Average Salary for Public Relations Managers
SOC 11-2032 · Management Occupations · 2024 data
The median annual wage for Public Relations Managers in the United States is $138,520 ($66.60/hr), based on 2024 BLS OEWS data. An estimated 76,060 people work in this occupation across the country. The national median wage has grown 10.1% since 2021.
Median Annual
$138,520
Mean Annual
$163,520
10th Pct
$78,880
75th Pct
$198,000
Employment
76,060
Salary Distribution
$79k
10th
$102k
25th
$139k
Median
$198k
75th
Highest Paying Metro Areas
| Metro Area | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $218,460 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $185,760 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $184,080 |
| Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR | $183,590 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $178,850 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $176,730 |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $172,640 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $169,250 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $169,100 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $165,840 |
| Napa, CA | $159,180 |
| Worcester, MA | $155,600 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $154,030 |
| Waterbury-Shelton, CT | $150,740 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $150,410 |
Salary by State
| State | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $185,810 |
| Virginia | $173,880 |
| New York | $173,780 |
| Massachusetts | $169,760 |
| New Jersey | $169,510 |
| Washington | $159,510 |
| Colorado | $157,150 |
| California | $156,340 |
| Delaware | $154,200 |
| Connecticut | $152,450 |
| Rhode Island | $146,180 |
| Maryland | $144,590 |
| Arkansas | $140,970 |
| Utah | $133,440 |
| Vermont | $131,780 |
| Georgia | $131,590 |
| New Hampshire | $128,600 |
| North Carolina | $123,800 |
| Illinois | $122,950 |
| Minnesota | $120,550 |
| Texas | $120,210 |
| Ohio | $120,200 |
| Pennsylvania | $119,400 |
| Maine | $119,110 |
| Oregon | $119,040 |
| Kansas | $117,080 |
| Tennessee | $116,340 |
| Michigan | $114,970 |
| Florida | $112,710 |
| New Mexico | $112,490 |
| Indiana | $110,200 |
| Wisconsin | $106,580 |
| Iowa | $106,470 |
| Missouri | $106,000 |
| Hawaii | $105,980 |
| Arizona | $105,360 |
| Nevada | $105,340 |
| Alaska | $103,780 |
| North Dakota | $103,200 |
| Kentucky | $102,690 |
| Montana | $101,700 |
| Nebraska | $101,600 |
| South Carolina | $98,620 |
| Louisiana | $96,920 |
| Alabama | $93,040 |
| Idaho | $92,590 |
| Mississippi | $90,630 |
| Puerto Rico | $89,990 |
| Oklahoma | $85,970 |
| West Virginia | $85,290 |
Salary by Industry
National median wage for Public Relations Managers broken down by industry sector, 2024 data.
| Industry | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| Web Search Portals, Libraries, Archives, and Other Information Services | $223,880 |
| Web Search Portals, Libraries, Archives, and Other Information Services | $223,880 |
| Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences | $221,210 |
| Scientific Research and Development Services | $217,100 |
| Machinery, Equipment, and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers | $213,290 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods (4242 and 4246 only) | $209,800 |
| Motion Picture and Video Industries | $209,270 |
| Securities, Commodity Contracts, and Other Financial Investments and Related Activities | $204,430 |
| Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing | $204,270 |
| Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction | $201,760 |
| Fossil Fuel Electric Power Generation | $200,640 |
| Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing | $200,390 |
| Support Activities for Mining | $198,890 |
| Support Activities for Mining | $198,890 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods | $194,600 |
| Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing | $191,900 |
| Chemical Manufacturing | $186,660 |
| Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing | $186,660 |
| Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing | $186,280 |
| Federal Government, including the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $185,810 |
| Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) | $185,810 |
| Computer Systems Design and Related Services | $185,400 |
| Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing | $183,270 |
| Support Activities for Water Transportation | $181,830 |
| Support Activities for Transportation | $181,460 |
| Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers | $175,570 |
| Medical Equipment and Supplies Manufacturing | $174,860 |
| Monetary Authorities-Central Bank | $174,470 |
| Monetary Authorities-Central Bank | $174,470 |
| Direct Insurance (except Life, Health, and Medical) Carriers | $173,580 |
| Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries | $172,980 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | $172,810 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | $172,810 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | $172,810 |
| Information | $171,350 |
| Rail Transportation | $171,240 |
| Rail Transportation | $171,240 |
| Manufacturing | $171,150 |
| Wholesale Trade | $171,100 |
| Other Nondepository Credit Intermediation | $170,660 |
| Broadcasting and Content Providers | $170,560 |
| Professional and Commercial Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers | $170,400 |
| Miscellaneous Manufacturing | $169,710 |
| Water, Sewage and Other Systems | $169,380 |
| Nonresidential Building Construction | $169,360 |
| Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services | $169,250 |
| Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services | $169,250 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $168,400 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $168,400 |
| Pharmacies and Drug Retailers | $168,300 |
| Chemical Manufacturing (3251, 3252, 3253, and 3259 only) | $167,720 |
| Credit Intermediation and Related Activities (5221 and 5223 only) | $167,500 |
| Medical and Diagnostic Laboratories | $167,020 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods (4244 and 4248 only) | $166,960 |
| Telecommunications | $166,300 |
| Credit Intermediation and Related Activities | $166,150 |
| Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services | $165,550 |
| Finance and Insurance | $163,840 |
| Software Publishers | $163,730 |
| Engineering Services | $163,150 |
| Lessors of Nonfinancial Intangible Assets (except Copyrighted Works) | $161,320 |
| Lessors of Nonfinancial Intangible Assets (except Copyrighted Works) | $161,320 |
| Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services | $160,720 |
| Motor Vehicle and Motor Vehicle Parts and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers | $160,170 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods | $160,040 |
| Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities | $159,510 |
| Transportation Equipment Manufacturing | $159,470 |
| Accounting, Tax Preparation, Bookkeeping, and Payroll Services | $156,750 |
| Taxi and Limousine Service | $155,580 |
| Direct Health and Medical Insurance Carriers | $155,350 |
| Publishing Industries | $154,980 |
| Transit and Ground Passenger Transportation | $154,810 |
| Utilities | $154,140 |
| Utilities | $154,140 |
| Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing | $153,820 |
| Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing | $153,820 |
| Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services | $152,870 |
| Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution | $152,360 |
| Furniture and Home Furnishings Retailers | $152,330 |
| Furniture, Home Furnishings, Electronics, and Appliance Retailers | $152,050 |
| Food Manufacturing | $151,750 |
| Natural Gas Distribution | $150,770 |
| Communications Equipment Manufacturing | $147,570 |
| Insurance Carriers | $147,040 |
| Insurance Agencies and Brokerages | $146,620 |
| Waste Management and Remediation Services | $146,340 |
| Cross-industry, Private Ownership only | $145,210 |
| Temporary Help Services | $144,500 |
| Insurance Carriers and Related Activities | $144,270 |
| Construction of Buildings | $143,470 |
| Legal Services | $142,990 |
| Agencies, Brokerages, and Other Insurance Related Activities | $142,380 |
| Chemical Manufacturing (3255 and 3256 only) | $141,960 |
| Electrical Equipment, Appliance, and Component Manufacturing | $140,020 |
| Labor Unions and Similar Labor Organizations | $139,830 |
| Nondepository Credit Intermediation | $139,170 |
| Motor Vehicle Manufacturing | $138,160 |
| Beverage and Tobacco Product Manufacturing | $137,750 |
| Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations | $136,500 |
| Machinery Manufacturing | $136,410 |
| Employment Services | $135,890 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals | $134,930 |
| Newspaper, Periodical, Book, and Directory Publishers | $134,720 |
| Hospitals | $134,280 |
| Construction | $134,270 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods (4232, 4233, 4235, 4236, 4237, and 4239 only) | $134,220 |
| Office Administrative Services | $133,990 |
| Warehousing and Storage | $133,450 |
| Warehousing and Storage | $133,450 |
| Gambling Industries | $132,400 |
| Water Transportation | $132,100 |
| Deep Sea, Coastal, and Great Lakes Water Transportation | $132,100 |
| Grantmaking and Giving Services | $132,090 |
| Specialty (except Psychiatric and Substance Abuse) Hospitals | $131,510 |
| Beverage Manufacturing | $131,430 |
| Business Schools and Computer and Management Training | $131,180 |
| Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations | $130,890 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | $130,800 |
| Radio and Television Broadcasting Stations | $130,710 |
