Public Relations Specialist II Salary in the United States
How much does a Public Relations Specialist II make in the United States?
As of July 01, 2026, the average salary for a Public Relations Specialist II in the United States is $75,432 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $36.
However, a Public Relations Specialist II's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
Top Earners (90th percentile): $91,489
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $69,647 to $83,837
Key Factors That Influence Public Relations Specialist II Salaries
A Public Relations Specialist II'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 Public Relations Specialist Salaries?
Experience is a primary driver of a Public Relations Specialist II'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 Specialist I (0-2 years): $61,019
Public Relations Specialist II (2-4 years): $75,432
Public Relations Specialist III (4-7 years): $94,723
Public Relations Specialist IV (7+ years): $118,077
Public Relations Manager (7+ years): $133,295
Job Role
Years of Experience
Average Salary
Public Relations Specialist I
0-2 years
$61,019
Public Relations Specialist II
2-4 years
$75,432
Public Relations Specialist III
4-7 years
$94,723
Public Relations Specialist IV
7+ years
$118,077
Public Relations Manager
7+ years
$133,295
$61,019Public Re...
$75,432Public Re...
$94,723Public Re...
$118,077Public Re...
$133,295Public Re...
View as Table
View as Graph
What Am I Worth?
How Do Public Relations Specialist II 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 Public Relations Specialist IIs.
For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
Top Paying Cities for Public Relations Specialist IIs
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: $95,142
San Francisco: $94,101
Oakland: $92,118
San Jose, CA$95,142
San Francisco, CA$94,101
Oakland, CA$92,118
New York, NY$86,852
Paramus, NJ$85,796
Queens Village, NY$85,792
Passaic, NJ$85,720
Bergenfield, NJ$85,713
Stamford, CT$85,547
Huntington, NY$85,517
Newark, NJ$84,959
Bridgeport, CT$84,800
Vallejo, CA$84,650
New Brunswick, NJ$84,620
Petaluma, CA$84,574
Middlesex, NJ$84,431
Somerset, NJ$84,378
Santa Cruz, CA$84,280
Boston, MA$83,820
Monterey, CA$83,555
Seattle, WA$83,383
Santa Rosa, CA$83,367
Los Angeles, CA$83,345
Juneau, AK$83,149
Washington, DC$83,066
Orange, CA$82,797
Santa Ana, CA$82,598
Long Beach, CA$82,523
Anaheim, CA$82,508
Anchorage, AK$82,470
Santa Maria, CA$82,244
Everett, WA$82,228
Danbury, CT$81,963
Bremerton, WA$81,859
Tacoma, WA$81,587
New Suffolk, NY$81,586
Sacramento, CA$81,565
Santa Barbara, CA$81,482
Trenton, NJ$81,399
San Diego, CA$81,399
Brockton, MA$81,316
Fairbanks, AK$81,131
Lompoc, CA$80,939
Lowell, MA$80,877
Ventura, CA$80,863
Nashua, NH$80,848
Stockton, CA$80,840
Modesto, CA$80,290
Poughkeepsie, NY$80,124
Olympia, WA$79,981
Kennewick, WA$79,981
New Haven, CT$79,950
Lawrence, MA$79,679
Hartford, CT$79,603
Riverside, CA$79,588
New Bedford, MA$79,513
Richland, WA$79,513
Bakersfield, CA$79,407
San Bernardino, CA$79,377
New Britain, CT$79,370
Atlantic City, NJ$79,370
New London, CT$79,339
Norwich, CT$79,317
Portsmouth, NH$79,302
Boulder, CO$79,142
Portland, OR$79,038
Worcester, MA$79,030
Minneapolis, MN$78,796
Philadelphia, PA$78,691
Honolulu, HI$78,442
Saint Paul, MN$78,406
Vineland, NJ$78,389
Providence, RI$78,170
Chicago, IL$77,951
Bellingham, WA$77,861
Springfield, MA$77,801
Baltimore, MD$77,778
Chico, CA$77,589
Pittsfield, MA$77,386
Manchester, NH$77,242
Spokane, WA$76,910
Denver, CO$76,903
Albany, NY$76,548
Troy, NY$76,518
Nassau, NY$76,438
Schenectady, NY$76,360
Wilmington, DE$76,299
