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Public Relations Account Manager Salary in the United States

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

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Public Relations Account Manager in the United States is $162,390 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $78.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $194,094
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $144,986 to $178,985
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $129,141
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Public Relations Account Manager Salaries

A Public Relations Account Manager'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 Account Manager Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Public Relations Account Manager'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): $94,832
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $118,189
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $133,472
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $161,170
  • Expert (over 8 years): $253,203
Levels Salary
Public Re... Level Public Relations Account Manager$94,832
Public Re... Level Public Relations Account Manager$118,189
Public Re... Level Public Relations Account Manager$133,472
Public Re... Level Public Relations Account Manager$161,170
VP of Pub... Level Public Relations Account Manager$253,203
View as Graph

How Do Public Relations Account Manager 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 Account Managers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $179,798.
  • California: $179,116.
  • Massachusetts: $176,729.

Top Paying Cities for Public Relations Account Managers

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: $204,823
  • San Francisco: $202,580
  • Oakland: $198,311

What Skills Can Increase a Public Relations Account Manager's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Leadership (Mentioned in 9.18% Job Postings): Knowledge of and ability to employ effective strategies that motivate and guide other members within our business to achieve optimum results.
  • Marketing Communications (Mentioned in 1.75% 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.
  • Business Development (Mentioned in 1.03% Job Postings): Business development entails tasks and processes to develop and implement growth opportunities within and between organizations. It is a subset of the fields of business, commerce and organizational theory. Business development is the creation of long-term value for an organization from customers, markets, and relationships. Business development can be taken to mean any activity by either a small or large organization, non-profit or for-profit enterprise which serves the purpose of ‘developing’ the business in some way. In addition, business development activities can be done internally or externally by a business development consultant. External business development can be facilitated through Planning Systems, which are put in place by governments to help small businesses. In addition, reputation building has also proven to help facilitate business development.
Skills Demand Percentage
Leadership 9.18%
Marketing Communications 1.75%
Business Development 1.03%
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 Account Manager's salary.

  • Government Relations: Can increase your salary by up to 12%.
  • Strategic Thinking: Can increase your salary by up to 10%.
  • Client Service: Can increase your salary by up to 10%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Government Relations $181,877
12%
Strategic Thinking $178,629
10%
Client Service $178,629
10%
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Public Relations Account Manager Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Public Relations Account Manager 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 Pharmaceuticals and Financial Services sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 40% above the average. In contrast, Public Relations Account Manager positions in Software & Networking or Transportation typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Public Relations Account Manager as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Public Relations Account Manager

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Pharmaceuticals$227,346$109.040%
Financial Services$211,107$101.030%
Internet$202,988$98.025%
Biotechnology$194,868$94.020%
Energy & Utilities$186,748$90.015%

How Education impacts a Public Relations Account Manager's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Public Relations Account Managers enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree 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 Account Manager with a Bachelor's Degree is between $155,442 and $165,729).

Public Relations Account Manager Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Public Relations Account Manager
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.4%
High School 2.2%
Associates 1.8%
Bachelors 64.9%
Masters 29.5%
Doctorate 1.3%
View as Graph

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

Understanding how a Public Relations Account Manager'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
$144,986
Average $162,390/year
$178,985
$12,082
Average $13,533/month
$14,915
$2,788
Average $3,123/week
$3,442
$70
Average $78/hour
$86
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $178,985 $14,915 $3,442 $86
Average $162,390 $13,533 $3,123 $78
25th Percentile $144,986 $12,082 $2,788 $70

Most common benefits for Public Relations Account Manager

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

Common company salaries for Public Relations Account Manager

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

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FAQ about Public Relations Account Manager

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

The Pharmaceuticals industry offers the highest average compensation for Public Relations Account Manager 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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