27 Series · SOC 27-3031
Public Relations Specialists Salary
National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).
- $74,750
- Median / year
- +7.1%
- 2024→2025
- $135,150
- Top 10% earn
- +4.8%
- Growth '24–'34
- 283,380
- Estimated US jobs
Public Relations Specialists earn a median of $74,750 per year.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $74,750, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $44,110 (10th percentile) to $135,150 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 283,380 estimated jobs in covered establishments. The highest published state median in this ranking is District of Columbia ($102,740).
The pay verdict
Public Relations Specialists earn a median of $74,750, putting them above the typical US occupation and higher than 66% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media, it ranks #12 of 36 by median pay. Employment is projected to grow 4.8% by 2034.
- $74,750
- Median annual wage
- Top 34%
- of 825 US occupations with published wages
- #12 of 36
- in Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media
- 3.1×
- 90th-to-10th pay spread
Highest-paying state: District of Columbia at $102,740. Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
Observed pay change
What changed, BLS OEWS 2019–2025
- The published national median for Public Relations Specialists moved from $61,150 in May 2019 to $74,750 in May 2025 (+22.2%).
- Across the 749 occupations priced in both releases under SOC-2018, the median occupation changed +24.5%.
- Public Relations Specialists sits -2.2 pp near that median, nominal dollars, no price deflator applied.
Public Relations Specialists (SOC 27-3031) has a national median of $74,750 per year in the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025 release. The published 10th-to-90th-percentile boundaries run from $44,110 to $135,150, and the published mean is $84,120. Those summary statistics describe the estimated distribution; their difference alone does not identify its cause. OEWS estimates 283,380 jobs in covered establishments nationally. WageDex has published rows for 54 state or territory areas and 492 metropolitan or nonmetropolitan wage areas. The published national median moved from $69,780 in the May 2024 OEWS release to $74,750 in May 2025, a rise of $4,970 (+7.1%). This is a change between two BLS survey estimates, not an inflation-adjusted same-worker pay raise.
BLS Employment Projections forecast a +4.8% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which we classify as about as fast as average relative to the all-occupations baseline of 3.1%. About 27,600 openings are projected per year from growth, occupational transfers, and labor-force exits. BLS assigns Bachelor's degree as typical education needed for entry. BLS does not publish a separate occupation-specific fatality and injury rate for this role in the current release. The safety panel below shows its broad Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations SOC-group context and is not an occupation-level measurement or ranking.
Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. District of Columbia pays the highest state median at $102,740, which is +37% above the national figure. The highest published metropolitan-area median in this ranking is San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA at $117,620. The observed difference does not identify its cause. Pair the national median with the state and metropolitan-area rows below while keeping the geography and statistic consistent. OEWS includes tips, commissions, incentive pay, and production bonuses, but not employer benefits, overtime premiums, stock compensation, or nonproduction bonuses. See our methodology for the sourcing and calculation details.
Median Salary
$74,750
per year
Median Hourly
$35.94/hr
per hour
Mean Salary
$84,120
average
Employment
283,380
jobs nationwide
How does this pay compare nationally?
Where Public Relations Specialists pay sits nationally
Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median
$74,750 Top 34% higher than 66% of 825 US occupations
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Read the chart as text · as of May 2025
| Band | Count | Share |
|---|---|---|
| $0–$20,000 | 0 US occupations | 0% |
| $20,000–$40,000 | 98 US occupations | 12% |
| $40,000–$60,000 | 298 US occupations | 36% |
| $60,000–$80,000 (this entry) | 209 US occupations | 25% |
| $80,000–$100,000 | 82 US occupations | 10% |
| $100,000–$120,000 | 58 US occupations | 7% |
| $120,000–$140,000 | 32 US occupations | 4% |
| $140,000–$160,000 | 14 US occupations | 2% |
| $160,000–$180,000 | 9 US occupations | 1% |
| $180,000 and above | 25 US occupations | 3% |
$74,750 · 66th percentile of 825 US occupations
Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025
Does this job pay well and grow?
Each dot is a 27-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Public Relations Specialists; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).
