Marketing48% remote-eligible+3% YoY growth

Public Relations Manager Salary
by City (2026)

Manage an organization's public image and communications with media and stakeholders. National median: $95K/year. See how your city compares.

National median

$95K

Top 10% earn

$172K

Entry level

$68K

Salary growth

+3%/yr

Public Relations Manager salary by city

Sorted by median salary

City	Entry	Median	Senior	COL	Tax
San Francisco, CA	$102K	$143K	$195K	224	9.3%
San Jose, CA	$99K	$138K	$189K	210	9.3%
New York City, NY	$95K	$133K	$182K	187	6.85%
Cambridge, MA	$95K	$132K	$181K	185	5%
Pearl City, HI	$95K	$132K	$181K	185	11%
Oakland, CA	$94K	$131K	$179K	185	9.3%
Washington, DC	$94K	$131K	$179K	152	8.5%
Bellevue, WA	$92K	$128K	$175K	175	None ✓
Jersey City, NJ	$92K	$128K	$176K	162	10.75%
Irvine, CA	$91K	$127K	$174K	172	9.3%
Los Angeles, CA	$88K	$124K	$169K	163	9.3%
Yonkers, NY	$89K	$124K	$169K	165	6.85%
Seattle, WA	$88K	$124K	$169K	150	None ✓
Boston, MA	$88K	$124K	$169K	162	5%
Arlington, VA	$88K	$124K	$169K	148	5.75%
Bethesda, MD	$89K	$124K	$169K	165	5.75%
Kirkland, WA	$88K	$122K	$168K	162	None ✓
Newark, NJ	$87K	$122K	$166K	155	10.75%
Stamford, CT	$86K	$121K	$165K	158	6.99%
San Diego, CA	$85K	$119K	$163K	148	9.3%
Hilo, HI	$85K	$119K	$163K	155	11%
Santa Ana, CA	$84K	$117K	$160K	150	9.3%
Long Beach, CA	$83K	$116K	$159K	155	9.3%
Anaheim, CA	$83K	$116K	$159K	148	9.3%
Rockville, MD	$83K	$116K	$159K	148	5.75%
Alexandria, VA	$82K	$115K	$157K	145	5.75%
Elizabeth, NJ	$82K	$115K	$157K	145	10.75%
Paterson, NJ	$81K	$113K	$155K	140	10.75%
Sacramento, CA	$80K	$112K	$153K	128	9.3%
Chula Vista, CA	$80K	$112K	$153K	138	9.3%
Portland, OR	$80K	$112K	$153K	130	9.9%
Edison, NJ	$80K	$112K	$153K	138	10.75%
Fairbanks, AK	$80K	$112K	$153K	138	None ✓
Austin, TX	$78K	$109K	$150K	110	None ✓
Chicago, IL	$78K	$109K	$150K	107	4.95%
Scottsdale, AZ	$78K	$109K	$150K	118	2.5%
Denver, CO	$78K	$109K	$150K	118	4.55%
Miami, FL	$76K	$106K	$146K	123	None ✓
Tacoma, WA	$76K	$106K	$146K	128	None ✓
Worcester, MA	$76K	$106K	$146K	120	5%
Philadelphia, PA	$76K	$106K	$146K	110	3.07%
Baltimore, MD	$76K	$106K	$146K	115	5.75%
Honolulu, HI	$76K	$106K	$146K	192	11%
Dallas, TX	$75K	$105K	$143K	96	None ✓
Plano, TX	$75K	$105K	$143K	105	None ✓
Atlanta, GA	$75K	$105K	$143K	99	5.75%
Minneapolis, MN	$75K	$105K	$143K	106	6.8%
Salt Lake City, UT	$75K	$105K	$143K	105	4.85%
New Haven, CT	$75K	$105K	$144K	122	6.99%
Hartford, CT	$75K	$105K	$143K	118	6.99%
Nashua, NH	$75K	$104K	$143K	120	None ✓
McKinney, TX	$73K	$103K	$140K	108	None ✓
Frisco, TX	$74K	$103K	$141K	118	None ✓
Riverside, CA	$74K	$103K	$141K	118	9.3%
Fort Lauderdale, FL	$73K	$103K	$140K	118	None ✓
Naperville, IL	$74K	$103K	$141K	118	4.95%
Vancouver, WA	$74K	$103K	$141K	118	None ✓
Aurora, CO	$73K	$103K	$140K	112	4.55%
Lowell, MA	$74K	$103K	$141K	118	5%
Raleigh, NC	$73K	$103K	$140K	102	4.75%
Durham, NC	$73K	$103K	$140K	100	4.75%
St. Paul, MN	$73K	$103K	$140K	104	6.8%
Gresham, OR	$74K	$103K	$141K	118	9.9%
Bridgeport, CT	$74K	$103K	$141K	118	6.99%
Manchester, NH	$74K	$103K	$141K	118	None ✓
Burlington, VT	$74K	$103K	$141K	118	6.6%
Providence, RI	$74K	$103K	$141K	118	5.99%
Anchorage, AK	$73K	$103K	$140K	128	None ✓
Hialeah, FL	$73K	$102K	$140K	115	None ✓
Hollywood, FL	$73K	$102K	$140K	115	None ✓
Lakewood, CO	$73K	$102K	$140K	115	4.55%
Ann Arbor, MI	$73K	$102K	$140K	115	4.25%
Frederick, MD	$73K	$102K	$140K	115	5.75%
