850	$55,720	$90,250	$86,630
85	Yakima, WA	$78,830	$56,830	$89,690	$82,510
86	Columbia, SC	$78,750	$42,370	$96,660	$84,080
87	Springfield, IL	$78,640	$51,080	$92,230	$84,790
88	Madison, WI	$78,520	$53,290	$90,940	$80,710
89	Las Vegas, NV	$78,350	$47,300	$93,660	$78,180
90	Greeley, CO	$78,330	$46,590	$93,970	$78,190
91	Augusta, GA-SC	$78,230	$46,860	$93,680	$85,120
92	Detroit, MI	$78,150	$45,640	$94,160	$77,920
93	Albany, NY	$78,100	$47,650	$93,100	$78,440
94	Casper, WY	$78,060	$57,280	$88,300	$83,190
95	Albuquerque, NM	$78,040	$51,210	$91,270	$81,680
96	Minneapolis, MN-WI	$77,940	$49,440	$91,980	$74,350
97	Virginia Beach, VA-NC	$77,580	$46,880	$92,710	$79,210
98	Fresno, CA	$77,540	$47,900	$92,140	$75,900
99	Visalia, CA	$77,440	$48,570	$91,670	$77,580
100	Salt Lake City, UT	$77,290	$46,680	$92,370	$76,620
101	Rochester, MN	$77,130	$44,120	$93,370	$84,930
102	Springfield, MA	$76,980	$48,760	$90,900	$80,140
103	Lansing, MI	$76,960	$50,230	$90,130	$81,020
104	Harrisburg, PA	$76,810	$45,260	$92,350	$77,860
105	Buffalo, NY	$76,770	$47,400	$91,230	$80,100
106	Midland, MI	$76,420	$44,530	$92,140	$83,140
107	New Orleans, LA	$76,420	$48,650	$90,080	$82,530
108	Jacksonville, FL	$76,360	$41,720	$93,390	$76,760
109	Oklahoma City, OK	$76,320	$47,420	$90,540	$84,420
110	Bend, OR	$76,270	$49,820	$89,320	$73,610
111	Birmingham, AL	$76,090	$45,970	$90,940	$83,030
112	Des Moines, IA	$76,040	$47,570	$90,080	$82,920
113	Austin, TX	$75,960	$47,630	$89,920	$77,460
114	Dallas, TX	$75,960	$47,420	$90,020	$73,680
115	Indianapolis, IN	$75,960	$48,280	$89,610	$79,380
116	Ann Arbor, MI	$75,800	$49,880	$88,570	$75,140
117	Ogden, UT	$75,770	$42,220	$92,310	$75,510
118	Redding, CA	$75,710	$47,260	$89,710	$75,200
119	Decatur, AL	$75,690	$45,240	$90,690	$86,790
120	Santa Fe, NM	$75,480	$51,330	$87,380	$76,420
121	Lawton, OK	$75,380	$41,020	$92,310	$87,710
122	Savannah, GA	$75,360	$48,420	$88,630	$79,150
123	Ithaca, NY	$75,030	$53,020	$85,860	$72,620
124	Fairbanks, AK	$74,780	$55,830	$84,120	$72,460
125	Green Bay, WI	$74,730	$49,960	$86,940	$80,280
126	Houston, TX	$74,630	$45,950	$88,750	$75,670
127	Milwaukee, WI	$74,630	$48,800	$87,340	$76,990
128	Niles, MI	$74,630	$40,270	$91,560	$80,790
129	Dayton, OH	$74,510	$46,220	$88,440	$80,380
130	Pittsfield, MA	$74,510	$48,630	$87,260	$78,340
131	Kansas City, MO-KS	$74,480	$46,650	$88,210	$80,480
132	Syracuse, NY	$74,340	$49,500	$86,550	$77,650
133	Pueblo, CO	$74,210	$50,610	$85,840	$80,870
134	Dover, DE	$74,030	$47,380	$87,130	$75,920
135	Chico, CA	$73,940	$45,010	$88,190	$73,070
136	Orlando, FL	$73,920	$42,930	$89,190	$72,890
137	Kenosha, WI	$73,860	$48,760	$86,240	$73,040
138	Cleveland, OH	$73,840	$45,090	$88,000	$78,620
139	Sierra Vista, AZ	$73,760	$45,470	$87,690	$82,650
140	Binghamton, NY	$73,670	$46,860	$86,880	$79,330
141	Elizabethtown, KY	$73,630	$49,940	$85,300	$81,290