Read the chart as text
- Public Relations Spe…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 4.8%, Median annual wage $74750
- Coaches and Scouts: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 6.4%, Median annual wage $47320
- Graphic Designers: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 2.1%, Median annual wage $62960
- Merchandise Displaye…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 3.2%, Median annual wage $39390
- Producers and Direct…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 4.9%, Median annual wage $90360
- Editors: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 0.6%, Median annual wage $77920
- Interior Designers: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 3.2%, Median annual wage $67190
- Audio and Video Tech…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 3.3%, Median annual wage $58100
- Art Directors: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 4.2%, Median annual wage $114850
- Interpreters and Tra…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 1.7%, Median annual wage $60170
- Photographers: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 1.8%, Median annual wage $44660
- Writers and Authors: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 3.6%, Median annual wage $76910
- Technical Writers: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 0.9%, Median annual wage $90390
- Floral Designers: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -5.9%, Median annual wage $37360
- News Analysts, Repor…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -3.9%, Median annual wage $62200
- Commercial and Indus…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 3.2%, Median annual wage $83910
- Film and Video Editors: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 4%, Median annual wage $75420
- Camera Operators, Te…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 1.2%, Median annual wage $74990
- Fashion Designers: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 2%, Median annual wage $80960
- Broadcast Announcers…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -5.5%, Median annual wage $47340
- Broadcast Technicians: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -2.8%, Median annual wage $59570
- Special Effects Arti…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 1.6%, Median annual wage $102030
- Media and Communicat…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 2.7%, Median annual wage $73620
- Umpires, Referees, a…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 5.7%, Median annual wage $40710
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).
Job Outlook (2024–2034)
Projected Growth
+4.8%
About as fast as average
Annual Openings
27,600
per year (projected)
Employment Change
+15,000
315,900 (2024) → 331,000 (2034)
Typical Education
Bachelor's degree
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034
Workplace Safety
All safety ratings →Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations context
Broad SOC context, not an occupation grade
Fatality Rate
0.6/100K
Injury Rate
0.5/100
Danger Index
2.3/100
Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023
Career Intelligence
Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Public Relations Specialists roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.
Top Skills
Knowledge Areas
Key Tasks
- ▸ Respond to requests for information from the media or designate an appropriate spokesperson or information source.
- ▸ Plan or direct development or communication of programs to maintain favorable public or stockholder perceptions of an organization's accomplishments, agenda, or environmental responsibility.
- ▸ Post and update content on the company's Web site and social media outlets.
- ▸ Write press releases or other media communications to promote clients.
- ▸ Establish or maintain cooperative relationships with representatives of community, consumer, employee, or public interest groups.
- ▸ Confer with other managers to identify trends or key group interests or concerns or to provide advice on business decisions.
- ▸ Coach client representatives in effective communication with the public or with employees.
- ▸ Study the objectives, promotional policies, or needs of organizations to develop public relations strategies that will influence public opinion or promote ideas, products, or services.
- ▸ Prepare or edit organizational publications, such as employee newsletters or stockholders' reports, for internal or external audiences.
- ▸ Arrange public appearances, lectures, contests, or exhibits for clients to increase product or service awareness or to promote goodwill.
Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.
Salary Range
Annual Salary Distribution
Hourly Rate Distribution
Public Relations Specialists pay history, 2015–2025
Published national median across 11 BLS OEWS releases. Nominal dollars, not inflation-adjusted.
Read the chart as text
| Period | National median |
|---|---|
| 2015 | $56,770 |
| 2016 | $58,020 |
| 2017 | $59,300 |
| 2018 | $60,000 |
| 2019 | $61,150 |
| 2020 | $62,810 |
| 2021 | $62,800 |
| 2022 | $67,440 |
| 2023 | $66,750 |
| 2024 | $69,780 |
| 2025 | $74,750 |
2015 median
$56,770
2025 median
$74,750
2019–2025 change (same SOC)
+$13,600 (+22.2%)
Avg/year (same SOC)
+3.4%
| Release | Median | Change | Estimated jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2015 | $56,770 | First banked release | 218,910 |
| May 2016 | $58,020 | +2.2% | 226,940 |
| May 2017 | $59,300 | +2.2% | 233,730 |
| May 2018 | $60,000 | +1.2% | 239,030 |
| May 2019 | $61,150 | Classification break | 244,730 |
| May 2020 | $62,810 | +2.7% | 244,550 |
| May 2021 | $62,800 | +0.0% | 242,710 |
| May 2022 | $67,440 | +7.4% | 264,750 |
| May 2023 | $66,750 | -1.0% | 275,550 |
| May 2024 | $69,780 | +4.5% | 280,590 |
| May 2025 | $74,750 | +7.1% | 283,380 |
Across the 11 releases WageDex holds for this occupation, the published national median went from $56,770 in May 2015 to $74,750 in May 2025. Within the SOC-2018 classification (2019–2025), the like-for-like change averages +3.4% per year in nominal terms. Within the same SOC classification, estimated employment went from 244,730 in May 2019 to 283,380 in May 2025.
Each figure is a separate BLS survey estimate, so a change between releases reflects the estimated occupation-wide median in each year. It is not the raise any individual worker received, and it is not adjusted for inflation. Years where BLS did not publish an annual median for this occupation are omitted rather than filled in. This span also crosses a classification change: releases before May 2019 use the 2010 Standard Occupational Classification and later releases use the 2018 SOC, so figures either side of that boundary are not strictly like-for-like. Headline change rates on this page use only the same-classification subset.