Portland, ME	$73K	$102K	$140K	115	7.15%
Concord, NH	$73K	$102K	$140K	115	None ✓
Warwick, RI	$73K	$102K	$140K	115	5.99%
Pembroke Pines, FL	$72K	$101K	$138K	112	None ✓
Fort Collins, CO	$72K	$101K	$138K	112	4.55%
Cary, NC	$72K	$101K	$138K	112	4.75%
Irving, TX	$71K	$100K	$137K	97	None ✓
Tampa, FL	$71K	$100K	$137K	102	None ✓
Phoenix, AZ	$71K	$100K	$137K	100	2.5%
Chandler, AZ	$71K	$100K	$137K	105	2.5%
Charlotte, NC	$71K	$100K	$137K	100	4.75%
Nashville, TN	$71K	$100K	$137K	102	None ✓
Eugene, OR	$71K	$100K	$137K	110	9.9%
Provo, UT	$71K	$100K	$137K	100	4.85%
Houston, TX	$71K	$99K	$135K	91	None ✓
Round Rock, TX	$71K	$99K	$135K	108	None ✓
Gilbert, AZ	$71K	$99K	$135K	108	2.5%
Tempe, AZ	$71K	$99K	$135K	108	2.5%
Thornton, CO	$71K	$99K	$135K	108	4.55%
Boise, ID	$71K	$99K	$135K	108	5.8%
Wilmington, DE	$71K	$99K	$135K	108	6.6%
Stockton, CA	$70K	$98K	$134K	105	9.3%
Springfield, MA	$70K	$98K	$134K	105	5%
Salem, OR	$70K	$98K	$134K	105	9.9%
Henderson, NV	$70K	$98K	$134K	105	None ✓
Meridian, ID	$70K	$98K	$134K	105	5.8%
Fort Worth, TX	$69K	$97K	$133K	93	None ✓
Orlando, FL	$69K	$97K	$133K	100	None ✓
Reno, NV	$69K	$97K	$133K	108	None ✓
Denton, TX	$68K	$96K	$131K	100	None ✓
Carrollton, TX	$69K	$96K	$132K	102	None ✓
San Bernardino, CA	$68K	$96K	$131K	100	9.3%
Cape Coral, FL	$68K	$96K	$131K	100	None ✓
Peoria, AZ	$68K	$96K	$131K	100	2.5%
Rochester, MN	$68K	$96K	$131K	100	6.8%
West Jordan, UT	$68K	$96K	$131K	100	4.85%
Overland Park, KS	$68K	$96K	$131K	100	5.7%
Missoula, MT	$69K	$96K	$132K	102	6.75%
Dover, DE	$68K	$96K	$131K	100	6.6%
Arlington, TX	$68K	$95K	$130K	94	None ✓
Garland, TX	$68K	$95K	$130K	91	None ✓
Albany, NY	$68K	$95K	$130K	98	6.85%
St. Petersburg, FL	$68K	$95K	$130K	105	None ✓
Port St. Lucie, FL	$68K	$95K	$130K	98	None ✓
Mesa, AZ	$68K	$95K	$130K	98	2.5%
Chesapeake, VA	$68K	$95K	$130K	98	5.75%
Richmond, VA	$68K	$95K	$130K	98	5.75%
Columbus, OH	$68K	$95K	$130K	90	3.99%
Pittsburgh, PA	$68K	$95K	$130K	90	3.07%
Las Vegas, NV	$68K	$95K	$130K	102	None ✓
North Las Vegas, NV	$68K	$95K	$130K	98	None ✓
West Valley City, UT	$68K	$95K	$130K	98	4.85%
Orem, UT	$68K	$95K	$130K	98	4.85%
Charleston, SC	$68K	$95K	$130K	105	6.5%
Nampa, ID	$68K	$95K	$130K	98	5.8%
Billings, MT	$68K	$95K	$130K	98	6.75%
Lewiston, ME	$68K	$95K	$130K	98	7.15%
Bakersfield, CA	$67K	$93K	$128K	95	9.3%
Aurora, IL	$67K	$93K	$128K	95	4.95%
Glendale, AZ	$67K	$93K	$128K	95	2.5%
Virginia Beach, VA	$67K	$93K	$127K	98	5.75%
Norfolk, VA	$67K	$93K	$128K	95	5.75%
Newport News, VA	$67K	$93K	$128K	95	5.75%
Cincinnati, OH	$67K	$93K	$127K	88	3.99%
Allentown, PA	$67K	$93K	$128K	95	3.07%
Kansas City, MO	$67K	$93K	$127K	90	5.3%
Madison, WI	$67K	$93K	$127K	102	5.3%
North Charleston, SC	$67K	$93K	$128K	95	6.5%
Midland, TX	$66K	$92K	$126K	92	None ✓
Athens, GA	$66K	$92K	$126K	92	5.75%
Duluth, MN	$66K	$92K	$126K	92	6.8%
Greenville, SC	$66K	$92K	$126K	92	6.5%
Cheyenne, WY	$66K	$92K	$126K	92	None ✓
Grand Prairie, TX	$65K	$91K	$125K	90	None ✓
Tallahassee, FL	$65K	$91K	$125K	90	None ✓
Joliet, IL	$65K	$91K	$125K	90	4.95%
Colorado Springs, CO	$65K	$91K	$125K	102	4.55%
Sterling Heights, MI	$65K	$91K	$125K	90	4.25%
St. Louis, MO	$65K	$91K	$125K	86	5.3%
Indianapolis, IN	$65K	$91K	$125K	88	3.23%
Milwaukee, WI	$65K	$91K	$125K	90	5.3%
Kenosha, WI	$65K	$91K	$125K	90	5.3%
Huntsville, AL	$65K	$91K	$125K	88	5%
Fargo, ND	$65K	$91K	$125K	90	2.5%
Pasadena, TX	$65K	$90K	$124K	88	None ✓
