Public Relations & Communications Specialist Salary in the United States

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

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Public Relations & Communications Specialist in the United States is $60,106 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $29.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $70,054
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $52,155 to $65,313
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $44,915
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View as table View as graph 25% $52,155 10% $44,915 90% $70,054 75% $65,313 $60,106 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Public Relations & Communications Specialist Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $65,313 $5,443 $1,256 $31
Average $60,106 $5,009 $1,156 $29
25th Percentile $52,155 $4,346 $1,003 $25
Check out Public Relations & Communications Specialist Job Openings in the United States
Communications & Public Relations Intern (Fall 2026)

American Municipal Power, Inc - Columbus, OH

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Key Factors That Influence Public Relations & Communications Specialist Salaries

A Public Relations & Communications Specialist'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 & Communications Specialist Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Public Relations & Communications Specialist'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): $59,723
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $67,747
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $92,599
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $114,261
  • Expert (over 8 years): $113,960
Levels Salary
Public Re... Level Public Relations & Communications Specialist$59,723
Social Me... Level Public Relations & Communications Specialist$67,747
Social Me... Level Public Relations & Communications Specialist$92,599
Social Me... Level Public Relations & Communications Specialist$114,261
Social Me... Level Public Relations & Communications Specialist$113,960
$59,723 0 yr
$67,747 < 2 yrs
$92,599 2-4 yrs
$114,261 5-8 yrs
$113,960 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

How Do Public Relations & Communications Specialist 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 & Communications Specialists. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $66,549.
  • California: $66,297.
  • Massachusetts: $65,413.

Top Paying Cities for Public Relations & Communications Specialists

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: $75,812
  • San Francisco: $74,982
  • Oakland: $73,402

What Skills Can Increase a Public Relations & Communications Specialist's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Initiative (Mentioned in 4.78% Job Postings): Taking decisive action and initiating plans independently to address problems, improve professional life, and achieve goals.
  • Marketing Communications (Mentioned in 2.49% Job Postings): Marketing communications (MC, marcom(s), marcomm(s)) uses different marketing channels and tools in combination: Marketing communication channels focus on any way a business communicates a message to its desired market, or the market in general. A marketing communication tool can be anything from: advertising, personal selling, direct marketing, sponsorship, communication, and promotion to public relations. MC are made up of the marketing mix which is made up of 4P's: Price, Promotion, Place and Product, for a business selling goods, and made up of 7P's: Price, Promotion, Place, Product, People, Physical evidence and Process, for a service based business.
  • Public Relations (Mentioned in 2.04% Job Postings): Public relations (PR) is the practice of deliberately managing the spread of information between an individual or an organization (such as a business, government agency, or a nonprofit organization) and the public. Public relations may include an organization or individual gaining exposure to their audiences using topics of public interest and news items that do not require direct payment. This differentiates it from advertising as a form of marketing communications. Public relations is the idea of creating coverage for clients for free, rather than marketing or advertising. But now, advertising is also a part of greater PR Activities. An example of good public relations would be generating an article featuring a client, rather than paying for the client to be advertised next to the article. The aim of public relations is to inform the public, prospective customers, investors, partners, employees, and other stakeholders and ultimately persuade them to maintain a positive or favorable view about the organization, its leadership, products, or political decisions. Public relations professionals typically work for PR and marketing firms, businesses and companies, government, and public officials as PIOs and nongovernmental organizations, and nonprofit organizations. Jobs central to public relations include account coordinator, account executive, account supervisor, and media relations manager.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Initiative 4.78%
Marketing Communications 2.49%
Public Relations 2.04%
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 & Communications Specialist's salary.
  • Project Management: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
  • Analysis: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
  • Analytical Skills: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Project Management
$64,915
8%
Analysis
$64,314
7%
Analytical Skills
$64,314
7%
Online Marketing
$63,712
6%
Commitment
$63,712
6%
Insight
$63,111
5%
Get Latest Data

Public Relations & Communications Specialist Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Public Relations & Communications Specialist roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 90% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Financial Services and Internet sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 40% above the average. In contrast, Public Relations & Communications Specialist positions in Transportation or Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Public Relations & Communications Specialist as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Public Relations & Communications Specialist

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Financial Services$84,149$40.040%
Internet$78,138$38.030%
Biotechnology$75,133$36.025%
Pharmaceuticals$72,127$35.020%
Aerospace & Defense$69,122$33.015%

Public Relations & Communications Specialist Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Public Relations & Communications Specialist'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 & Communications Specialist

Salaries for a Public Relations & Communications Specialist can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary increased from $60,123 in 2023 to around $60,269 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Public Relations & Communications Specialist salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Public Relations & Communications Specialist Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$60,123
2024
$60,483
2025
$60,269
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $60,123
2024 $60,483
2025 $60,269
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Public Relations & Communications Specialist

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

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

Find Your Next Public Relations & Communications Specialist Job

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

United States
  • Ohio State Richard M. Ross Heart Hospital

    Columbus, OH

    RN

    Ohio State Richard M. Ross Heart Hospital | Columbus, OH

    Travel Rn Stepdown (Pcu) Shift. Night shift - 12 hours. Start date: 09/21/2026. End date: 12/21/2026. Duration: 13 weeks. City: Columbus. State: OH more

    17 Days Ago

  • Titan Medical Group, LLC

    Columbus, OH

    Titan Medical Group, LLC | Columbus, OH

    Travel Or Position. Titan Medical is looking for travelers to fill a travel OR position for a 13-week assignment in Columbus, OH more

    17 Days Ago

  • Confidential

    Columbus, OH

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Associate Vice President, Internal Communications. About the Company. National consulting & advisory services firm focused on the healthcare industry. Indu... more

    20 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. \n. Dedicated Local Fleet - Home Daily - Competitive Pay* - Full ... more

    25 Days Ago

  • Confidential

    Columbus, OH

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Vice President, Payments Engineering. About the Company. Globally-recognized provider of corporate payment solutions. Industry. Financial Services. Type. P... more

    27 Days Ago

  • Confidential

    Columbus, OH

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Senior Vice President of Project Delivery. About the Company. A multi-billion-dollar construction organization with collaborative, servant-minded leadershi... more

    27 Days Ago

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FAQ about Public Relations & Communications Specialist

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

The Financial Services industry offers the highest average compensation for Public Relations & Communications Specialist 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.

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.)

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