Burlington, VT$76,194
Salem, OR$76,164
Portland, ME$75,930
Yakima, WA$75,854
Rochester, MN$75,621
Reno, NV$75,583
Fresno, CA$75,583
Milwaukee, WI$75,515
Detroit, MI$75,440
Ann Arbor, MI$75,427
Allentown, PA$75,417
Colorado Springs, CO$75,289
Syracuse, NY$75,251
Carson City, NV$75,251
Houston, TX$75,145
Eugene, OR$75,108
Gary, IN$75,017
Springfield, OR$74,957
Bismarck, ND$74,942
Galveston, TX$74,889
Medford, OR$74,776
Fort Collins, CO$74,746
Concord, NH$74,708
Austin, TX$74,685
Mesa, AZ$74,527
Reading, PA$74,519
Phoenix, AZ$74,512
Dallas, TX$74,489
Saint Cloud, MN$74,417
Madison, WI$74,316
Utica, NY$74,112
Rochester, NY$73,991
Des Moines, IA$73,984
Raleigh, NC$73,976
Atlanta, GA$73,863
Battle Creek, MI$73,840
Salt Lake City, UT$73,818
Lancaster, PA$73,705
Harrisburg, PA$73,599
Kansas City, MO$73,524
Champaign, IL$73,508
Kansas City, KS$73,508
Fort Worth, TX$73,501
Columbus, OH$73,488
Boca Raton, FL$73,471
Pittsburgh, PA$73,441
Richmond, VA$73,410
Indianapolis, IN$73,395
Cleveland, OH$73,388
Las Vegas, NV$73,297
Cincinnati, OH$73,297
Petersburg, VA$73,184
Huntsville, AL$73,071
Lansing, MI$73,020
Lebanon, PA$73,011
Pueblo, CO$73,003
Appleton, WI$72,980
Buffalo, NY$72,950
Dayton, OH$72,928
Racine, WI$72,913
Charlotte, NC$72,905
Saint Louis, MO$72,882
York, PA$72,837
Elkhart, IN$72,837
Gastonia, NC$72,823
Billings, MT$72,805
Beaumont, TX$72,784
Lorain, OH$72,769
Benton Harbor, MI$72,754
Toledo, OH$72,739
Binghamton, NY$72,701
Rock Hill, SC$72,694
Rockford, IL$72,656
Springfield, IL$72,626
Elyria, OH$72,618
Fargo, ND$72,618
Flagstaff, AZ$72,566
Fort Lauderdale, FL$72,520
Duluth, MN$72,475
Miami, FL$72,475
Cheyenne, WY$72,422
Grand Forks, ND$72,422
Bangor, ME$72,256
Cedar Rapids, IA$72,173
Durham, NC$72,142
Louisville, KY$72,136
Grand Rapids, MI$72,121
Hialeah, FL$72,113
Casper, WY$72,007
Scranton, PA$71,917
New Orleans, LA$71,894
Virginia Beach, VA$71,887
Akron, OH$71,849
Peoria, IL$71,751
Sarasota, FL$71,736
Nashville, TN$71,683
Omaha, NE$71,683
Green Bay, WI$71,683
Baton Rouge, LA$71,645
Charleston, SC$71,630
Jamestown, NY$71,593
Davenport, IA$71,593
Tucson, AZ$71,555
Saint Petersburg, FL$71,510
Tampa, FL$71,494
Evansville, IN$71,449
Port Arthur, TX$71,449
Bradenton, FL$71,419
Santa Fe, NM$71,283
Orlando, FL$71,147
Clearwater, FL$71,125
Canton, OH$70,966
La Crosse, WI$70,966
Albuquerque, NM$70,921
Newport News, VA$70,914
High Point, NC$70,891
Ogden, UT$70,861
Corpus Christi, TX$70,800
Norfolk, VA$70,755
Laramie, WY$70,755
Rock Island, IL$70,710
Saginaw, MI$70,695
Jacksonville, FL$70,687
Salisbury, NC$70,672
Boise, ID$70,657
Moline, IL$70,619
Fort Myers, FL$70,597
Memphis, TN$70,582
Tulsa, OK$70,544
Waterloo, IA$70,499
Spartanburg, SC$70,423
Lincoln, NE$70,386
Fort Wayne, IN$70,371
Provo, UT$70,363
Cedar Falls, IA$70,272
San Antonio, TX$70,242
Greensboro, NC$70,212
South Bend, IN$70,205
Savannah, GA$70,122
Muskegon, MI$70,091
Birmingham, AL$70,084
Winston Salem, NC$70,047
Lake Charles, LA$69,865
Anderson, IN$69,850
Lexington, KY$69,827
Augusta, GA$69,805
Greenville, SC$69,805
Lima, OH$69,744
Wichita, KS$69,737
Tuscaloosa, AL$69,737
Columbia, SC$69,669
Springfield, OH$69,654
Asheville, NC$69,533
Bloomington, IN$69,480
Knoxville, TN$69,209
Shreveport, LA$69,201
Wilmington, NC$69,103
Roanoke, VA$69,103
Topeka, KS$68,967
Frankfort, KY$68,959
Oklahoma City, OK$68,907
Chillicothe, OH$68,877
Longview, TX$68,869
Melbourne, FL$68,862
Sioux Falls, SD$68,741
Mobile, AL$68,734
Terre Haute, IN$68,703
Altoona, PA$68,658
Amarillo, TX$68,605
Killeen, TX$68,583
Fayetteville, AR$68,522
Chattanooga, TN$68,500
Sioux City, IA$68,432
Idaho Falls, ID$68,417
Lynchburg, VA$68,356
