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Public Relations Professional Salary in the United States

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

As of October 01, 2026, the average salary for a Public Relations Professional in the United States is $54,057 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $26.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $65,538
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $48,120 to $60,066
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $42,715
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Public Relations Professional Salaries

A Public Relations Professional's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Do Public Relations Professional 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 Professionals. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $59,852.
  • California: $59,625.
  • Massachusetts: $58,830.

Top Paying Cities for Public Relations Professionals

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: $68,182
  • San Francisco: $67,435
  • Oakland: $66,014

What Skills Can Increase a Public Relations Professional's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Coordination (Mentioned in 6.58% Job Postings): Ability to plan, execute, and adjust job duties to achieve business goals.
  • Microsoft Word (Mentioned in 2.63% Job Postings): Microsoft Word or MS Word is a popular word-processing program used mainly for creating documents, such as brochures, letters, learning activities, quizzes, tests, and students' homework assignments
  • Data Entry (Mentioned in 1.32% Job Postings): Transcribing information into an electronic medium such as a computer or other electronic device.
Skills Demand Percentage
Coordination 6.58%
Microsoft Word 2.63%
Data Entry 1.32%
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 Professional's salary.

  • Collection Management: Can increase your salary by up to 11%.
  • Adobe InDesign: Can increase your salary by up to 11%.
  • PowerPoint: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Collection Management $60,003
11%
Adobe InDesign $60,003
11%
PowerPoint $58,922
9%
Get Latest Data

Public Relations Professional Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Public Relations Professional 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 Durable and Construction sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 40% above the average. In contrast, Public Relations Professional positions in MFG Nondurable or Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Public Relations Professional as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Public Relations Professional

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
MFG Durable$75,679$36.040%
Construction$70,274$34.030%
Insurance$67,571$32.025%
Aerospace & Defense$64,868$31.020%
Healthcare$62,165$30.015%

How Education impacts a Public Relations Professional's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Public Relations Professionals enter the field with a No Diploma 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 Professional with a No Diploma is between $46,138 and $50,464).

Public Relations Professional Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Public Relations Professional
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 81.0%
High School 19.0%
Associates 0.0%
Bachelors 81.0%
Masters 19.0%
Doctorate 0.0%
View as Graph

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

Understanding how a Public Relations Professional'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 October 01, 2026
$48,120
Average $54,057/year
$60,066
$4,010
Average $4,505/month
$5,006
$925
Average $1,040/week
$1,155
$23
Average $26/hour
$29
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $60,066 $5,006 $1,155 $29
Average $54,057 $4,505 $1,040 $26
25th Percentile $48,120 $4,010 $925 $23

Most common benefits for Public Relations Professional

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

Common company salaries for Public Relations Professional

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

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FAQ about Public Relations Professional

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

The MFG Durable industry offers the highest average compensation for Public Relations Professional 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.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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