Salary by State
Highest Paying States
View all 54 states →
| # | State | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | $102,740 | +37% above national |
| 2 | Washington | $87,470 | +17% above national |
| 3 | California | $85,030 | +14% above national |
| 4 | Connecticut | $84,990 | +14% above national |
| 5 | New York | $81,250 | +9% above national |
| 6 | Colorado | $80,680 | +8% above national |
| 7 | Virginia | $80,380 | +8% above national |
| 8 | New Jersey | $80,130 | +7% above national |
| 9 | Massachusetts | $79,660 | +7% above national |
| 10 | Maryland | $79,560 | +6% above national |
| 11 | Rhode Island | $77,540 | +4% above national |
| 12 | Illinois | $76,380 | +2% above national |
| 13 | Delaware | $76,120 | +2% above national |
| 14 | Oregon | $74,900 | same as national |
| 15 | Nevada | $73,840 | 1% below national |
| 16 | New Hampshire | $73,280 | 2% below national |
| 17 | Georgia | $73,200 | 2% below national |
| 18 | North Dakota | $70,280 | 6% below national |
| 19 | Alaska | $70,050 | 6% below national |
| 20 | New Mexico | $68,700 | 8% below national |
| 21 | Minnesota | $68,620 | 8% below national |
| 22 | Wyoming | $67,490 | 10% below national |
| 23 | Wisconsin | $67,240 | 10% below national |
| 24 | North Carolina | $67,230 | 10% below national |
| 25 | Arizona | $66,710 | 11% below national |
| 26 | Vermont | $66,060 | 12% below national |
| 27 | Michigan | $65,300 | 13% below national |
| 28 | Texas | $65,160 | 13% below national |
| 29 | Arkansas | $65,000 | 13% below national |
| 30 | Oklahoma | $64,920 | 13% below national |
| 31 | Indiana | $64,900 | 13% below national |
| 32 | Kansas | $64,860 | 13% below national |
| 33 | Ohio | $64,840 | 13% below national |
| 34 | South Dakota | $64,520 | 14% below national |
| 35 | Hawaii | $63,880 | 15% below national |
| 36 | Montana | $63,780 | 15% below national |
| 37 | Florida | $63,660 | 15% below national |
| 38 | Iowa | $62,970 | 16% below national |
| 39 | South Carolina | $62,730 | 16% below national |
| 40 | Utah | $62,670 | 16% below national |
| 41 | Maine | $62,450 | 16% below national |
| 42 | Nebraska | $61,780 | 17% below national |
| 43 | Alabama | $61,710 | 17% below national |
| 44 | Missouri | $61,130 | 18% below national |
| 45 | Idaho | $61,110 | 18% below national |
| 46 | Tennessee | $60,900 | 19% below national |
| 47 | Louisiana | $60,470 | 19% below national |
| 48 | Kentucky | $60,150 | 20% below national |
| 49 | Virgin Islands | $59,990 | 20% below national |
| 50 | Mississippi | $59,810 | 20% below national |
| 51 | Pennsylvania | $57,460 | 23% below national |
| 52 | West Virginia | $56,730 | 24% below national |
| 53 | Guam | $48,460 | 35% below national |
| 54 | Puerto Rico | $44,950 | 40% below national |
Salary by Metro Area
Highest Paying Metros
View all 363 metro areas →
| # | Metro Area | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $117,620 | +57% above national |
| 2 | Kennewick-Richland, WA | $103,030 | +38% above national |
| 3 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $102,520 | +37% above national |
| 4 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $101,680 | +36% above national |
| 5 | Lexington Park, MD | $99,960 | +34% above national |
| 6 | Napa, CA | $98,190 | +31% above national |
| 7 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $96,000 | +28% above national |
| 8 | El Centro, CA | $93,100 | +25% above national |
| 9 | Bloomington, IL | $91,630 | +23% above national |
| 10 | New Haven, CT | $91,530 | +22% above national |
| 11 | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $89,640 | +20% above national |
| 12 | Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $87,830 | +17% above national |
| 13 | Salem, OR | $87,740 | +17% above national |
| 14 | Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR | $85,650 | +15% above national |
| 15 | Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $84,990 | +14% above national |
| 16 | Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $84,990 | +14% above national |
| 17 | Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $84,470 | +13% above national |
| 18 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $84,130 | +13% above national |
| 19 | Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $83,390 | +12% above national |
| 20 | Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $83,180 | +11% above national |
| 21 | Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $82,930 | +11% above national |
| 22 | Yuba City, CA | $81,650 | +9% above national |
| 23 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $81,440 | +9% above national |
| 24 | Rapid City, SD | $81,330 | +9% above national |
| 25 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $81,240 | +9% above national |
| 26 | Boulder, CO | $81,180 | +9% above national |
