As of August 01, 2026, the average hourly rate for a Public Relations Specialist III in the United States is $46, which translates to an annual salary of about $94,735.
However, the hourly wage can vary significantly based on several factors. Here’s a detailed look at the typical pay range per hour:
Public Relations Specialist III Salaries by Percentile
| Annual Salary |
Monthly Pay |
Weekly Pay |
Hourly Wage |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75th Percentile | $106,223 | $8,852 | $2,043 | $51 |
| Average | $94,735 | $7,895 | $1,822 | $46 |
| 25th Percentile | $83,550 | $6,963 | $1,607 | $40 |
A Public Relations Specialist III'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.
Experience is a primary driver of a Public Relations Specialist III'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:
| Job Role | Years of Experience | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Public Relations Specialist I | 0-2 years | $61,024 |
| Public Relations Specialist II | 2-4 years | $75,443 |
| Public Relations Specialist III | 4-7 years | $94,735 |
| Public Relations Specialist IV | 7+ years | $118,080 |
| Public Relations Manager | 7+ years | $133,323 |
Demanded Skills for the Role:
| Skills | Demand Percentage |
|---|---|
| Leadership | 4.69% |
| Advertising | 1.52% |
| Fiscal Management | 1.04% |
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 III's salary.
| Skill | Salary | Salary % Increase |
|---|---|---|
| Account Management | $102,314 | |
| Innovation | $102,314 | |
| Staff Management | $101,366 |
Public Relations Specialist III salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $106,050. While startup companies pay approximate $89,716.
| Company Size | Employees | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Startup | 1~50 | $89,716 |
| Growth Stage | 51~500 | $94,885 |
| Established | 501~5000 | $102,410 |
| Enterprise | 5000+ | $106,050 |
Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Public Relations Specialist III 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 Public Relations Specialist III with a Bachelor's Degree is between $93,791 and $99,352.
| Typical Education for Public Relations Specialist III | |
|---|---|
| Degree Level | % of user with this level of education |
| No Diploma | 1.0% |
| High School | 1.0% |
| Associates | 1.3% |
| Bachelors | 67.8% |
| Masters | 28.2% |
| Doctorate | 1.7% |
Understanding how a Public Relations Specialist III'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.
| Annual Salary | Monthly Pay | Weekly Pay | Hourly Wage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75th Percentile | $106,223 | $8,852 | $2,043 | $51 |
| Average | $94,735 | $7,895 | $1,822 | $46 |
| 25th Percentile | $83,550 | $6,963 | $1,607 | $40 |
Salaries for a Public Relations Specialist III can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $93,592 in 2023 to around $90,365 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Public Relations Specialist III salary trends, .
| Year | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| 2022 | View More |
| 2023 | $93,592 |
| 2024 | $92,143 |
| 2025 | $90,365 |
| 2026 |
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| 2027 |
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Prepares and disseminates information regarding an organization through newspapers, periodicals, television, radio and social media. Develops goals and ensures public relations strategies are met. Helps maintain a favorable public image for the organization. Requires a bachelor's degree. Typically reports to a manager or head of a unit/department. Contributes to moderately complex aspects of a project. Work is generally independent and collaborative in nature. Typically requires 4 to 7 years of related experience.
Specify the abilities and skills that a person needs in order to carry out the specified job duties. Each competency has five to ten behavioral assertions that can be observed, each with a corresponding performance level (from one to five) that is required for a particular job.
Leadership: Knowledge of and ability to employ effective strategies that motivate and guide other members within our business to achieve optimum results.
Advertising: 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.
Fiscal Management: Fiscal management is the process of keeping an organization running efficiently within its allotted budget.
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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