Pay, demand and where to work, from BLS data with the year on every table.
low → high: location quotient
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By AtiveSite · Published 07/11/2026 · Updated 07/11/2026 · Every figure is linked to its source below.
Public relations managers (SOC 11-2032) employed 74,850 people in May 2025. The median pay is $146,910 a year ($70.63 an hour); the lowest-paid 10% earn under $82,410 and the highest-paid 10% more than $284,990. BLS projects its employment to change by +5.7% between 2025 and 2035 (about 6,100 openings a year including replacements). The typical way in: Bachelor's degree, with 5 years or more experience in a related occupation.
Highest median pay: District of Columbia ($197,600), New York ($180,880), Virginia ($176,340). Most jobs: California (9,400), Texas (8,190), New York (7,710).
| Measure ⇅ | Annual ⇅ | Hourly equivalent ⇅ |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $82,410 | $39.62 |
| 25th percentile | $106,580 | $51.24 |
| Median | $146,910 | $70.63 |
| Mean | $164,760 | $79.21 |
| 75th percentile | $204,520 | $98.33 |
| 90th percentile (experienced) | $284,990 | $137.01 |
Estimate for a wage earner: 2026 federal brackets and standard deduction (IRS), Social Security 6.2% up to $184,500, Medicare 1.45% (+0.9% above $200,000 single / $250,000 married), and a state rate you set. It ignores credits, pre-tax deductions, local taxes and benefits. Sources: IRS: tax year 2026 inflation adjustments · SSA wage base per Federal Register notice 2025-19763.
Hourly equivalents divide by 2,080 hours. Pay above $239,200 is shown as "≥ $239,200" (BLS top code).
| Measure ⇅ | Value ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Jobs 2025 | 80,800 |
| Jobs 2035 (projected) | 85,400 |
| Change in jobs | 4,600 |
| Percent change | +5.7% |
| Openings a year (growth + replacements) | 6,100 |
| Self-employed share | 0.4% |
| Typical entry education | Bachelor's degree |
| Work experience in a related occupation | 5 years or more |
| Typical on-the-job training | None |
Licences and certifications are set by states and employers; the education shown is the usual entry requirement, not a legal one.
| State ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ | Median pay ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Median vs US ⇅ | Yearly rent as % of median pay ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 540 | 0.53 | $98,210 | $63,380 | $176,630 | -33% | 13% |
| Alaska | 380 | 2.39 | $120,920 | $73,550 | $193,980 | -18% | 14% |
| Arizona | 1,170 | 0.75 | $114,400 | $80,000 | $213,370 | -22% | 18% |
| Arkansas | 340 | 0.54 | $104,170 | $57,810 | $305,140 | -29% | 11% |
| California | 9,400 | 1.07 | $167,980 | $97,800 | $300,800 | +14% | 15% |
| Connecticut | 890 | 1.08 | $154,210 | $78,130 | $288,180 | +5% | 12% |
| Delaware | 170 | 0.73 | $153,010 | $107,670 | $265,000 | +4% | 12% |
| District of Columbia | 7,410 | 21.92 | $197,600 | $117,350 | $346,130 | +35% | 12% |
| Florida | 2,990 | 0.63 | $127,550 | $73,050 | $215,050 | -13% | 17% |
| Georgia | 1,540 | 0.65 | $134,500 | $87,120 | $227,310 | -8% | 13% |
| Hawaii | 390 | 1.29 | $105,010 | $73,090 | $174,520 | -29% | 22% |
| Illinois | 2,770 | 0.94 | $131,990 | $75,730 | $221,440 | -10% | 12% |
| Indiana | 600 | 0.39 | $114,960 | $75,520 | $198,300 | -22% | 12% |
| Iowa | 630 | 0.84 | $120,730 | $74,040 | $194,860 | -18% | 10% |
| Kansas | 300 | 0.43 | $129,760 | $83,430 | $196,150 | -12% | 10% |
| Kentucky | 510 | 0.53 | $112,320 | $73,470 | $171,620 | -24% | 11% |
| Louisiana | 320 | 0.34 | $94,380 | $66,150 | $183,030 | -36% | 14% |
| Maryland | 1,530 | 1.15 | $149,380 | $82,180 | $282,160 | +2% | 14% |
| Massachusetts | 2,170 | 1.24 | $171,740 | $93,220 | $315,920 | +17% | 13% |
| Michigan | 1,720 | 0.81 | $117,900 | $70,680 | $213,360 | -20% | 12% |
| Minnesota | 1,230 | 0.87 | $139,040 | $86,110 | $208,970 | -5% | 11% |
| Mississippi | 170 | 0.31 | $97,160 | $67,750 | $190,420 | -34% | 12% |
| Missouri | 760 | 0.54 | $114,710 | $74,350 | $203,610 | -22% | 11% |
| Montana | 180 | 0.72 | $99,990 | $72,980 | $147,470 | -32% | 14% |
| Nebraska | 330 | 0.68 | $104,440 | $64,580 | $182,760 | -29% | 13% |
| Nevada | 450 | 0.60 | $114,130 | $66,630 | $211,510 | -22% | 18% |
| New Hampshire | 330 | 0.99 | $132,660 | $86,770 | $212,900 | -10% | 14% |
| New Jersey | 2,420 | 1.17 | $174,980 | $99,370 | $288,690 | +19% | 12% |
| New Mexico | 250 | 0.58 | $115,260 | $77,160 | $200,860 | -22% | 12% |
| New York | 7,710 | 1.65 | $180,880 | $108,180 | $323,190 | +23% | 11% |
| North Carolina | 1,510 | 0.63 | $132,280 | $79,320 | $229,270 | -10% | 12% |
| North Dakota | 130 | 0.61 | $114,110 | $77,350 | $167,840 | -22% | 10% |
| Ohio | 1,400 | 0.53 | $118,670 | $59,540 | $211,290 | -19% | 11% |
| Oklahoma | 490 | 0.59 | $96,030 | $59,990 | $184,810 | -35% | 13% |
| Oregon | 1,410 | 1.49 | $131,190 | $77,070 | $209,670 | -11% | 15% |
| Pennsylvania | 2,210 | 0.76 | $118,050 | $68,890 | $206,910 | -20% | 13% |
| Rhode Island | 210 | 0.85 | $156,080 | $83,400 | $252,810 | +6% | 11% |
| South Carolina | 650 | 0.58 | $104,920 | $65,160 | $212,260 | -29% | 15% |
| Tennessee | 700 | 0.44 | $127,390 | $58,420 | $192,800 | -13% | 12% |