| 27 | Carson City, NV | $81,000 | +8% above national |
| 28 | Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $80,700 | +8% above national |
| 29 | Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $80,610 | +8% above national |
| 30 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $79,860 | +7% above national |
| 31 | Vallejo, CA | $79,590 | +6% above national |
| 32 | Salinas, CA | $78,960 | +6% above national |
| 33 | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $78,920 | +6% above national |
| 34 | Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $78,450 | +5% above national |
| 35 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $78,380 | +5% above national |
| 36 | Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | $78,110 | +4% above national |
| 37 | Jackson, MI | $77,860 | +4% above national |
| 38 | Stockton-Lodi, CA | $77,710 | +4% above national |
| 39 | Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $77,570 | +4% above national |
| 40 | Fayetteville, NC | $77,500 | +4% above national |
| 41 | Merced, CA | $77,380 | +4% above national |
| 42 | Bellingham, WA | $77,320 | +3% above national |
| 43 | Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $77,210 | +3% above national |
| 44 | Yakima, WA | $77,150 | +3% above national |
| 45 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $77,050 | +3% above national |
| 46 | Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | $77,010 | +3% above national |
| 47 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $77,010 | +3% above national |
| 48 | Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $76,970 | +3% above national |
| 49 | Dover, DE | $76,740 | +3% above national |
| 50 | Barnstable Town, MA | $76,690 | +3% above national |
| 51 | Modesto, CA | $76,610 | +2% above national |
| 52 | Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA | $76,600 | +2% above national |
| 53 | Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $76,580 | +2% above national |
| 54 | Charlottesville, VA | $76,580 | +2% above national |
| 55 | Walla Walla, WA | $76,360 | +2% above national |
| 56 | Peoria, IL | $76,150 | +2% above national |
| 57 | Reno, NV | $75,840 | +1% above national |
| 58 | Bismarck, ND | $75,770 | +1% above national |
| 59 | Richmond, VA | $75,730 | +1% above national |
| 60 | Worcester, MA | $75,610 | +1% above national |
| 61 | Colorado Springs, CO | $75,550 | +1% above national |
| 62 | Dalton, GA | $75,500 | +1% above national |
| 63 | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $75,190 | +1% above national |
| 64 | Manchester-Nashua, NH | $75,090 | same as national |
| 65 | Rochester, MN | $74,830 | same as national |
| 66 | Visalia, CA | $74,780 | same as national |
| 67 | Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $74,660 | same as national |
| 68 | Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $74,610 | same as national |
| 69 | Watertown-Fort Drum, NY | $74,390 | same as national |
| 70 | Lawton, OK | $73,920 | 1% below national |
| 71 | Redding, CA | $73,920 | 1% below national |
| 72 | Warner Robins, GA | $73,920 | 1% below national |
| 73 | Chico, CA | $73,890 | 1% below national |
| 74 | Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $73,890 | 1% below national |
| 75 | Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | $73,840 | 1% below national |
| 76 | Huntsville, AL | $73,810 | 1% below national |
| 77 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $73,780 | 1% below national |
| 78 | Pittsfield, MA | $73,720 | 1% below national |
| 79 | Albuquerque, NM | $73,640 | 1% below national |
| 80 | Madison, WI | $73,510 | 2% below national |
| 81 | Columbus, OH | $73,280 | 2% below national |
| 82 | Green Bay, WI | $73,090 | 2% below national |
| 83 | Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT | $73,050 | 2% below national |
| 84 | Fresno, CA | $72,870 | 3% below national |
| 85 | Elmira, NY | $72,630 | 3% below national |
| 86 | Amherst Town-Northampton, MA | $72,610 | 3% below national |
| 87 | Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | $72,390 | 3% below national |
| 88 | Bend, OR | $72,000 | 4% below national |
| 89 | Rochester, NY | $71,740 | 4% below national |
| 90 | Waterbury-Shelton, CT | $71,560 | 4% below national |
| 91 | Lansing-East Lansing, MI | $71,550 | 4% below national |
| 92 | Anchorage, AK | $71,510 | 4% below national |
| 93 | Salisbury, MD | $71,490 | 4% below national |
| 94 | San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $71,190 | 5% below national |
| 95 | Springfield, IL | $71,110 | 5% below national |
| 96 | Sierra Vista-Douglas, AZ | $71,060 | 5% below national |
| 97 | Wildwood-The Villages, FL | $71,060 | 5% below national |
| 98 | Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $70,660 | 5% below national |
