Public Relations Managers pay range in Washington
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $117,350 a year or less, while the top 10% make $340,440 or more. The middle half of public relations managers in Washington earn between $141,530 and $292,740.
- $117K10th
- $142K25th
- $195KMedian
- $293K75th
- $340K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $214,670 | $17,889 | $103.21 |
| Median | $195,190 | $16,266 | $93.84 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $141,530 | $11,794 | $68.04 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $292,740 | $24,395 | $140.74 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Public Relations Managers pay in Washington vs. Washington, D.C. and the U.S.
Public relations managers in Washington earn about the same as the Washington, D.C. average ($217,060) and 30% more than the U.S. average ($164,760). At the median the gap is +33% against the U.S. median of $146,910.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $214,670 | $195,190 | $117,350 | $340,440 | 9,470 |
| Washington, D.C. | $217,060 | $197,600 | $117,350 | $346,130 | 7,410 |
| United States | $164,760 | $146,910 | $82,410 | $284,990 | 74,850 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Public Relations Managers salary after taxes in Washington
On the average salary of $214,670, a single filer in Washington takes home about $144,453 a year, or $12,038 a month and $5,556 every two weeks. Taxes take 33% of gross pay.
The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in WV | $150,789 | $12,566 |
| Working in MD | $149,099 | $12,425 |
| Working in VA | $148,202 | $12,350 |
| Working in DC | $144,453 | $12,038 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Washington a good place for public relations managers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Washington area are 9% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 108.9), so the average $214,670 buys what about $197,155 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Washington ($71,060). A typical home costs $583,013, or 2.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Public Relations Managers salary in nearby metro areas
- Baltimore, MD$150,720
- Charlottesville, VA$149,430
- Richmond, VA$171,990
- Harrisburg, PA$127,070
- Lancaster, PA$110,930
- Reading, PA$117,800
Highest-paying cities for public relations managers
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($229,420).
- San Jose, CA$229,420
- Washington, DC$214,670
- New York, NY$208,800
- San Francisco, CA$207,600
- Boston, MA$187,740
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Public Relations Managers salary in Washington: questions
How much do public relations managers make an hour in Washington?
$103.21 an hour on average, and $93.84 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level public relations managers salary in Washington?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $117,350 a year and the 25th percentile is $141,530, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the public relations managers take-home pay in Washington?
About $144,453 a year ($12,038 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $214,670.
Do public relations managers earn more in Washington than elsewhere?
The average here is 30% more than the U.S. average for this job ($164,760).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 11-2032; area Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV (47900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.2%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 6.27, this job is 6.3 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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