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Intermediate Public Relations Specialist Salary in the United States

How much does an Intermediate Public Relations Specialist make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for an Intermediate Public Relations Specialist in the United States is $75,500 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $36.

However, an Intermediate Public Relations Specialist's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $91,548
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $69,600 to $83,900
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $64,228
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Intermediate Public Relations Specialist Salaries

An Intermediate Public Relations Specialist's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Intermediate Public Relations Specialist Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Intermediate Public Relations Specialist's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry Public Relations Specialist (0-2 years): $61,029
  • Intermediate Public Relations Specialist (2-4 years): $75,454
  • Public Relations Representative III (4-7 years): $94,747
  • Public Relations Representative IV (7+ years): $118,083
  • PR Manager (7+ years): $133,352
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Entry Public Relations Specialist0-2 years$61,029
Intermediate Public Relations Specialist2-4 years$75,454
Public Relations Representative III4-7 years$94,747
Public Relations Representative IV7+ years$118,083
PR Manager7+ years$133,352
View as Graph

How Do Intermediate Public Relations Specialist Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Intermediate Public Relations Specialists. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $83,600.
  • California: $83,300.
  • Massachusetts: $82,200.

Top Paying Cities for Intermediate Public Relations Specialists

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $95,200
  • San Francisco: $94,200
  • Oakland: $92,200

What Skills Can Increase an Intermediate Public Relations Specialist's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Customer Service (Mentioned in 6.94% Job Postings): Customer service is the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase. The perception of success of such interactions is dependent on employees "who can adjust themselves to the personality of the guest". Customer service concerns the priority an organization assigns to customer service relative to components such as product innovation and pricing. In this sense, an organization that values good customer service may spend more money in training employees than the average organization or may proactively interview customers for feedback. From the point of view of an overall sales process engineering effort, customer service plays an important role in an organization's ability to generate income and revenue. From that perspective, customer service should be included as part of an overall approach to systematic improvement. One good customer service experience can change the entire perception a customer holds towards the organization.
  • Microsoft Office (Mentioned in 1.91% Job Postings): Microsoft Office is a suite of desktop productivity applications that is designed by Microsoft for business use. You can create documents containing text and images, work with data in spreadsheets and databases, create presentations and posters.
  • Marketing Research (Mentioned in 1.35% Job Postings): Marketing research is "the process or set of processes that links the producers, customers, and end users to the marketer through information used to identify and define marketing opportunities and problems; generate, refine, and evaluate marketing actions; monitor marketing performance; and improve understanding of marketing as a process. Marketing research specifies the information required to address these issues, designs the method for collecting information, manages and implements the data collection process, analyzes the results, and communicates the findings and their implications." It is the systematic gathering, recording, and analysis of qualitative and quantitative data about issues relating to marketing products and services. The goal of marketing research is to identify and assess how changing elements of the marketing mix impacts customer behavior. The term is commonly interchanged with market research; however, expert practitioners may wish to draw a distinction, in that market research is concerned specifically with markets, while marketing research is concerned specifically about marketing processes.
Skills Demand Percentage
Customer Service 6.94%
Microsoft Office 1.91%
Marketing Research 1.35%
See More Skills

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on an Intermediate Public Relations Specialist's salary.

  • Marketing Research: Can increase your salary by up to 27%.
  • Corporate Communications: Can increase your salary by up to 16%.
  • CRM: Can increase your salary by up to 13%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Marketing Research $95,885
27%
Corporate Communications $87,580
16%
CRM $85,315
13%
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Intermediate Public Relations Specialist Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Intermediate Public Relations Specialist salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $84,374. While startup companies pay approximate $71,372.