| 99 | Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | $70,510 | 6% below national |
| 100 | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $70,490 | 6% below national |
| 101 | Midland, MI | $70,440 | 6% below national |
| 102 | Fort Wayne, IN | $70,410 | 6% below national |
| 103 | Greeley, CO | $70,230 | 6% below national |
| 104 | Cheyenne, WY | $69,990 | 6% below national |
| 105 | Springfield, MA | $69,790 | 7% below national |
| 106 | Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $69,470 | 7% below national |
| 107 | Santa Fe, NM | $69,410 | 7% below national |
| 108 | Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $69,380 | 7% below national |
| 109 | Owensboro, KY | $69,350 | 7% below national |
| 110 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $69,280 | 7% below national |
| 111 | Greenville, NC | $68,960 | 8% below national |
| 112 | Fargo, ND-MN | $68,950 | 8% below national |
| 113 | Ann Arbor, MI | $68,890 | 8% below national |
| 114 | Raleigh-Cary, NC | $68,790 | 8% below national |
| 115 | New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $68,600 | 8% below national |
| 116 | Portland-South Portland, ME | $68,330 | 9% below national |
| 117 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $68,320 | 9% below national |
| 118 | Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL | $68,260 | 9% below national |
| 119 | Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $68,240 | 9% below national |
| 120 | Kansas City, MO-KS | $68,050 | 9% below national |
| 121 | Naples-Marco Island, FL | $67,780 | 9% below national |
| 122 | Casper, WY | $67,640 | 10% below national |
| 123 | Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | $67,550 | 10% below national |
| 124 | Prescott Valley-Prescott, AZ | $67,470 | 10% below national |
| 125 | Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | $67,380 | 10% below national |
| 126 | Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $67,370 | 10% below national |
| 127 | Winchester, VA-WV | $67,300 | 10% below national |
| 128 | Ithaca, NY | $67,260 | 10% below national |
| 129 | Glens Falls, NY | $67,230 | 10% below national |
| 130 | Kingston, NY | $67,230 | 10% below national |
| 131 | Elizabethtown, KY | $67,200 | 10% below national |
| 132 | Champaign-Urbana, IL | $67,130 | 10% below national |
| 133 | Kahului-Wailuku, HI | $67,080 | 10% below national |
| 134 | Cleveland, OH | $66,610 | 11% below national |
| 135 | Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $66,450 | 11% below national |
| 136 | Oklahoma City, OK | $66,410 | 11% below national |
| 137 | Chattanooga, TN-GA | $66,370 | 11% below national |
| 138 | Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $66,100 | 12% below national |
| 139 | Spartanburg, SC | $65,870 | 12% below national |
| 140 | Burlington-South Burlington, VT | $65,630 | 12% below national |
| 141 | Elkhart-Goshen, IN | $65,580 | 12% below national |
| 142 | Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $65,520 | 12% below national |
| 143 | Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $65,440 | 12% below national |
| 144 | Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | $65,170 | 13% below national |
| 145 | Gulfport-Biloxi, MS | $65,170 | 13% below national |
| 146 | Killeen-Temple, TX | $65,170 | 13% below national |
| 147 | St. Louis, MO-IL | $65,170 | 13% below national |
| 148 | Pueblo, CO | $65,160 | 13% below national |
| 149 | Hattiesburg, MS | $65,120 | 13% below national |
| 150 | Birmingham, AL | $64,880 | 13% below national |
| 151 | Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $64,770 | 13% below national |
| 152 | San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $64,690 | 13% below national |
| 153 | Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $64,690 | 13% below national |
| 154 | Cedar Rapids, IA | $64,620 | 14% below national |
| 155 | Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $64,600 | 14% below national |
| 156 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $64,550 | 14% below national |
| 157 | Savannah, GA | $64,520 | 14% below national |
| 158 | Fairbanks-College, AK | $64,480 | 14% below national |
| 159 | Midland, TX | $64,400 | 14% below national |
| 160 | Utica-Rome, NY | $64,330 | 14% below national |
| 161 | Sheboygan, WI | $64,290 | 14% below national |
| 162 | Dubuque, IA | $64,180 | 14% below national |
| 163 | Iowa City, IA | $64,170 | 14% below national |
| 164 | La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | $64,130 | 14% below national |
| 165 | Syracuse, NY | $64,110 | 14% below national |
| 166 | Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC | $64,090 | 14% below national |
| 167 | Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA | $64,080 | 14% below national |
| 168 | Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $64,040 | 14% below national |
