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PR Manager Salary in the United States

How much does a PR Manager make in the United States?

As of April 01, 2026, the average salary for a PR Manager in the United States is $133,300 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $64.

However, a PR Manager's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $160,237
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $123,000 to $147,400
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $113,622
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View as table View as graph 25% $123,000 10% $113,622 90% $160,237 75% $147,400 $133,300 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

PR Manager Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $147,400 $12,283 $2,835 $71
Average $133,300 $11,108 $2,563 $64
25th Percentile $123,000 $10,250 $2,365 $59
Check out PR Manager Job Openings in the United States
PR Manager

getpress - Germantown, OH

Junior PR Manager

getpress - Tipp City, OH

Brand Marketing&amp PR

The Borgen Project - Elyria, OH

Account Associate Growth in PR&amp Marketing

Slidenine - Columbus, OH

Search More PR Manager Jobs in the United States

Key Factors That Influence PR Manager Salaries

A PR Manager'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 PR Manager Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a PR Manager'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:

  • Public Relations Representative III (4-7 years): $94,687
  • Public Relations Representative IV (7+ years): $118,068
  • PR Manager (7+ years): $133,210
  • PR Director (7+ years): $160,927
  • Vice President of Public Relations (7+ years): $252,771
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Public Relations Representative III4-7 years$94,687
Public Relations Representative IV7+ years$118,068
PR Manager7+ years$133,210
PR Director7+ years$160,927
Vice President of Public Relations7+ years$252,771
$94,687 Public Re...
$118,068 Public Re...
$133,210 PR Manage...
$160,927 PR Direct...
$252,771 Vice Pres...
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for PR Managers

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: $168,100
  • San Francisco: $166,400
  • Oakland: $162,700

What Skills Can Increase a PR Manager's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Leadership (Mentioned in 7.91% Job Postings): Knowledge of and ability to employ effective strategies that motivate and guide other members within our business to achieve optimum results.
  • Brand Awareness (Mentioned in 1.7% Job Postings): Brand awareness is the extent to which customers are able to recall or recognize a brand under different conditions. Brand awareness is one of two dimensions from brand knowledge, an associative network memory model.
  • Crisis Communications (Mentioned in 1.3% Job Postings): Crisis communication is a sub-specialty of the public relations profession that is designed to protect and defend an individual, company, or organization facing a public challenge to its reputation. The communication scholar Timothy Coombs defines crisis as "the perception of an unpredictable event that threatens important expectancies of stakeholders and can seriously impact an organization's performance and generate negative outcomes" and crisis communication as "the collection, processing, and dissemination of information required to address a crisis situation." Meaning can be socially constructed; because of this, the way that the stakeholders of an organization view an event (positively, neutrally, or negatively) is a major contributing factor to whether the event will become a crisis. Additionally, it is important to separate a true crisis situation from an incident. The term crisis “should be reserved for serious events that require careful attention from management.”
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Leadership 7.91%
Brand Awareness 1.7%
Crisis Communications 1.3%
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 a PR Manager's salary.
  • Artificial Intelligence: Can increase your salary by up to 14%.
  • Services Marketing: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.
  • B2B: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Artificial Intelligence
$151,962
14%
Services Marketing
$145,297
9%
B2B
$139,965
5%
Insight
$138,632
4%
Corporate Communications
$138,632
4%
Storytelling
$138,632
4%
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How Education impacts a PR Manager's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many PR Managers 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 a PR Manager with a Bachelor's Degree is between $116,834 and $125,731).

PR Manager Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for PR Manager
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.3%
High School 1.6%
Associates 2.0%
Bachelors 68.7%
Masters 26.0%
Doctorate 1.4%
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PR Manager Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a PR Manager'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 April 01, 2026

PR Manager Salary Growth & Career Path

Promotions are the fastest way to increase your earnings. As a PR Manager, 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.

PR Manager Salary Growth and Career Path
Next Step Role Estimate Salary Projected Raise
Corporate Social Responsibility Senior Manager $156,400 17%
Manager of Press and Media Relations $108,500 -19%
PR Director $161,000 21%

Salary Trends for PR Manager

Salaries for a PR Manager can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $111,964 in 2023 to around $110,188 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of PR Manager salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of PR Manager Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$111,964
2024
$111,344
2025
$110,188
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $111,964
2024 $111,344
2025 $110,188
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for PR Manager

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for PR Manager

Here are companies hiring for PR Manager and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about PR Manager

1. What does a PR manager earn?

A PR manager typically earns between $116,800 and $143,800 annually, with a mid-salary of $128,400. Experienced professionals in senior roles may earn even higher, especially in international companies and large corporations.

2. Can you make 6 figures in PR?

Yes, you can make six figures in PR. According to salary data, the minimum salary for a PR Manager is $116,800, with a mid-range salary of $128,400 and a maximum salary of $143,800. This indicates that professionals in this field can indeed earn a substantial income, well within the six-figure range.

3. Which degree is best for PR manager?

To become a successful PR manager, consider degrees such as a Bachelor of Public Relations, BA in English, BA in Journalism, BA in Marketing, or BA in Corporate Communications. A B.Sc. in Mass Communication or a Master's in Public Relations can also be beneficial. PR managers typically earn between $116,800 and $143,800, with a median salary of $128,400.

4. What is the highest paying manager position?

The highest paying manager position is typically the PR Manager, with a salary range that starts at $116,800, reaches a midpoint of $128,400, and can go up to $143,800. This role often involves strategic communication and relationship management, making it a critical position in many organizations.

5. Is PR manager a good career?

A career as a PR Manager can be quite rewarding, with salaries ranging from $116,800 to $143,800, depending on experience and location. There are numerous growth opportunities within the field, allowing professionals to explore various paths such as media, communications, social media, or marketing, all while continuing to develop their skills and face new challenges.

6. Is it hard to become a PR manager?

Becoming a PR manager can be challenging, as it usually requires a bachelor's degree and several years of relevant work experience. Some roles may even necessitate a master's degree. The salary for PR managers ranges from $116,800 to $143,800, with a median salary of $128,400, reflecting the expertise and dedication needed in this 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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