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BLSSalary

Public Relations Specialists Salary (2025)

Based on 283,380 employed workers · BLS OEWS May 2025

Official BLS Data
Annual Mean
$84,120
$40.44/hr
Annual Median
$74,750
$35.94/hr
Bottom 10%
$44,110
$21.21/hr
Top 10%
$135,150
$64.98/hr

Salary Percentile Breakdown

PercentileAnnual
10th Percentile
Bottom 10%
$44,110
25th Percentile
Lower quarter
$56,260
50th PercentileMedian
Median
$74,750
75th Percentile
Upper quarter
$100,370
90th Percentile
Top 10%
$135,150

Salary Distribution

Annual Salary Range

10th

$44K

25th

$56K

Median

$75K

75th

$100K

90th

$135K

Highest Paying States for Public Relations Specialists

States with highest average wages · BLS May 2025

StateAnnual Mean
District of Columbia$120,200
California$97,140
Colorado$95,790
New York$95,760
Washington$95,030
Connecticut$95,000
Virginia$92,860
Massachusetts$90,400
Maryland$88,560
New Jersey$88,460

Geographic Salary Variation

Public Relations Specialists salaries vary significantly across the United States. The highest paying state is District of Columbia at an average of $120,200 per year, while New Jersey has an average of $88,460 — a difference of $31,740. These geographic differences reflect variations in cost of living, demand, and local labor market conditions.

About Public Relations Specialists

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 283,380 workers were employed as Public Relations Specialistss in the United States as of May 2025. This occupation is classified under Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations. The annual mean wage of $84,120 reflects data from employer surveys conducted by BLS.

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 · SOC Code: 27-3031

What do these percentiles mean? The 10th percentile ($44,110) represents entry-level or part-time Public Relations Specialistss, while the 90th percentile ($135,150) represents highly experienced professionals or those in high-demand locations. The median ($74,750) is the midpoint — half of all Public Relations Specialistss earn more and half earn less than this amount.
Data sourced from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, May 2025. Public domain. Not affiliated with the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.