| 169 | Saginaw, MI | $63,940 | 14% below national |
| 170 | Binghamton, NY | $63,930 | 14% below national |
| 171 | Auburn-Opelika, AL | $63,920 | 14% below national |
| 172 | Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | $63,900 | 15% below national |
| 173 | Logan, UT-ID | $63,800 | 15% below national |
| 174 | Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $63,780 | 15% below national |
| 175 | Decatur, AL | $63,780 | 15% below national |
| 176 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $63,780 | 15% below national |
| 177 | Tulsa, OK | $63,760 | 15% below national |
| 178 | Grand Junction, CO | $63,740 | 15% below national |
| 179 | Mankato, MN | $63,740 | 15% below national |
| 180 | Bozeman, MT | $63,720 | 15% below national |
| 181 | Omaha, NE-IA | $63,700 | 15% below national |
| 182 | Albany, OR | $63,650 | 15% below national |
| 183 | Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI | $63,650 | 15% below national |
| 184 | Jacksonville, FL | $63,620 | 15% below national |
| 185 | Wilmington, NC | $63,620 | 15% below national |
| 186 | Battle Creek, MI | $63,590 | 15% below national |
| 187 | State College, PA | $63,580 | 15% below national |
| 188 | Albany, GA | $63,560 | 15% below national |
| 189 | Wichita, KS | $63,430 | 15% below national |
| 190 | Fond du Lac, WI | $63,360 | 15% below national |
| 191 | Terre Haute, IN | $63,320 | 15% below national |
| 192 | Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $63,310 | 15% below national |
| 193 | Alexandria, LA | $63,280 | 15% below national |
| 194 | Helena, MT | $63,230 | 15% below national |
| 195 | Evansville, IN | $63,170 | 15% below national |
| 196 | Boise City, ID | $63,130 | 16% below national |
| 197 | Flagstaff, AZ | $63,130 | 16% below national |
| 198 | Grand Forks, ND-MN | $63,040 | 16% below national |
| 199 | Ames, IA | $62,970 | 16% below national |
| 200 | Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $62,880 | 16% below national |
| 201 | Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $62,870 | 16% below national |
| 202 | Janesville-Beloit, WI | $62,790 | 16% below national |
| 203 | Columbus, IN | $62,770 | 16% below national |
| 204 | Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL | $62,750 | 16% below national |
| 205 | Panama City-Panama City Beach, FL | $62,740 | 16% below national |
| 206 | Lebanon, PA | $62,720 | 16% below national |
| 207 | Niles, MI | $62,630 | 16% below national |
| 208 | Bay City, MI | $62,610 | 16% below national |
| 209 | Greensboro-High Point, NC | $62,580 | 16% below national |
| 210 | Wausau, WI | $62,510 | 16% below national |
| 211 | Rockford, IL | $62,500 | 16% below national |
| 212 | Topeka, KS | $62,410 | 17% below national |
| 213 | Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL | $62,400 | 17% below national |
| 214 | Lexington-Fayette, KY | $62,380 | 17% below national |
| 215 | Montgomery, AL | $62,360 | 17% below national |
| 216 | Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | $62,220 | 17% below national |
| 217 | Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | $62,200 | 17% below national |
| 218 | Roanoke, VA | $62,130 | 17% below national |
| 219 | Kenosha, WI | $62,110 | 17% below national |
| 220 | Gainesville, FL | $62,050 | 17% below national |
| 221 | Bloomington, IN | $61,870 | 17% below national |
| 222 | Akron, OH | $61,830 | 17% below national |
| 223 | South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $61,830 | 17% below national |
| 224 | Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | $61,810 | 17% below national |
| 225 | Yuma, AZ | $61,810 | 17% below national |
| 226 | Sherman-Denison, TX | $61,760 | 17% below national |
| 227 | Traverse City, MI | $61,760 | 17% below national |
| 228 | Ocala, FL | $61,740 | 17% below national |
| 229 | Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | $61,710 | 17% below national |
| 230 | Kalamazoo-Portage, MI | $61,660 | 18% below national |
| 231 | Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $61,640 | 18% below national |
| 232 | Tucson, AZ | $61,630 | 18% below national |
| 233 | Missoula, MT | $61,620 | 18% below national |
| 234 | Columbia, SC | $61,610 | 18% below national |
| 235 | Flint, MI | $61,610 | 18% below national |
| 236 | Corvallis, OR | $61,590 | 18% below national |
| 237 | Winston-Salem, NC | $61,580 | 18% below national |
| 238 | Macon-Bibb County, GA | $61,560 | 18% below national |
| 239 | Lincoln, NE | $61,550 | 18% below national |
| 240 | Eau Claire, WI | $61,500 | 18% below national |
| 241 | Columbus, GA-AL | $61,380 | 18% below national |
| 242 | Shreveport-Bossier City, LA | $61,220 | 18% below national |
| 243 | Ogden, UT | $61,110 | 18% below national |
| 244 | Eugene-Springfield, OR | $61,100 | 18% below national |
| 245 | Jacksonville, NC | $61,050 | 18% below national |