142	Winchester, VA-WV	$73,570	$44,740	$87,780	$76,280
143	Amherst Town, MA	$73,510	$49,030	$85,550	$73,330
144	Davenport, IA-IL	$73,510	$42,490	$88,770	$82,520
145	Lafayette, IN	$73,400	$52,040	$83,930	$78,560
146	St. Joseph, MO-KS	$73,340	$43,490	$88,030	$84,900
147	Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD	$73,320	$44,300	$87,630	$71,490
148	Sheboygan, WI	$73,170	$46,400	$86,380	$77,830
149	St. Louis, MO-IL	$73,150	$46,200	$86,440	$76,930
150	Akron, OH	$72,990	$43,260	$87,630	$78,170
151	Utica, NY	$72,990	$49,670	$84,470	$78,760
152	Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN	$72,950	$44,390	$87,030	$76,490
153	Fort Wayne, IN	$72,860	$47,420	$85,400	$78,710
154	Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN	$72,860	$43,620	$87,260	$78,280
155	Elkhart, IN	$72,720	$45,090	$86,320	$80,510
156	Wausau, WI	$72,700	$47,990	$84,880	$78,470
157	Miami, FL	$72,680	$41,200	$88,190	$63,670
158	Warner Robins, GA	$72,590	$40,810	$88,250	$77,400
159	Tampa, FL	$72,450	$43,660	$86,610	$71,810
160	Naples, FL	$72,360	$44,390	$86,130	$70,120
161	Racine, WI	$72,340	$44,890	$85,860	$75,380
162	Wilmington, NC	$72,300	$42,540	$86,940	$74,980
163	Gulfport, MS	$72,220	$42,810	$86,690	$80,240
164	Grand Junction, CO	$72,070	$47,920	$83,970	$75,480
165	Roanoke, VA	$72,070	$43,140	$86,340	$76,980
166	Provo, UT	$71,970	$40,730	$87,360	$73,270
167	Sioux Falls, SD-MN	$71,640	$48,280	$83,140	$79,050
168	San Antonio, TX	$71,610	$43,600	$85,430	$75,600
169	Bozeman, MT	$71,570	$45,840	$84,240	$69,820
170	Bloomington, IN	$71,550	$43,760	$85,240	$75,250
171	Hagerstown, MD-WV	$71,550	$39,500	$87,360	$75,980
172	Alexandria, LA	$71,510	$40,640	$86,740	$83,460
173	Cedar Rapids, IA	$71,510	$43,760	$85,180	$80,380
174	Sherman, TX	$71,300	$41,720	$85,880	$76,040
175	Fargo, ND-MN	$71,280	$48,820	$82,350	$78,440
176	Atlantic City, NJ	$71,220	$46,220	$83,530	$72,040
177	Boise City, ID	$71,140	$42,760	$85,090	$72,300
178	Flagstaff, AZ	$71,030	$52,190	$80,310	$70,800
179	Wildwood, FL	$71,010	$44,930	$83,870	$83,130
180	Helena, MT	$70,970	$48,530	$82,010	$74,180
181	Kahului, HI	$70,950	$46,400	$83,030	$64,860
182	Palm Bay, FL	$70,950	$38,600	$86,880	$70,950
183	Midland, TX	$70,840	$41,450	$85,320	$73,960
184	Flint, MI	$70,620	$38,730	$86,320	$75,910
185	Grand Forks, ND-MN	$70,530	$50,710	$80,310	$81,380
186	Portland, ME	$70,530	$45,800	$82,700	$69,240
187	Champaign, IL	$70,510	$54,660	$78,310	$76,060
188	Killeen, TX	$70,390	$43,430	$83,660	$77,240
189	Shreveport, LA	$70,240	$46,340	$82,010	$82,860
190	Slidell, LA	$70,240	$41,040	$84,610	$75,750
191	Oshkosh, WI	$70,120	$46,760	$81,620	$75,460
192	Battle Creek, MI	$70,050	$41,560	$84,090	$77,370
193	Montgomery, AL	$69,950	$44,700	$82,390	$78,000
194	Terre Haute, IN	$69,950	$45,570	$81,950	$79,670
