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Media Relations Manager Salary in the United States

How much does a Media Relations Manager make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Media Relations Manager in the United States is $108,327 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $52.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $129,325
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $96,383 to $119,318
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $85,509
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Media Relations Manager Salaries

A Media Relations 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 Media Relations Manager Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Media Relations 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:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $103,870
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $104,405
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $105,653
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $107,079
  • Expert (over 8 years): $109,475
Levels Salary
Entry Level Media Relations Manager$103,870
Intermediate Level Media Relations Manager$104,405
Senior Level Media Relations Manager$105,653
Specialist Level Media Relations Manager$107,079
Expert Level Media Relations Manager$109,475
View as Graph

How Do Media Relations Managers 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 Media Relations Managers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $119,940.
  • California: $119,485.
  • Massachusetts: $117,892.

Top Paying Cities for Media Relations Manager

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: $136,633
  • San Francisco: $135,137
  • Oakland: $132,289

What Skills Can Increase a Media Relations Manager's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Leadership (Mentioned in 4.97% Job Postings): Knowledge of and ability to employ effective strategies that motivate and guide other members within our business to achieve optimum results.
  • Strategic Communication (Mentioned in 1.26% Job Postings): Strategic communication refers to policy-making and guidance for consistent information activity within an organization and between organizations.
  • Business Development (Mentioned in 0.76% Job Postings): Business development entails tasks and processes to develop and implement growth opportunities within and between organizations. It is a subset of the fields of business, commerce and organizational theory. Business development is the creation of long-term value for an organization from customers, markets, and relationships. Business development can be taken to mean any activity by either a small or large organization, non-profit or for-profit enterprise which serves the purpose of ‘developing’ the business in some way. In addition, business development activities can be done internally or externally by a business development consultant. External business development can be facilitated through Planning Systems, which are put in place by governments to help small businesses. In addition, reputation building has also proven to help facilitate business development.
Skills Demand Percentage
Leadership 4.97%
Strategic Communication 1.26%
Business Development 0.76%
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 a Media Relations Manager's salary.

  • Stewardship: Can increase your salary by up to 19%.
  • Commitment: Can increase your salary by up to 11%.
  • Planning: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Stewardship $128,909
19%
Commitment $120,243
11%
Planning $116,993
8%
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Media Relations Manager Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Media Relations Manager salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $121,266. While startup companies pay approximate $102,588.

Media Relations Manager Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $102,588
Growth Stage 51~500 $108,499
Established 501~5000 $117,104
Enterprise 5000+ $121,266

Media Relations Manager Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Media Relations Manager roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 55% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Insurance and Biotechnology sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 25% above the average. In contrast, Media Relations Manager positions in Energy & Utilities or Aerospace & Defense typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Media Relations Manager as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Media Relations Manager

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Insurance$135,409$65.025%
Biotechnology$129,992$62.020%
Chemicals$119,160$57.010%
Financial Services$119,160$57.010%
MFG Nondurable$119,160$57.010%

How Education impacts an Media Relations Manager's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Media Relations Manager enter the field with a Bachelor's 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 Media Relations Manager with a Bachelor's Degree is between $102,982 and $113,902.

Media Relations Manager Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Media Relations Manager
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.2%
High School 3.4%
Associates 1.8%
Bachelors 66.8%
Masters 26.1%
Doctorate 1.4%
View as Graph

Media Relations Manager Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Media Relations 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 August 01, 2026
$96,383
Average $108,327/year
$119,318
$8,032
Average $9,027/month
$9,943
$1,854
Average $2,083/week
$2,295
$46
Average $52/hour
$57
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $119,318 $9,943 $2,295 $57
Average $108,327 $9,027 $2,083 $52
25th Percentile $96,383 $8,032 $1,854 $46

Media Relations Manager Salary Growth & Career Path

Media Relations Manager

Next Role

Advancement

Promotions are the fastest way to increase your earnings. As a Media Relations 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.

Next Step Role Estimate Salary Projected Raise
Community Relations Director $184,373 70%
VP of Public Relations $252,934 133%

Most common benefits for Media Relations Manager

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

Common company salaries for Media Relations Manager

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

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FAQ about Media Relations Manager

1. Where can a Media Relations Manager earn the most?

A Media Relations Manager's earning potential can vary widely depending on several factors, including location, industry, experience, education, and the specific employer. According to the latest salary data by Salary.com, a Media Relations Manager earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Media Relations Manager is $136,633.

2. What is the highest pay for Media Relations Manager?

The highest pay for Media Relations Manager is $129,325.

3. What is the lowest pay for Media Relations Manager?

The lowest pay for Media Relations Manager is $85,509.

4. What are the responsibilities of Media Relations Manager?

Develops and implements policies and procedures for the relations between the media and the organization. Works to expand understanding of the organization's business, performance, and strategy. Prepares summaries of media activity for senior management. May serve as the company's spokesperson. Requires a bachelor's degree. Typically reports to a head of a unit/department. Typically manages through subordinate managers and professionals in larger groups of moderate complexity. Provides input to strategic decisions that affect the functional area of responsibility. May give input into developing the budget. Capable of resolving escalated issues arising from operations and requiring coordination with other departments. Typically requires 3+ years of managerial experience.

5. What industry pays the highest salary for Media Relations Manager?

The Insurance industry offers the highest average compensation for Media Relations Manager roles, with salaries approximately 25% above the market median.

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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