Mesquite, TX	$65K	$90K	$124K	88	None ✓
Fresno, CA	$65K	$90K	$124K	102	9.3%
Rochester, NY	$65K	$90K	$124K	90	6.85%
Syracuse, NY	$65K	$90K	$124K	88	6.85%
Jacksonville, FL	$65K	$90K	$124K	93	None ✓
Gainesville, FL	$65K	$90K	$124K	88	None ✓
Greensboro, NC	$65K	$90K	$124K	88	4.75%
Chattanooga, TN	$65K	$90K	$124K	88	None ✓
Detroit, MI	$65K	$90K	$124K	82	4.25%
Green Bay, WI	$65K	$90K	$124K	88	5.3%
Lexington, KY	$65K	$90K	$124K	88	5%
Des Moines, IA	$65K	$90K	$124K	88	4.82%
Great Falls, MT	$65K	$90K	$124K	88	6.75%
Casper, WY	$65K	$90K	$124K	88	None ✓
Bismarck, ND	$65K	$90K	$124K	88	2.5%
Sioux Falls, SD	$65K	$90K	$124K	88	None ✓
Rapid City, SD	$65K	$90K	$124K	88	None ✓
Beaumont, TX	$64K	$89K	$122K	85	None ✓
Odessa, TX	$64K	$89K	$122K	85	None ✓
Tyler, TX	$64K	$89K	$122K	85	None ✓
Winston-Salem, NC	$64K	$89K	$122K	85	4.75%
Warren, MI	$64K	$89K	$122K	85	4.25%
Lansing, MI	$64K	$89K	$122K	85	4.25%
Independence, MO	$64K	$89K	$122K	85	5.3%
Lafayette, LA	$64K	$89K	$122K	85	6%
Cedar Rapids, IA	$64K	$89K	$122K	85	4.82%
Kansas City, KS	$64K	$89K	$122K	85	5.7%
Lincoln, NE	$64K	$89K	$122K	85	5.84%
Rio Rancho, NM	$64K	$89K	$122K	85	5.9%
Fayetteville, AR	$64K	$89K	$122K	85	4.9%
San Antonio, TX	$63K	$88K	$121K	87	None ✓
Amarillo, TX	$63K	$88K	$120K	82	None ✓
Waco, TX	$63K	$88K	$120K	82	None ✓
Pueblo, CO	$63K	$88K	$120K	82	4.55%
Columbus, GA	$63K	$88K	$120K	82	5.75%
Augusta, GA	$63K	$88K	$120K	82	5.75%
Fayetteville, NC	$63K	$88K	$120K	82	4.75%
Clarksville, TN	$63K	$88K	$120K	82	None ✓
South Bend, IN	$63K	$88K	$120K	82	3.23%
Mobile, AL	$63K	$88K	$120K	82	5%
Broken Arrow, OK	$63K	$88K	$120K	82	4.75%
Davenport, IA	$63K	$88K	$120K	82	4.82%
Killeen, TX	$62K	$87K	$119K	80	None ✓
Buffalo, NY	$63K	$87K	$120K	88	6.85%
Rockford, IL	$62K	$87K	$119K	80	4.95%
Macon, GA	$62K	$87K	$119K	80	5.75%
Akron, OH	$62K	$87K	$119K	80	3.99%
Dayton, OH	$62K	$87K	$119K	80	3.99%
Erie, PA	$62K	$87K	$119K	80	3.07%
Springfield, MO	$62K	$87K	$119K	80	5.3%
Fort Wayne, IN	$62K	$87K	$119K	80	3.23%
Louisville, KY	$63K	$87K	$120K	85	5%
Bowling Green, KY	$62K	$87K	$119K	80	5%
Montgomery, AL	$62K	$87K	$119K	80	5%
Norman, OK	$62K	$87K	$119K	80	4.75%
Omaha, NE	$63K	$87K	$120K	88	5.84%
Las Cruces, NM	$62K	$87K	$119K	80	5.9%
Gulfport, MS	$62K	$87K	$119K	80	5%
Abilene, TX	$62K	$86K	$118K	78	None ✓
Spokane, WA	$61K	$86K	$117K	95	None ✓
Cleveland, OH	$61K	$86K	$117K	82	3.99%
Toledo, OH	$62K	$86K	$118K	78	3.99%
Grand Rapids, MI	$61K	$86K	$117K	90	4.25%
Evansville, IN	$62K	$86K	$118K	78	3.23%
New Orleans, LA	$61K	$86K	$117K	92	6%
Shreveport, LA	$62K	$86K	$118K	78	6%
Jackson, MS	$62K	$86K	$118K	78	5%
Charleston, WV	$62K	$86K	$118K	78	6.5%
Brownsville, TX	$61K	$85K	$116K	75	None ✓
Fort Smith, AR	$61K	$85K	$116K	75	4.9%
Huntington, WV	$61K	$85K	$116K	75	6.5%
Corpus Christi, TX	$60K	$84K	$114K	84	None ✓
Tucson, AZ	$60K	$84K	$114K	90	2.5%
Savannah, GA	$60K	$84K	$114K	92	5.75%
Memphis, TN	$60K	$84K	$114K	82	None ✓
Knoxville, TN	$60K	$84K	$114K	85	None ✓
Birmingham, AL	$60K	$84K	$114K	82	5%
Columbia, SC	$60K	$84K	$114K	88	6.5%
Oklahoma City, OK	$60K	$84K	$114K	82	4.75%
Baton Rouge, LA	$60K	$84K	$114K	88	6%
Albuquerque, NM	$60K	$84K	$114K	88	5.9%
Tulsa, OK	$58K	$82K	$112K	80	4.75%
El Paso, TX	$58K	$81K	$111K	82	None ✓
Wichita, KS	$58K	$81K	$111K	82	5.7%
Lubbock, TX	$56K	$78K	$107K	78	None ✓
Little Rock, AR	$56K	$78K	$107K	82	4.9%
Laredo, TX	$53K	$74K	$101K	76	None ✓