195	Mankato, MN	$69,930	$44,700	$82,350	$76,880
196	Albany, GA	$69,910	$37,320	$85,950	$79,740
197	Harrisonburg, VA	$69,890	$43,060	$83,100	$73,650
198	La Crosse, WI-MN	$69,740	$46,920	$80,970	$76,000
199	Urban Honolulu, HI	$69,740	$44,350	$82,260	$62,850
200	Gainesville, GA	$69,680	$40,230	$84,180	$72,010
201	Ames, IA	$69,620	$49,190	$79,660	$78,370
202	Waterloo, IA	$69,600	$43,660	$82,370	$79,950
203	Topeka, KS	$69,560	$44,970	$81,660	$78,320
204	Albany, OR	$69,510	$49,250	$79,500	$68,080
205	Greensboro, NC	$69,280	$42,890	$82,280	$74,600
206	Evansville, IN	$69,180	$41,950	$82,600	$75,580
207	Daphne, AL	$69,100	$45,530	$80,700	$72,970
208	Corvallis, OR	$68,990	$44,950	$80,850	$66,330
209	Lexington, KY	$68,990	$45,300	$80,660	$74,270
210	Tuscaloosa, AL	$68,950	$43,910	$81,290	$78,600
211	Greenville, NC	$68,790	$45,860	$80,060	$77,810
212	Auburn, AL	$68,640	$45,320	$80,120	$78,060
213	Prescott Valley, AZ	$68,620	$47,110	$79,210	$69,840
214	Columbus, GA-AL	$68,450	$41,680	$81,620	$76,660
215	Grand Rapids, MI	$68,330	$41,100	$81,740	$71,520
216	Janesville, WI	$68,310	$45,800	$79,370	$72,900
217	Wichita, KS	$68,290	$42,700	$80,890	$76,780
218	Little Rock, AR	$68,270	$43,680	$80,370	$76,400
219	Missoula, MT	$68,240	$44,930	$79,730	$70,760
220	Burlington, VT	$68,100	$47,420	$78,290	$67,460
221	Tulsa, OK	$68,100	$39,940	$81,970	$76,330
222	Lebanon, PA	$68,000	$40,190	$81,680	$72,950
223	Winston, NC	$67,930	$38,420	$82,470	$73,800
224	Nashville, TN	$67,890	$42,930	$80,160	$70,470
225	Asheville, NC	$67,770	$40,600	$81,140	$70,220
226	Memphis, TN-MS-AR	$67,750	$41,580	$80,620	$73,500
227	Toledo, OH	$67,680	$43,240	$79,710	$74,000
228	Staunton, VA	$67,660	$43,120	$79,750	$74,250
229	Tallahassee, FL	$67,640	$42,450	$80,040	$72,020
230	Yuma, AZ	$67,640	$42,560	$80,000	$72,960
231	Crestview, FL	$67,600	$39,960	$81,200	$69,670
232	Goldsboro, NC	$67,580	$39,770	$81,270	$76,390
233	Omaha, NE-IA	$67,560	$45,720	$78,330	$73,510
234	Cape Coral, FL	$67,540	$41,160	$80,520	$65,990
235	Gainesville, FL	$67,520	$41,370	$80,390	$69,800
236	Saginaw, MI	$67,500	$42,600	$79,770	$74,260
237	Decatur, IL	$67,330	$42,600	$79,520	$76,150
238	Canton, OH	$67,250	$39,330	$80,970	$75,220
239	Lynchburg, VA	$67,230	$42,790	$79,270	$75,230
240	Chattanooga, TN-GA	$67,060	$41,120	$79,830	$73,320
241	Ocala, FL	$66,980	$37,590	$81,450	$70,330
242	Pensacola, FL	$66,930	$40,290	$80,060	$68,490
243	Owensboro, KY	$66,770	$41,100	$79,410	$75,350
244	Sioux City, IA-NE-SD	$66,680	$41,430	$79,120	$77,130
245	Dubuque, IA	$66,640	$40,770	$79,390	$76,310
246	Panama City, FL	$66,640	$39,750	$79,890	$68,490
247	Fond du Lac, WI	$66,560	$44,470	$77,460	$72,630
248	Eugene, OR	$66,500	$46,430	$76,380	$65,470
249	Tucson, AZ	$66,350	$43,930	$77,420	$68,480
250	Columbus, IN	$66,210	$40,040	$79,100	$71,190
251	Logan, UT-ID	$66,160	$46,340	$75,940	$68,970
