As of May 01, 2026, the average annual salary for Public Information Officer in California is $71,330, equivalent to $34 per hour, $1,372 weekly, or $5,944 monthly. These figures, sourced from Salary.com’s real-time job posting scans, highlight competitive earning potential for Public Information Officer in cities like San Jose, Santa Clara, and San Francisco.

Annually Salaries for Public Information Officer in California vary widely, spanning from $54,381 to $87,680. Most professionals fall between the 25th percentile ($62,458) and 75th percentile ($79,888), while top earners (90th percentile) make $87,680 per year. This $17,430 pay gap underscores opportunities for salary growth through certifications, specialized skills like Leadership or Campaign Management, or targeting high-paying regions like District of Columbia or California.

Location and experience significantly influence earnings. For example, California Public Information Officer often earn 10.3% higher than national averages due to demand from Fortune 64 companies. However, California currently ranks 2 nationwide for Public Information Officer job salary. Professionals are advised to focus on high-growth sectors like to offset market challenges.

Based on HR-reported data: a national average with a geographic differential
Public Information Officer Salaries by Percentile
Percentile Salary Location Last Updated
10th Percentile Public Information Officer Salary $54,381 CA May 01, 2026
25th Percentile Public Information Officer Salary $62,458 CA May 01, 2026
50th Percentile Public Information Officer Salary $71,330 CA May 01, 2026
75th Percentile Public Information Officer Salary $79,888 CA May 01, 2026
90th Percentile Public Information Officer Salary $87,680 CA May 01, 2026
25% $62,458 10% $54,381 90% $87,680 75% $79,888 $71,330 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click
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What is a Public Information Officer ?

Public information officers (PIOs) are the communications coordinators or spokespersons of certain governmental organizations (i.e. city, county, school district, state government and police/fire departments). The primary responsibility of a PIOs is to provide information to the public and media as necessary and to meet the legal requirements. PIOs are often identified by the initials "PIO" emblazoned on helmets or vests....

Source: Wikipedia (as of 04/17/2019). Read more from Wikipedia

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Location Avg. Salary Date Updated
Location Coachella, CA Avg. Salary $71,862 Date Updated May 01, 2026
Location Acampo, CA Avg. Salary $76,398 Date Updated May 01, 2026
Location Acton, CA Avg. Salary $76,599 Date Updated May 01, 2026
Location Adelanto, CA Avg. Salary $74,181 Date Updated May 01, 2026
Location Adin, CA Avg. Salary $72,477 Date Updated May 01, 2026
Location Agoura Hills, CA Avg. Salary $76,404 Date Updated May 01, 2026
Location Aguanga, CA Avg. Salary $73,574 Date Updated May 01, 2026
Location Ahwahnee, CA Avg. Salary $72,045 Date Updated May 01, 2026
Location Alameda, CA Avg. Salary $87,016 Date Updated May 01, 2026
Location Alamo, CA Avg. Salary $84,619 Date Updated May 01, 2026
Job Openings for Public Information Officer in California

Career Path for this job

  1. This Job:

    Public Information Officer

    0 - 2 years experience
    Bachelor's Degree

  2. Up a level:

    Public Relations Specialist II

    2 - 4 years experience
    Bachelor's Degree

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