COL-adjusted: where does your salary go furthest?

A $95K Public Relations Manager salary in Houston (COL 91, no tax) has significantly more purchasing power than the same salary in San Francisco (COL 224, 9.3% state tax). Use our calculator to see the real numbers.

Try COL Calculator →

Public Relations Manager Salary Guide (2026)

The national median salary for a Public Relations Manager is $95,000 per year. Entry-level positions typically start at $68,000, while experienced professionals in the top 25% earn $130,000 or more. The highest-paid 10% of Public Relations Managers nationally earn $172,000+.

Education and requirements

Bachelor's in PR, Communications, or Journalism. This role is 48% remote-eligible nationally, which significantly expands the geographic job market for workers in lower cost-of-living cities.

Salary growth outlook

Public Relations Manager compensation is growing at 3% annually, near the national average wage growth rate.

Public Relations Manager salary FAQ

How much does a Public Relations Manager make?

The median Public Relations Manager salary in the US is $95,000 per year — about $46/hour. Most earn between $68,000 (25th percentile) and $130,000 (75th percentile).

What is the starting salary for a Public Relations Manager?

Entry-level Public Relations Manager positions typically start around $68,000 per year. Pay rises with experience, specialization, and location.

How much do the highest-paid Public Relations Managers earn?

The top 10% of Public Relations Managers earn $172,000 or more per year — usually senior, lead, or specialized professionals in high-cost or high-demand markets.

Which city pays Public Relations Managers the most?

San Francisco has the highest median Public Relations Manager salary at $143K among the cities we track. But high-cost metros like San Francisco and New York often have lower real purchasing power once cost of living and taxes are factored in.

Are Public Relations Manager salaries going up?

Yes — Public Relations Manager pay is growing about 3% year over year, near the US average wage-growth rate.

Public Relations Manager Salaryby City (2026)