252	Lawrence, KS	$66,120	$45,950	$76,070	$73,270
253	Blacksburg, VA	$65,870	$47,740	$74,800	$71,050
254	Traverse City, MI	$65,830	$42,600	$77,270	$70,500
255	Odessa, TX	$65,790	$40,850	$78,080	$70,070
256	Rockford, IL	$65,790	$43,490	$76,770	$71,390
257	Anniston, AL	$65,770	$38,020	$79,440	$76,520
258	Hattiesburg, MS	$65,750	$41,370	$77,730	$75,030
259	Dothan, AL	$65,710	$38,420	$79,140	$78,380
260	Lincoln, NE	$65,540	$45,360	$75,460	$71,570
261	South Bend, IN-MI	$65,480	$43,180	$76,460	$70,520
262	Vineland, NJ	$65,400	$41,230	$77,310	$68,150
263	Burlington, NC	$65,350	$37,690	$78,980	$70,120
264	North Port, FL	$65,350	$39,330	$78,170	$63,810
265	Bowling Green, KY	$65,210	$32,760	$81,180	$72,310
266	Florence, AL	$65,210	$43,760	$75,770	$76,880
267	Iowa City, IA	$65,210	$42,430	$76,420	$71,260
268	Lewiston, ID-WA	$65,060	$39,310	$77,730	$71,370
269	Knoxville, TN	$64,900	$41,790	$76,290	$70,110
270	St. Cloud, MN	$64,850	$40,930	$76,650	$74,000
271	Eau Claire, WI	$64,830	$42,830	$75,670	$69,860
272	Waco, TX	$64,830	$41,230	$76,480	$70,050
273	Tyler, TX	$64,580	$39,250	$77,080	$70,080
274	Baton Rouge, LA	$64,540	$45,280	$74,030	$71,090
275	Billings, MT	$64,540	$43,040	$75,150	$69,010
276	Jacksonville, NC	$64,500	$38,420	$77,360	$70,040
277	Medford, OR	$64,500	$41,310	$75,940	$63,590
278	State College, PA	$64,500	$45,470	$73,880	$66,660
279	Muskegon, MI	$64,290	$41,580	$75,460	$69,490
280	Beaumont, TX	$64,190	$39,520	$76,360	$71,290
281	Kingsport, TN-VA	$64,190	$37,520	$77,330	$74,250
282	Lakeland, FL	$64,040	$35,710	$78,000	$65,920
283	Hickory, NC	$63,980	$39,460	$76,040	$72,310
284	Port St. Lucie, FL	$63,860	$39,640	$75,750	$63,710
285	Wichita Falls, TX	$63,790	$35,280	$77,850	$71,260
286	Huntington, WV-KY-OH	$63,730	$42,560	$74,170	$72,070
287	Kalamazoo, MI	$63,690	$40,160	$75,280	$67,160
288	Macon, GA	$63,690	$41,720	$74,530	$71,940
289	Jackson, MS	$63,560	$39,150	$75,570	$71,380
290	Athens, GA	$63,380	$40,370	$74,710	$67,900
291	Pocatello, ID	$63,290	$42,200	$73,670	$71,190
292	College Station, TX	$63,210	$45,030	$72,160	$69,500
293	Fort Smith, AR-OK	$63,210	$36,690	$76,250	$73,600
294	Sandusky, OH	$63,210	$42,160	$73,570	$70,800
295	Jefferson City, MO	$63,190	$46,300	$71,530	$71,830
296	Monroe, MI	$63,190	$39,690	$74,760	$67,590
297	Idaho Falls, ID	$63,000	$39,270	$74,690	$66,730
298	Manhattan, KS	$62,940	$43,140	$72,720	$69,810
299	Grand Island, NE	$62,750	$44,680	$71,640	$72,410
300	Morgantown, WV	$62,690	$48,110	$69,870	$67,180
301	Bangor, ME	$62,630	$42,760	$72,400	$64,900
302	El Paso, TX	$62,460	$37,420	$74,780	$69,470
303	York, PA	$62,190	$37,940	$74,150	$64,780
304	Lake Charles, LA	$62,130	$36,340	$74,820	$72,370
305	Florence, SC	$62,050	$38,360	$73,720	$71,510
306	Monroe, LA	$61,920	$39,850	$72,780	$74,070
307	Duluth, MN-WI	$61,820	$39,170	$72,970	$69,640