| 246 | Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $61,050 | 18% below national |
| 247 | Rocky Mount, NC | $61,030 | 18% below national |
| 248 | Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC | $61,020 | 18% below national |
| 249 | Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $61,000 | 18% below national |
| 250 | Lynchburg, VA | $60,990 | 18% below national |
| 251 | Hammond, LA | $60,930 | 18% below national |
| 252 | North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | $60,870 | 19% below national |
| 253 | Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL | $60,820 | 19% below national |
| 254 | Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT | $60,600 | 19% below national |
| 255 | Odessa, TX | $60,350 | 19% below national |
| 256 | Jackson, MS | $60,310 | 19% below national |
| 257 | Goldsboro, NC | $60,270 | 19% below national |
| 258 | Toledo, OH | $60,220 | 19% below national |
| 259 | Baton Rouge, LA | $59,990 | 20% below national |
| 260 | College Station-Bryan, TX | $59,990 | 20% below national |
| 261 | Gainesville, GA | $59,990 | 20% below national |
| 262 | Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $59,960 | 20% below national |
| 263 | Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA | $59,900 | 20% below national |
| 264 | Decatur, IL | $59,840 | 20% below national |
| 265 | Grand Island, NE | $59,780 | 20% below national |
| 266 | Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | $59,770 | 20% below national |
| 267 | St. Cloud, MN | $59,750 | 20% below national |
| 268 | Tuscaloosa, AL | $59,700 | 20% below national |
| 269 | Tallahassee, FL | $59,590 | 20% below national |
| 270 | Harrisonburg, VA | $59,580 | 20% below national |
| 271 | Jefferson City, MO | $59,570 | 20% below national |
| 272 | Billings, MT | $59,510 | 20% below national |
| 273 | Canton-Massillon, OH | $59,500 | 20% below national |
| 274 | Tyler, TX | $59,500 | 20% below national |
| 275 | Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | $59,450 | 20% below national |
| 276 | Dothan, AL | $59,290 | 21% below national |
| 277 | Manhattan, KS | $59,170 | 21% below national |
| 278 | Burlington, NC | $59,150 | 21% below national |
| 279 | Asheville, NC | $58,970 | 21% below national |
| 280 | Pocatello, ID | $58,610 | 22% below national |
| 281 | Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI | $58,460 | 22% below national |
| 282 | Longview, TX | $58,290 | 22% below national |
| 283 | Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $58,270 | 22% below national |
| 284 | Port St. Lucie, FL | $58,220 | 22% below national |
| 285 | Lake Charles, LA | $58,150 | 22% below national |
| 286 | Lawrence, KS | $58,040 | 22% below national |
| 287 | Rome, GA | $57,980 | 22% below national |
| 288 | Lima, OH | $57,970 | 22% below national |
| 289 | Amarillo, TX | $57,920 | 23% below national |
| 290 | Wichita Falls, TX | $57,910 | 23% below national |
| 291 | Medford, OR | $57,870 | 23% below national |
| 292 | El Paso, TX | $57,810 | 23% below national |
| 293 | Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | $57,720 | 23% below national |
| 294 | Athens-Clarke County, GA | $57,600 | 23% below national |
| 295 | Knoxville, TN | $57,360 | 23% below national |
| 296 | Muncie, IN | $57,340 | 23% below national |
| 297 | Lafayette, LA | $57,060 | 24% below national |
| 298 | Clarksville, TN-KY | $56,890 | 24% below national |
| 299 | Vineland, NJ | $56,870 | 24% below national |
| 300 | Abilene, TX | $56,830 | 24% below national |
| 301 | Appleton, WI | $56,480 | 24% below national |
| 302 | St. Joseph, MO-KS | $56,480 | 24% below national |
| 303 | Waco, TX | $56,440 | 24% below national |
| 304 | Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL | $56,320 | 25% below national |
| 305 | Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL | $56,200 | 25% below national |
| 306 | Duluth, MN-WI | $56,110 | 25% below national |
| 307 | Monroe, MI | $56,030 | 25% below national |
| 308 | Sandusky, OH | $56,030 | 25% below national |
| 309 | Pittsburgh, PA | $55,910 | 25% below national |
| 310 | Monroe, LA | $55,750 | 25% below national |
| 311 | Williamsport, PA | $55,660 | 26% below national |
| 312 | York-Hanover, PA | $55,660 | 26% below national |
| 313 | Lewiston, ID-WA | $55,590 | 26% below national |
| 314 | Coeur d'Alene, ID | $55,440 | 26% below national |
| 315 | Minot, ND | $55,330 | 26% below national |
| 316 | Punta Gorda, FL | $55,290 | 26% below national |
| 317 | Springfield, OH | $54,930 | 27% below national |
| 318 | Fort Smith, AR-OK | $54,880 | 27% below national |
| 319 | Altoona, PA | $54,860 | 27% below national |
| 320 | Charleston, WV | $54,790 | 27% below national |
| 321 | Morgantown, WV | $54,710 | 27% below national |
| 322 | Victoria, TX | $54,690 | 27% below national |