| Television Broadcasting Stations | $130,710 |
| Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers | $128,680 |
| Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers | $128,680 |
| Apparel, Piece Goods, and Notions Merchant Wholesalers | $128,310 |
| Machinery Manufacturing (3331, 3332, 3334, and 3339 only) | $127,810 |
| Psychiatric and Substance Abuse Hospitals | $127,650 |
| Social Advocacy Organizations | $127,460 |
| Offices of Physicians | $126,830 |
| Newspaper Publishers | $124,970 |
| Local Government, including Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $124,170 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | $123,790 |
| Administrative and Support Services | $123,780 |
| Educational Support Services | $123,460 |
| Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $122,300 |
| All Other Ambulatory Health Care Services | $122,130 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $122,100 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $122,100 |
| Real Estate and Rental and Leasing | $122,060 |
| Other Support Services | $121,950 |
| Transportation and Warehousing | $120,990 |
| Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $120,950 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods (4241, 4247, and 4249 only) | $120,030 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, including State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $119,810 |
| Other Ambulatory Health Care Services | $117,490 |
| Traveler Accommodation | $116,360 |
| Spectator Sports | $115,320 |
| Real Estate | $114,730 |
| Specialty Trade Contractors | $114,390 |
| Building Equipment Contractors | $114,390 |
| Residential Building Construction | $113,320 |
| Accommodation | $112,410 |
| Retail Trade | $109,990 |
| Educational Services | $108,920 |
| Casino Hotels | $107,920 |
| Ambulatory Health Care Services | $107,880 |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools | $106,280 |
| Outpatient Care Centers | $105,830 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | $105,770 |
| State Government, including Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $105,240 |
| Educational Services | $105,110 |
| Health and Personal Care Retailers | $104,990 |
| Health and Personal Care Retailers | $104,990 |
| Junior Colleges | $103,730 |
| Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries | $103,550 |
| Air Transportation | $103,490 |
| Scheduled Air Transportation | $103,490 |
| Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction | $103,310 |
| Other Schools and Instruction | $102,880 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | $102,500 |
| Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions | $102,100 |
| Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions | $102,100 |
| State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $100,790 |
| Amusement, Gambling, and Recreation Industries | $100,550 |
| Civic and Social Organizations | $100,220 |
| Sound Recording Industries | $100,010 |
| Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities | $99,990 |
| Other Amusement and Recreation Industries | $97,920 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools | $95,860 |
| Technical and Trade Schools | $95,750 |
| Motor Vehicle and Parts Dealers | $95,550 |
| Sporting Goods, Hobby, and Musical Instrument Retailers | $95,290 |
| Amusement Parks and Arcades | $95,250 |
| Outpatient Mental Health and Substance Abuse Centers | $95,220 |
| Home Health Care Services | $94,630 |
| Social Assistance | $94,350 |
| Individual and Family Services | $94,120 |
| Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services | $93,610 |
| Automobile Dealers | $93,500 |
| Travel Arrangement and Reservation Services | $92,990 |
| Vocational Rehabilitation Services | $92,750 |
| Residential Mental Health and Substance Abuse Facilities | $89,990 |
| Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse Facilities | $87,450 |
| Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events | $87,170 |
| Performing Arts Companies | $86,200 |
| Business Support Services | $86,180 |
| Truck Transportation | $84,560 |
| Offices of Other Health Practitioners | $82,300 |
| Religious Organizations | $82,300 |
| Accommodation and Food Services | $82,070 |
| Other Residential Care Facilities | $81,870 |
| Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters | $80,680 |
| Other Personal Services | $80,600 |
| Personal and Laundry Services | $80,600 |
| Nursing and Residential Care Facilities | $78,310 |
| Continuing Care Retirement Communities and Assisted Living Facilities for the Elderly | $78,310 |
| Food Services and Drinking Places | $62,410 |
| Full-Service Restaurants | $62,410 |
| Restaurants and Other Eating Places | $62,410 |
National Wage Trend
View data table
| Year | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| 2024 | $138,520 |
| 2023 | $134,760 |
| 2022 | $129,430 |
| 2021 | $125,780 |