Hourly Wage for Public Relations Executive Salary in the United States

What is the hourly salary range of Public Relations Executive?

As of August 01, 2026, the average hourly rate for a Public Relations Executive in the United States is $122, which translates to an annual salary of about $252,924.

However, the hourly wage can vary significantly based on several factors. Here’s a detailed look at the typical pay range per hour:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $135 per hour
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $110 to $129 per hour
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $100 per hour
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View as table View as graph 25% $110 10% $100 90% $135 75% $129 $122 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Public Relations Executive Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $267,700 $22,308 $5,148 $129
Average $252,924 $21,077 $4,864 $122
25th Percentile $229,368 $19,114 $4,411 $110
Check out Public Relations Executive Job Openings in the United States
Public Relations Associate

Nexxaworks - Columbus, OH

Public Relations Coordinator

Park 6 Logistics - Columbus, OH

Executive Director Payer Relations

Confidential - Columbus, OH

Search More Public Relations Executive Jobs in the United States

Key Factors That Influence Public Relations Executive Salaries

A Public Relations Executive'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, and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Public Relations Executive Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Public Relations Executive'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): $94,735
  • Public Relations Representative IV (7+ years): $118,080
  • PR Manager (7+ years): $133,323
  • PR Director (7+ years): $161,005
  • Public Relations Executive (7+ years): $252,934
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Public Relations Representative III4-7 years$94,735
Public Relations Representative IV7+ years$118,080
PR Manager7+ years$133,323
PR Director7+ years$161,005
Public Relations Executive7+ years$252,934
$94,735 Public Re...
$118,080 Public Re...
$133,323 PR Manage...
$161,005 PR Direct...
$252,934 Public Re...
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Public Relations Executives

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: $319,016
  • San Francisco: $315,523
  • Oakland: $308,874

What Skills Can Increase a Public Relations Executive's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Insight (Mentioned in 7.32% Job Postings): Insight is the understanding cause and effect based on the identification of relationships and behaviors within a model, context, or scenario.
  • Advertising (Mentioned in 4.88% Job Postings): Advertising is a marketing communication that employs an openly sponsored, non-personal message to promote or sell a product, service or idea.:465 Sponsors of advertising are typically businesses wishing to promote their products or services. Advertising is differentiated from public relations in that an advertiser pays for and has control over the message. It differs from personal selling in that the message is non-personal, i.e., not directed to a particular individual.:661,672 Advertising is communicated through various mass media, including traditional media such as newspapers, magazines, television, radio, outdoor advertising or direct mail; and new media such as search results, blogs, social media, websites or text messages. The actual presentation of the message in a medium is referred to as an advertisement, or "ad" or advert for short. Commercial ads often seek to generate increased consumption of their products or services through "branding", which associates a product name or image with certain qualities in the minds of consumers. On the other hand, ads that intend to elicit an immediate sale are known as direct-response advertising. Non-commercial entities that advertise more than consumer products or services include political parties, interest groups, religious organizations and governmental agencies. Non-profit organizations may use free modes of persuasion, such as a public service announcement. Advertising may also help to reassure employees or shareholders that a company is viable or successful.
  • Business Requirements (Mentioned in 4.88% Job Postings): Also known as stakeholder requirements specifications , describe the characteristics of a proposed system from the viewpoint of the system's end user. Often discussed in the context of developing or procuring software or other systems.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Insight 7.32%
Advertising 4.88%
Business Requirements 4.88%
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 Public Relations Executive's salary.
  • Business Requirements: Can increase your salary by up to 35%.
  • Lean: Can increase your salary by up to 16%.
  • Storytelling: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Business Requirements
$341,447
35%
Lean
$293,392
16%
Storytelling
$273,158
8%
Corporate Communications
$268,099
6%
Problem Solving
$268,099
6%
Insight
$265,570
5%
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Public Relations Executive Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Public Relations Executive salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $283,134. While startup companies pay approximate $239,525.

Public Relations Executive Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup1~50$239,525
Growth Stage51~500$253,326
Established501~5000$273,416
Enterprise5000+$283,134

Public Relations Executive Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Public Relations Executive roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 20% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Aerospace & Defense and Biotechnology sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 10% above the average. In contrast, Public Relations Executive positions in Transportation or Telecom typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Public Relations Executive as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Public Relations Executive

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Aerospace & Defense$278,216$134.010%
Biotechnology$278,216$134.010%
Business Services$278,216$134.010%
Chemicals$278,216$134.010%
Construction$278,216$134.010%

Public Relations Executive Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Public Relations Executive'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 August 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Public Relations Executive

Salaries for a Public Relations Executive can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $209,467 in 2023 to around $208,603 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Public Relations Executive salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Public Relations Executive Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$209,467
2024
$210,710
2025
$208,603
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $209,467
2024 $210,710
2025 $208,603
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Public Relations Executive

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Public Relations Executive

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

Find Your Next Public Relations Executive Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Public Relations Executive job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

United States
  • eviCore healthcare

    Columbus, OH

    eviCore healthcare | Columbus, OH

    Provides timely expert medical review for requests to evaluate the medical necessity of services that do not meet utilization review criteria while located... more

    5 Days Ago

  • MD Staff, LLC

    Columbus, OH

    MD Staff, LLC | Columbus, OH

    Neurologist Locum Tenens Opportunity Near Columbus, OH. We are excited to offer a rewarding locum tenens opportunity for a Board Certified or Board Eligibl... more

    5 Days Ago

  • C.R. England

    Columbus, OH

    C.R. England | Columbus, OH

    Job Description. C.R. England is Now Urgently Hiring Local Dedicated CDL-A Truck Drivers. Dedicated Local Fleet - Home Daily - Competitive Pay* - Full Bene... more

    11 Days Ago

  • Maxim Healthcare

    Columbus, OH

    Maxim Healthcare | Columbus, OH

    Private duty nursing (PDN) allows medically fragile patients to receive quality, skilled nursing care in the comfort of their home: a setting preferred by ... more

    13 Days Ago

  • Schneider

    Columbus, OH

    Schneider | Columbus, OH

    CDL-A - Dedicated Reefer truck driver - Kroger. Dedicated Reefer truck driver - Kroger. Average pay. $1,200-$1,450 weekly. Home time. Daily. Experience. Al... more

    14 Days Ago

  • Family Dollar

    Columbus, OH

    Family Dollar | Columbus, OH

    Customer Service Associate. We're seeking a Customer Service Associate to join our team and deliver a great shopping experience for every customer. Duties ... more

    16 Days Ago

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FAQ about Public Relations Executive

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

The Aerospace & Defense industry offers the highest average compensation for Public Relations Executive roles, with salaries approximately 10% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons are derived from both employer job postings and third-party data sources. We also provide multiple percentiles of salary information for your reference, click here to know Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial to Getting Pay Equity Right. With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine your exact pay target.

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