Gainesville, FL$68,258
Portsmouth, OH$68,221
Little Rock, AR$68,206
Lafayette, LA$68,175
Youngstown, OH$68,175
Daytona Beach, FL$68,130
Clarksville, TN$68,123
Pensacola, FL$68,115
Temple, TX$68,110
Hopkinsville, KY$67,889
Erie, PA$67,874
Florence, SC$67,844
Charleston, WV$67,723
Great Falls, MT$67,685
Macon, GA$67,580
Tallahassee, FL$67,572
Fayetteville, NC$67,557
Waco, TX$67,542
Helena, MT$67,489
Pine Bluff, AR$67,460
Vincennes, IN$67,368
Lubbock, TX$67,338
Alamogordo, NM$67,293
Twin Falls, ID$67,225
Rapid City, SD$67,202
Jackson, MS$67,067
Huntington, WV$67,061
Greenville, MS$67,059
Parkersburg, WV$66,982
Montgomery, AL$66,969
Wichita Falls, TX$66,893
Springfield, MO$66,893
Biloxi, MS$66,855
Monroe, LA$66,780
Johnstown, PA$66,727
Sumter, SC$66,697
Columbus, GA$66,689
Pascagoula, MS$66,546
Abilene, TX$66,546
Kingsport, TN$66,350
Albany, GA$66,350
Gulfport, MS$66,327
Alexandria, LA$66,078
Fort Smith, AR$65,890
El Paso, TX$65,686
Las Cruces, NM$65,347
Harlingen, TX$65,155
Pocatello, ID$65,143
Florence, AL$65,045
Brownsville, TX$65,030
Mcallen, TX$64,872
Dothan, AL$64,766
Columbus, MS$64,318
Altus, OK$63,966
Lawton, OK$63,823
Pierre, SD$63,551
What Skills Can Increase a Public Relations Specialist II'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.
See More Skills
Skills
Demand Percentage
Customer Service
6.94%
Microsoft Office
1.91%
Marketing Research
1.35%
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 Specialist II'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
$95,799
27%
Corporate Communications
$87,501
16%
CRM
$85,238
13%
Relationship Management
$83,730
11%
Campaign Management
$83,730
11%
Building Relationships
$82,221
9%
Get Latest Data
Public Relations Specialist II Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise
Public Relations Specialist II salary potential scales significantly with company size.
Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $84,370.
While startup companies pay approximate $71,352.
Public Relations Specialist II Salary by Company Size
Company Size
Employees
Average Salary
Startup
1~50
$71,352
Growth Stage
51~500
$75,466
Established
501~5000
$81,475
Enterprise
5000+
$84,370
Public Relations Specialist II Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors
For Public Relations Specialist II 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, Public Relations Specialist positions in Pharmaceuticals or Financial Services typically offer lower base pay,
as these industries often view Public Relations Specialist II as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
The top paying industries for a Public Relations Specialist II
Industry Sector
Average Annual Salary
Average Hourly Rate
Pay vs.Avg
MFG Nondurable
$105,605
$51.0
40%
Energy & Utilities
$98,062
$47.0
30%
Media
$94,290
$45.0
25%
Aerospace & Defense
$90,518
$44.0
20%
Telecom
$90,518
$44.0
20%
How Education impacts a Public Relations Specialist II's Salary?
Your level of education can impact your salary potential.
While many Public Relations Specialist IIs 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 Public Relations Specialist II with a Bachelor's Degree is between
$73,381
and $78,099).
Public Relations Specialist II Salaries by Degree Level
Typical Education for Public Relations Specialist II
No Diploma1.0%
High School1.0%
Associates1.0%
Bachelors73.6%
Masters23.3%
Doctorate1.2%
view as table
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
Public Relations Specialist II Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay
Understanding how a Public Relations Specialist II'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.
