Public Relations Specialists
SOC 27-3031 • View wages by state
The median annual wage for Public Relations Specialists is $66,750, based on BLS OEWS 2023 data. The mean annual wage is $77,720, and an estimated 275,550 workers are employed in this occupation nationally. Between 2020 and 2023, pay rose +6.3% while consumer prices rose 17.7% — a real change of -9.7% (pay did not keep up with inflation). BLS projects employment will grow 4.8% between 2024 and 2034.
Wage Trend & Inflation Adjustment
How the national median wage for Public Relations Specialists has moved across BLS OEWS release years, and what each year's wage is worth in 2023 dollars after adjusting for CPI inflation. "Real" change strips out inflation — the truest measure of whether pay is actually rising.
| Year | Median (nominal) | In 2023 $ (real) | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $66,750 | $66,750 | 275,550 |
| 2022 | $67,440 | $70,216 | 264,750 |
| 2021 | $62,800 | $70,618 | 242,710 |
| 2020 | $62,810 | $73,947 | 244,550 |
Nominal change
+6.3%
Inflation (CPI)
+17.7%
Real change
-9.7%
Job Outlook (2024–2034 BLS projection)
The BLS Employment Projections program estimates how each occupation's employment will change over the coming decade, and how many job openings to expect each year (from both growth and the need to replace workers who leave).
Projected Growth
+4.8%
Faster than average
Employment 2024
315,900
Projected 2034
331,000
Annual Openings
27,600
Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
Highest-Paying Areas (2023)
Where Public Relations Specialists earn the most, and how each area's median compares to the national median of $66,750. A positive premium means the area pays above the national rate.
| Area | Median Annual | vs National | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $96,510 | +44.6% | 17,320 |
| Washington | $82,650 | +23.8% | 6,460 |
| Northern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area | $79,080 | +18.5% | 90 |
| New York | $78,820 | +18.1% | 25,080 |
| West North Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $78,790 | +18% | 80 |
| East North Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $78,170 | +17.1% | 40 |
| Maryland | $77,090 | +15.5% | 3,650 |
| California | $76,280 | +14.3% | 29,520 |
| Connecticut | $75,600 | +13.3% | 1,880 |
| New Jersey | $75,590 | +13.2% | 5,800 |
Wage Distribution (National, 2023)
10th, 25th, 50th (median), 75th, and 90th percentile annual wages from BLS OEWS — the full spread, not just an average.
10th Pct
$38,570
25th Pct
$50,280
Median
$66,750
75th Pct
$92,290
90th Pct
$126,220
H-1B Employer Filings
Employer-certified wages from DOL H-1B LCA filings — competitive market benchmark, not approved visas.
| Employer | State | Filings | Median Wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dentons Global Advisors LLC | DC | 3 | $197,000 |
| Portland State University | NY | 2 | $56,184 |
| Coinbase, Inc. | NY | 2 | $170,000 |
| LUXSHARE-ICT, Inc. | CA | 2 | $150,000 |
| Rochambeau, The French International School of Washington, DC | MD | 2 | $67,382 |
| GroupM Worldwide, LLC | NY | 2 | $69,000 |
| Lobeline Communications LLC | CA | 2 | $63,710 |
| FGS Global US LLC | NY | 2 | $165,600 |
| Univest Securities, LLC | NY | 2 | $110,000 |
| Syrian Emergency Task Force | DC | 2 | $62,795 |
| The Henry L. Stimson Center | DC | 1 | $125,000 |
| Avaaz Foundation | NY | 1 | $101,750 |
| University of Michigan | MI | 1 | $62,588 |
| The University of Chicago | IL | 1 | $66,000 |
| Absolute Sales Development Inc. | FL | 1 | $51,698 |
| PYNO CAPITAL INC. | MD | 1 | $64,000 |
| Prosek Partners LLC | NY | 1 | $125,000 |
| Ale Viola LLC | NY | 1 | $52,000 |
| Melrose PR LLC | CA | 1 | $72,478 |
| Republic Operations LLC | NY | 1 | $75,000 |
Source: DOL Office of Foreign Labor Certification, H-1B LCA data.
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