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Public Relations Salary in the United States

How much does a Public Relations make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Public Relations in the United States is $59,301 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $29.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $72,767
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $51,150 to $66,349
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $43,730
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Public Relations Salaries

A Public Relations'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 Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Public Relations'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): $60,998
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $75,416
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $94,700
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $118,024
  • Expert (over 8 years): $133,285
Levels Salary
Public Re... Level Public Relations$60,998
Public Re... Level Public Relations$75,416
Public Re... Level Public Relations$94,700
Public Re... Level Public Relations$118,024
Public Re... Level Public Relations$133,285
View as Graph

How Do Public Relations 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. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $65,658.
  • California: $65,408.
  • Massachusetts: $64,537.

Top Paying Cities for Public Relations

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: $74,796
  • San Francisco: $73,977
  • Oakland: $72,418

What Skills Can Increase a Public Relations's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Leadership (Mentioned in 5.52% Job Postings): Knowledge of and ability to employ effective strategies that motivate and guide other members within our business to achieve optimum results.
  • Campaign Management (Mentioned in 2.03% Job Postings): Planning, tracking and analyzing of all the marketing initiatives to increase the quality of our business's strategies.
  • Strategic Communication (Mentioned in 1.71% Job Postings): Strategic communication refers to policy-making and guidance for consistent information activity within an organization and between organizations.
Skills Demand Percentage
Leadership 5.52%
Campaign Management 2.03%
Strategic Communication 1.71%
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 Public Relations's salary.

  • Marketing Research: Can increase your salary by up to 14%.
  • Campaign Management: Can increase your salary by up to 12%.
  • Corporate Communications: Can increase your salary by up to 11%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Marketing Research $67,603
14%
Campaign Management $66,417
12%
Corporate Communications $65,824
11%
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Public Relations Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Public Relations roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 50% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Biotechnology and Internet sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 25% above the average. In contrast, Public Relations positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit or Hospitality & Leisure typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Public Relations as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Public Relations

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Biotechnology$74,126$36.025%
Internet$71,161$34.020%
Pharmaceuticals$68,196$33.015%
Energy & Utilities$65,231$31.010%
Financial Services$65,231$31.010%

How Education impacts a Public Relations's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Public Relations enter the field with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate 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 with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate is between $61,171 and $63,866).

Public Relations Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Public Relations
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.1%
High School 2.1%
Associates 2.2%
Bachelors 81.1%
Masters 14.0%
Doctorate 0.5%
View as Graph

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

Understanding how a Public Relations'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 September 01, 2026
$51,150
Average $59,301/year
$66,349
$4,263
Average $4,942/month
$5,529
$984
Average $1,140/week
$1,276
$25
Average $29/hour
$32
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $66,349 $5,529 $1,276 $32
Average $59,301 $4,942 $1,140 $29
25th Percentile $51,150 $4,263 $984 $25

Most common benefits for Public Relations

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

Common company salaries for Public Relations

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

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FAQ about Public Relations

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

The Biotechnology industry offers the highest average compensation for Public Relations 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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