Public Relations Specialist salary
Updated Updated for 2026 tax law
A public relations specialist earns a median of $74,750 a year ($35.94 an hour) in the US, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The average is $84,120. About 283,380 people work in this job.
Take-home pay on $74,750
- Gross pay
- $2,875.00
- Federal income tax
- −$292.88
- Social Security (6.2%)
- −$178.25
- Medicare (1.45%)
- −$41.69
- Texas income tax
- $0.00No state income tax on wages
- Take-home pay
- $2,362.18
Annual breakdown
- Gross
- $74,750
- Federal
- $7,615
- FICA
- $5,718
- State + local
- $0
- Net
- $61,417
- Marginal federal rate
- 22.0%
- Marginal state rate
- 0.0%
2026 federal brackets (Rev. Proc. 2025-32) and 2026 state rules. Estimates assume wages are your only income and use annual liability, so your actual withholding can differ slightly.
Public Relations Specialist salary by state
| State | Median salary | Average | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $102,740 | $120,200 | 16,720 |
| Washington | $87,470 | $95,030 | 6,430 |
| California | $85,030 | $97,140 | 32,710 |
| Connecticut | $84,990 | $95,000 | 1,910 |
| New York | $81,250 | $95,760 | 28,250 |
| Colorado | $80,680 | $95,790 | 7,410 |
| Virginia | $80,380 | $92,860 | 9,990 |
| New Jersey | $80,130 | $88,460 | 4,980 |
| Massachusetts | $79,660 | $90,400 | 6,760 |
| Maryland | $79,560 | $88,560 | 4,190 |
| Rhode Island | $77,540 | $84,730 | 1,140 |
| Illinois | $76,380 | $86,060 | 6,200 |
| Delaware | $76,120 | $79,960 | 930 |
| Oregon | $74,900 | $80,470 | 4,510 |
| Nevada | $73,840 | $79,430 | 1,600 |
| New Hampshire | $73,280 | $81,020 | 1,140 |
| Georgia | $73,200 | $84,550 | 6,860 |
| North Dakota | $70,280 | $73,940 | 640 |
| Alaska | $70,050 | $77,650 | 640 |
| New Mexico | $68,700 | $75,750 | 1,130 |
| Minnesota | $68,620 | $74,790 | 8,260 |
| Wyoming | $67,490 | $75,790 | 480 |
| Wisconsin | $67,240 | $73,830 | 4,410 |
| North Carolina | $67,230 | $78,940 | 9,910 |
| Arizona | $66,710 | $76,700 | 5,350 |
| Vermont | $66,060 | $69,920 | 1,260 |
| Michigan | $65,300 | $73,660 | 7,510 |
| Texas | $65,160 | $72,860 | 25,220 |
| Arkansas | $65,000 | $77,080 | 980 |
| Oklahoma | $64,920 | $72,520 | 2,280 |
| Indiana | $64,900 | $72,510 | 3,750 |
| Kansas | $64,860 | $69,850 | 2,340 |
| Ohio | $64,840 | $74,520 | 6,670 |
| South Dakota | $64,520 | $71,890 | 210 |
| Hawaii | $63,880 | $70,190 | 1,800 |
| Montana | $63,780 | $67,960 | 1,760 |
| Florida | $63,660 | $71,950 | 17,820 |
| Iowa | $62,970 | $68,340 | 2,890 |
| South Carolina | $62,730 | $80,010 | 2,950 |
| Utah | $62,670 | $74,170 | 1,800 |
| Maine | $62,450 | $67,260 | 1,400 |
| Nebraska | $61,780 | $66,120 | 1,590 |
| Alabama | $61,710 | $70,760 | 2,410 |
| Missouri | $61,130 | $67,840 | 4,820 |
| Idaho | $61,110 | $66,910 | 1,220 |
| Tennessee | $60,900 | $65,360 | 3,380 |
| Louisiana | $60,470 | $67,520 | 1,710 |
| Kentucky | $60,150 | $67,550 | 2,580 |
| Mississippi | $59,810 | $64,830 | 950 |
| Pennsylvania | $57,460 | $65,660 | 11,180 |
| West Virginia | $56,730 | $64,450 | 350 |
Similar jobs
- Camera Operator: $74,990
- Set and Exhibit Designer: $75,240
- Film and Video Editor: $75,420
- Music Director and Composer: $73,710
- Media and Communication Worker: $73,620
- Sound Engineering Technician: $73,130
- Writer and Author: $76,910
- Court Reporter and Simultaneous Captioner: $72,420
BLS occupation: Public Relations Specialists. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (SOC 27-3031). Excludes the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a public relations specialist make an hour?
The median hourly wage is $35.94; the average is $40.44.
Which state pays public relations specialists the most?
District of Columbia ($102,740 median), followed by Washington and California.
What is the salary range for a public relations specialist?
The bottom 10% earn under $44,110 and the top 10% earn over $135,150 a year.
How much is $74,750 after taxes?
About $61,417 a year in Texas (no state income tax) or $57,690 in California for a single filer in 2026.
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Estimates for information only — not tax, legal or financial advice.