Hourly
Monthly
Weekly
Yearly
Table View
Last Updated on July 01, 2026
$69,647
Average$75,432/year
$83,837
$5,804
Average$6,286/month
$6,986
$1,339
Average$1,451/week
$1,612
$33
Average$36/hour
$40
Annual Salary
Monthly Pay
Weekly Pay
Hourly Wage
75th Percentile
$83,837
$6,986
$1,612
$40
Average
$75,432
$6,286
$1,451
$36
25th Percentile
$69,647
$5,804
$1,339
$33
Public Relations Specialist II Salary Growth & Career Path
Promotions are the fastest way to increase your earnings.
As a Public Relations Specialist II, 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.
Public Relations Specialist II Salary Growth and Career Path
Next Step Role
Estimate Salary
Projected Raise
Community Relations Specialist III
$96,787
28%
Media Relations Manager
$108,361
44%
Public Relations Specialist III
$94,723
26%
Salaries of jobs related to Public Relations Specialist II
Salaries for a Public Relations Specialist II can change over time,
reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy.
The median salary decreased from $73,900 in 2023
to around $73,760 in 2025,
reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy.
For a detailed analysis of Public Relations Specialist II salary trends,
.
Average Annual Salary of Public Relations Specialist II Over Time
2022
$???
2023
$73,900
2024
$74,103
2025
$73,760
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year
Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023
$73,900
2024
$74,103
2025
$73,760
2026
View More
2027
View More
Most common benefits for Public Relations Specialist II
Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
For Employers
If your compensation planning software is too rigid to deploy winning incentive strategies, it’s time to find an adaptable solution.
Compensation Planning
Common company salaries for Public Relations Specialist II
Here are companies hiring for Public Relations Specialist II and their salaries, click below for more details.
C
$128,509/per year
C R Bard Inc
Biotechnology
the United States
H
$124,697/per year
Henry Schein Canada
Biotechnology
the United States
N
$123,899/per year
Nordex Inc
Biotechnology
the United States
N
$120,416/per year
Nipro Corp
Biotechnology
the United States
E
$115,870/per year
Enovis
Biotechnology
the United States
A
$114,553/per year
Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy
Biotechnology
the United States
M
$112,110/per year
MiniMed Inc
Biotechnology
the United States
L
$111,500/per year
Labcorp Drug Development
Biotechnology
the United States
L
$110,229/per year
Life Technologies Corp
Biotechnology
the United States
Z
$106,224/per year
Zimmer Biomet
Biotechnology
the United States
P
$103,077/per year
Promontory Therapeutics
Biotechnology
the United States
S
$102,181/per year
Steris PLC
Biotechnology
the United States
G
$97,274/per year
Gavin Conferences Pty Ltd
Biotechnology
the United States
E
$94,764/per year
Endeavor BioMedicines
Biotechnology
the United States
R
$94,402/per year
Replay Holdings LLC
Biotechnology
the United States
P
$94,235/per year
Pleno Inc
Biotechnology
the United States
S
$93,666/per year
Simulaids Inc
Biotechnology
the United States
N
$88,880/per year
NOIRLab/CAS
Biotechnology
the United States
O
$86,468/per year
Onward Technology
Biotechnology
the United States
L
$84,895/per year
LED Medical Diagnostics Inc
Biotechnology
the United States
E
$84,682/per year
Eyeco Ltd
Biotechnology
the United States
P
$84,523/per year
Paerosol
Biotechnology
the United States
I
$83,525/per year
IONIQ Sciences Inc
Biotechnology
the United States
S
$82,815/per year
Stateside PPE
Biotechnology
the United States
D
$82,041/per year
Digi Bio
Biotechnology
the United States
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FAQ about Public Relations Specialist II
1. Where can a Public Relations Specialist II earn the most?
A Public Relations Specialist II'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 Public Relations Specialist II earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Public Relations Specialist II is $95,142.
2. What is the highest pay for Public Relations Specialist II?
The highest pay for Public Relations Specialist II is $91,489.
3. What is the lowest pay for Public Relations Specialist II?
The lowest pay for Public Relations Specialist II is $64,380.
4. What are the responsibilities of Public Relations Specialist II?
Prepares and disseminates information regarding an organization through newspapers, periodicals, television, radio and social media. Ensures public relations goals and strategies are met. Helps maintain a favorable public image for the organization. Requires a bachelor's degree. Typically reports to a supervisor or manager. Gains exposure to some of the complex tasks within the job function. Occasionally directed in several aspects of the work. Typically requires 2 to 4 years of related experience.
5. What industry pays the highest salary for Public Relations Specialist II?
The MFG Nondurable industry offers the highest average compensation for Public Relations Specialist II roles,
with salaries approximately 40% 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.