308	Coeur d'Alene, ID	$61,670	$39,020	$72,820	$62,740
309	Lake Havasu City, AZ	$61,510	$41,060	$71,570	$65,370
310	Corpus Christi, TX	$61,480	$38,420	$72,840	$66,340
311	Lima, OH	$61,320	$46,090	$68,810	$68,380
312	Brunswick, GA	$61,170	$42,600	$70,320	$69,740
313	Reading, PA	$61,090	$41,720	$70,620	$62,940
314	Allentown, PA-NJ	$61,050	$40,330	$71,260	$61,070
315	Hammond, LA	$60,920	$43,240	$69,620	$72,130
316	Appleton, WI	$60,900	$38,650	$71,840	$65,900
317	Muncie, IN	$60,880	$40,560	$70,890	$69,070
318	Rocky Mount, NC	$60,860	$33,570	$74,320	$69,150
319	Abilene, TX	$60,820	$37,630	$72,240	$67,310
320	Minot, ND	$60,820	$41,350	$70,430	$69,890
321	Joplin, MO-KS	$60,630	$36,460	$72,530	$70,730
322	Weirton, WV-OH	$60,590	$37,340	$72,050	$68,060
323	Bay City, MI	$60,550	$38,170	$71,570	$65,870
324	Williamsport, PA	$60,510	$41,870	$69,680	$65,520
325	Pittsburgh, PA	$60,440	$34,440	$73,260	$63,840
326	Amarillo, TX	$60,420	$39,870	$70,550	$65,800
327	Longview, TX	$59,840	$39,370	$69,910	$66,870
328	Punta Gorda, FL	$59,840	$38,540	$70,320	$59,530
329	Las Cruces, NM	$59,820	$39,730	$69,720	$66,310
330	Clarksville, TN-KY	$59,760	$36,190	$71,360	$65,710
331	Springfield, MO	$59,720	$40,020	$69,410	$67,420
332	Great Falls, MT	$59,400	$39,210	$69,350	$61,340
333	Twin Falls, ID	$59,260	$33,950	$71,720	$64,340
334	Cape Girardeau, MO-IL	$58,780	$40,790	$67,640	$68,290
335	Charleston, WV	$58,740	$39,560	$68,180	$66,210
336	Lubbock, TX	$58,700	$36,360	$69,680	$64,280
337	Lafayette, LA	$58,550	$34,490	$70,410	$67,140
338	Rome, GA	$58,450	$39,810	$67,620	$64,830
339	Sebastian, FL	$58,390	$36,480	$69,160	$59,390
340	Michigan City, IN	$58,360	$43,100	$65,870	$63,650
341	Erie, PA	$58,300	$38,400	$68,120	$64,100
342	St. George, UT	$57,970	$36,070	$68,740	$59,570
343	Texarkana, TX-AR	$57,760	$34,200	$69,370	$68,750
344	Youngstown, OH	$57,680	$39,100	$66,830	$66,000
345	Scranton, PA	$57,430	$36,750	$67,620	$61,390
346	Victoria, TX	$57,410	$35,800	$68,060	$63,900
347	San Angelo, TX	$57,200	$33,800	$68,720	$61,870
348	Brownsville, TX	$57,180	$35,730	$67,720	$66,510
349	Springfield, OH	$57,010	$34,240	$68,240	$63,010
350	Deltona, FL	$56,910	$35,150	$67,620	$57,270
351	Altoona, PA	$56,720	$34,130	$67,830	$63,370
352	Lancaster, PA	$55,600	$35,840	$65,350	$56,590
353	Jackson, TN	$55,350	$35,920	$64,940	$64,720
354	Columbia, MO	$55,040	$37,630	$63,610	$61,540
355	McAllen, TX	$55,040	$32,050	$66,370	$64,080
356	Johnson City, TN	$54,910	$37,840	$63,320	$62,450
357	Laredo, TX	$54,600	$33,860	$64,810	$62,790
358	Mobile, AL	$53,930	$34,760	$63,380	$61,220
359	Johnstown, PA	$53,790	$33,800	$63,630	$62,600
360	Paducah, KY-IL	$53,710	$31,760	$64,500	$62,390
361	Gettysburg, PA	$51,920	$36,210	$59,680	$54,440
362	Chambersburg, PA	$51,310	$33,090	$60,300	$54,210
363	San Juan, PR	$50,960	$31,010	$60,780	N/A