Intermediate Public Relations Specialist Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $71,372
Growth Stage 51~500 $75,483
Established 501~5000 $81,474
Enterprise 5000+ $84,374

Intermediate Public Relations Specialist Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Intermediate Public Relations Specialist roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 80% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the MFG Nondurable and Energy & Utilities sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 40% above the average. In contrast, Intermediate Public Relations Specialist positions in Pharmaceuticals or Financial Services typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Intermediate Public Relations Specialist as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for an Intermediate Public Relations Specialist

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
MFG Nondurable$105,700$51.040%
Energy & Utilities$98,150$47.030%
Media$94,375$45.025%
Aerospace & Defense$90,600$44.020%
Telecom$90,600$44.020%

How Education impacts an Intermediate Public Relations Specialist's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Intermediate Public Relations Specialists enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Intermediate Public Relations Specialist with a Bachelor's Degree is between $71,233 and $76,393).

Intermediate Public Relations Specialist Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Intermediate Public Relations Specialist
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 1.0%
High School 1.0%
Associates 1.0%
Bachelors 73.6%
Masters 23.3%
Doctorate 1.2%
View as Graph

Intermediate Public Relations Specialist Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Intermediate Public Relations Specialist's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on September 01, 2026
$69,600
Average $75,500/year
$83,900
$5,800
Average $6,292/month
$6,992
$1,338
Average $1,452/week
$1,613
$33
Average $36/hour
$40
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $83,900 $6,992 $1,613 $40
Average $75,500 $6,292 $1,452 $36
25th Percentile $69,600 $5,800 $1,338 $33

Intermediate Public Relations Specialist Salary Growth & Career Path

Intermediate Public Relations Specialist

Next Role

Advancement

Promotions are the fastest way to increase your earnings. As an Intermediate Public Relations Specialist, you have the following paths for advancement. The table below compares the salary raises for common next-step roles. By comparing these figures, you can choose the career path that best meets your financial goals.

Next Step Role Estimate Salary Projected Raise
Corporate Social Responsibility Specialist III $96,900 28%
Manager of Press and Media Relations $109,100 45%
Public Relations Representative III $94,800 26%

Most common benefits for Intermediate Public Relations Specialist

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Intermediate Public Relations Specialist

Here are companies hiring for Intermediate Public Relations Specialist and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Intermediate Public Relations Specialist

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Intermediate Public Relations Specialist?

The MFG Nondurable industry offers the highest average compensation for Intermediate Public Relations Specialist roles, with salaries approximately 40% above the market median.

2. What is a comfortable starting salary?

A comfortable starting salary for an Intermediate Public Relations Specialist typically ranges from $68,800 to $86,100, with a midpoint of $77,400. This range reflects the financial needs for a single working adult, which can vary significantly by location.

3. How much does a PR specialist make in the US?

The salary for an Intermediate Public Relations Specialist in the US ranges from $68,800 to $86,100, with a median salary of $77,400. This reflects a more competitive compensation compared to the average salary of $61,353 for PR specialists, along with an additional cash compensation of $4,414.

4. What is the highest PR position?

The highest PR position is typically that of PR Agency CEOs and Founders. They lead their agencies by providing strategic direction, driving business development, and maintaining key client relationships. In terms of salary, an Intermediate Public Relations Specialist can expect to earn between $68,800 and $86,100, with a median salary of $77,400.

5. What does a PR specialist do?

A Public Relations (PR) Specialist is responsible for managing an organization's communication strategy, building and maintaining a positive public image, and handling media relations. They create press releases, develop communication plans, and engage with stakeholders. The salary for an Intermediate PR Specialist ranges from $68,800 to $86,100, with a median salary of $77,400.

6. Is a PR degree worth it?

A PR degree can be worth it, especially considering the salary range for an Intermediate Public Relations Specialist, which typically falls between $68,800 and $86,100, with a median salary of $77,400. This degree can open doors to various opportunities in the field, potentially leading to a rewarding career both financially and professionally.

7. What is the highest salary in PR?

The highest salary for an Intermediate Public Relations Specialist ranges from $68,800 to $86,100, with a midpoint of $77,400. While top PR roles in India can earn significantly more, this salary range reflects the competitive compensation for specialists in the field.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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