| 323 | Corpus Christi, TX | $54,570 | 27% below national |
| 324 | Michigan City-La Porte, IN | $54,450 | 27% below national |
| 325 | Youngstown-Warren, OH | $54,300 | 27% below national |
| 326 | Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $54,210 | 27% below national |
| 327 | Twin Falls, ID | $54,130 | 28% below national |
| 328 | Bangor, ME | $53,610 | 28% below national |
| 329 | Las Cruces, NM | $53,540 | 28% below national |
| 330 | Sebastian-Vero Beach-West Vero Corridor, FL | $53,330 | 29% below national |
| 331 | Erie, PA | $53,060 | 29% below national |
| 332 | Springfield, MO | $52,990 | 29% below national |
| 333 | Lubbock, TX | $52,740 | 29% below national |
| 334 | Bowling Green, KY | $52,580 | 30% below national |
| 335 | Jackson, TN | $52,580 | 30% below national |
| 336 | Texarkana, TX-AR | $52,570 | 30% below national |
| 337 | Lake Havasu City-Kingman, AZ | $52,530 | 30% below national |
| 338 | Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $52,500 | 30% below national |
| 339 | Idaho Falls, ID | $52,110 | 30% below national |
| 340 | Joplin, MO-KS | $52,090 | 30% below national |
| 341 | Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $52,000 | 30% below national |
| 342 | Johnson City, TN | $51,890 | 31% below national |
| 343 | Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA | $51,730 | 31% below national |
| 344 | Lancaster, PA | $51,230 | 31% below national |
| 345 | Reading, PA | $51,180 | 32% below national |
| 346 | Laredo, TX | $51,100 | 32% below national |
| 347 | Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL | $51,080 | 32% below national |
| 348 | Paducah, KY-IL | $50,500 | 32% below national |
| 349 | Great Falls, MT | $50,190 | 33% below national |
| 350 | Florence, SC | $49,820 | 33% below national |
| 351 | Brownsville-Harlingen, TX | $49,360 | 34% below national |
| 352 | Johnstown, PA | $49,350 | 34% below national |
| 353 | Gettysburg, PA | $49,240 | 34% below national |
| 354 | Chambersburg, PA | $49,020 | 34% below national |
| 355 | McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | $48,980 | 34% below national |
| 356 | San Angelo, TX | $48,860 | 35% below national |
| 357 | Brunswick-St. Simons, GA | $48,520 | 35% below national |
| 358 | Anniston-Oxford, AL | $48,500 | 35% below national |
| 359 | Columbia, MO | $47,700 | 36% below national |
| 360 | St. George, UT | $47,020 | 37% below national |
| 361 | San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR | $46,030 | 38% below national |
| 362 | Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH | $45,140 | 40% below national |
| 363 | Mobile, AL | $42,770 | 43% below national |
Same SOC major group
Other detailed occupations in SOC major group 27 (Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations) - category peers, not a pay match.
Actors
SOC 27-2011
Art Directors
SOC 27-1011
Artists and Related Workers, All Other
SOC 27-1019
Athletes and Sports Competitors
SOC 27-2021
Audio and Video Technicians
SOC 27-4011
Showing 5 of 40 detailed occupations BLS assigns to this SOC major group.
Nationwide occupations with similar pay or employment scale
Two OEWS peer sets outside this SOC major group (Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations). Same-category cards above stay inside the group; these neighborhoods are cross-group nearest neighbors on national median pay ($74,750 here) and reported employment (283,380 jobs here).
Similar median pay
Nearest other detailed occupations by BLS OEWS national median annual wage.
Similar employment scale
Nearest headcount peers (floor 1,000 national jobs), distinct from the pay column.
Peers are nearest-neighbor matches on BLS OEWS national median annual wage and reported employment. Employment peers exclude occupations already listed in the pay column so the two link sets stay distinct.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What to do with this data
How to use Public Relations Specialists pay figures in a real decision
- The 75th-percentile wage is about $100,370/year. Treat it as the upper-quartile market boundary, not an automatic target for experience alone; role scope, location, industry, credentials, performance, and employer context still need separate evidence. Salary calculator
- Location moves pay significantly: District of Columbia leads at $102,740/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
- Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs
These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.
Source data and WageDex calculations are identified in context on this page. Occupation wages use BLS OEWS May 2025; outlook uses BLS Employment Projections for 2024–2034; safety, skills, knowledge, and task panels identify their BLS or O*NET sources in context. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.