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Method

About these numbers

Mean wages are BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2025 estimates for each metropolitan statistical area, as published in the Department of Labor’s 2026–27 OFLC prevailing-wage file. Only metros with their own BLS estimate are listed.
Entry (Level I) and experienced (Level IV) are the Department of Labor’s prevailing-wage levels for the occupation in that metro, used for employer visa filings. They are benchmarks from the same OEWS survey, not percentiles.
OEWS top-codes wages at $115 an hour ($239,200 a year); top-coded means are shown as "$239,200+" and left out of rankings.
At US prices divides the mean by the metro’s BEA Regional Price Parity (2024) over 100, a NueCareer calculation.

Questions

Public Relations Specialist salary by city: FAQ

Which city pays public relations specialists the most?

San Jose, CA, where the average (mean) wage is $126,860 a year, followed by Washington, DC-VA-MD-WV ($116,920), San Francisco, CA ($114,320), Lexington Park, MD ($107,990). The national mean is $84,120 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Where do public relations specialists earn the most after cost of living?

Divided by each metro's BEA price level, pay goes furthest in San Jose, CA ($114,890 at national prices, $126,860 nominal), Washington, DC-VA-MD-WV ($107,380 at national prices, $116,920 nominal), Lexington Park, MD ($107,180 at national prices, $107,990 nominal).

How much do public relations specialists make in the biggest cities?

New York, NY-NJ: $99,240; Los Angeles, CA: $89,790; Chicago, IL-IN: $88,860; Dallas, TX: $75,960; Houston, TX: $74,630 (mean annual wage, BLS OEWS May 2025).

Where do public relations specialists earn the least?

Of the 363 metro areas with their own estimate, San Juan, PR has the lowest mean wage, $50,960.