| Texas | 8,190 | 1.21 | $126,670 | $78,400 | $220,000 | -14% | 14% |
| Utah | 580 | 0.70 | $132,670 | $80,370 | $262,990 | -10% | 14% |
| Vermont | 280 | 1.90 | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Virginia | 2,610 | 1.32 | $176,340 | $106,880 | $312,040 | +20% | 11% |
| Washington | 1,610 | 0.94 | $159,440 | $104,500 | $255,280 | +9% | 14% |
| West Virginia | 70 | 0.20 | $82,380 | $59,300 | $161,120 | -44% | 13% |
| Wisconsin | 1,010 | 0.71 | $113,980 | $73,700 | $216,460 | -22% | 12% |
Location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in the state than in the nation. "n/a" means BLS suppressed the figure. Rent uses the state median gross rent (ACS).
The 60 highest-paying metropolitan areas among those with at least 300 jobs in this occupation.
| Metropolitan area ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Median pay ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 980 | $213,510 | $137,170 | $338,830 | 1.79 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 9,470 | $195,190 | $117,350 | $340,440 | 6.27 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 1,880 | $192,720 | $110,370 | $312,430 | 1.65 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 7,940 | $192,360 | $111,770 | $323,190 | 1.74 |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | 430 | $179,330 | $95,420 | $298,490 | 3.71 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 1,810 | $176,390 | $98,170 | $320,050 | 1.39 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | 330 | $174,990 | $64,640 | $308,730 | 1.67 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 1,110 | $166,590 | $107,650 | $273,070 | 1.11 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 3,610 | $163,830 | $96,100 | $281,890 | 1.20 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | 460 | $161,320 | $88,520 | $272,190 | 0.88 |
| Richmond, VA | 380 | $160,540 | $96,030 | $280,160 | 1.20 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 650 | $157,630 | $84,530 | $277,700 | 0.88 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 990 | $141,360 | $94,110 | $211,560 | 1.05 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 300 | $141,230 | $90,100 | $223,080 | 0.36 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 1,020 | $140,110 | $83,010 | $225,040 | 1.76 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | 770 | $138,650 | $68,120 | $253,770 | 1.19 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 1,220 | $136,490 | $92,530 | $227,470 | 0.88 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | 430 | $134,990 | $82,220 | $237,640 | 0.66 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 2,190 | $133,210 | $77,680 | $221,440 | 1.01 |
| Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | 420 | $133,210 | $80,370 | $262,990 | 1.05 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | 390 | $132,340 | $73,530 | $216,500 | 0.56 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | 350 | $131,150 | $89,940 | $222,800 | 0.97 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 2,850 | $130,950 | $83,580 | $224,680 | 1.46 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | 1,130 | $130,770 | $81,670 | $253,260 | 1.81 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 1,790 | $130,530 | $83,230 | $228,550 | 1.13 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | 450 | $130,280 | $80,660 | $224,580 | 0.70 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 1,010 | $129,830 | $76,810 | $216,510 | 0.74 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | 340 | $129,710 | $72,950 | $235,730 | 0.64 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 1,310 | $129,280 | $80,400 | $241,180 | 0.94 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | 350 | $127,080 | $72,770 | $218,610 | 0.52 |
| Columbus, OH | 310 | $123,970 | $56,930 | $231,240 | 0.59 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | 570 | $119,580 | $74,030 | $207,830 | 1.06 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | 400 | $119,340 | $81,650 | $222,220 | 1.01 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 920 | $118,590 | $81,790 | $220,120 | 0.80 |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | 410 | $117,290 | $60,230 | $195,410 | 1.90 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | 330 | $116,190 | $66,630 | $210,200 | 0.60 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | 320 | $113,290 | $75,520 | $198,870 | 0.60 |
| Cleveland, OH | 320 | $111,100 | $61,590 | $202,610 | 0.65 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | 310 | $108,390 | $58,420 | $192,280 | 0.59 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | 310 | $105,210 | $71,840 | $174,630 | 1.45 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 490 | $104,640 | $58,780 | $172,330 | 0.92 |
The median is $146,910 a year ($70.63 an hour); the lowest-paid tenth earn under $82,410 and the highest-paid tenth over $284,990 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
74,850 in May 2025, and BLS projects +5.7% growth to 2035.
The typical entry education is: Bachelor's degree (BLS).
District of Columbia, with a median of $197,600 (among states with published figures).