Public Relations Specialists pay range in San Francisco
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $58,030 a year or less, while the top 10% make $179,710 or more. The middle half of public relations specialists in San Francisco earn between $75,750 and $147,230.
- $58K10th
- $76K25th
- $103KMedian
- $147K75th
- $180K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $114,310 | $9,526 | $54.96 |
| Median | $102,520 | $8,543 | $49.29 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $75,750 | $6,312 | $36.42 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $147,230 | $12,269 | $70.78 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Public Relations Specialists pay in San Francisco vs. California and the U.S.
Public relations specialists in San Francisco earn 18% more than the California average ($97,140) and 36% more than the U.S. average ($84,120). At the median the gap is +37% against the U.S. median of $74,750.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco | $114,310 | $102,520 | $58,030 | $179,710 | 6,290 |
| California | $97,140 | $85,030 | $49,550 | $160,520 | 32,710 |
| United States | $84,120 | $74,750 | $44,110 | $135,150 | 283,380 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Public Relations Specialists salary after taxes in San Francisco
On the average salary of $114,310, a single filer in San Francisco takes home about $82,708 a year, or $6,892 a month and $3,181 every two weeks. Taxes take 28% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is San Francisco a good place for public relations specialists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the San Francisco area are 16% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 115.6), so the average $114,310 buys what about $98,873 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.4 times the median wage of all jobs in San Francisco ($74,260). A typical home costs $1,149,215, or 10.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Public Relations Specialists salary in other California cities
San Francisco ranks 2nd of 24 California metro areas for this job; San Jose pays the most ($126,870).
- San Jose$126,870
- San Francisco$114,310
- Napa$98,950
- El Centro$96,000
- Sacramento$95,120
- San Diego$93,200
- Vallejo$91,520
- Oxnard$91,410
- Los Angeles$89,790
- Santa Rosa$88,300
Highest-paying cities for public relations specialists
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($126,870).
- San Jose, CA$126,870
- Washington, DC$116,930
- San Francisco, CA$114,310
- Lexington Park, MD$107,990
- Kennewick, WA$102,230
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Public Relations Specialists salary in San Francisco: questions
How much do public relations specialists make an hour in San Francisco?
$54.96 an hour on average, and $49.29 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level public relations specialists salary in San Francisco?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $58,030 a year and the 25th percentile is $75,750, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the public relations specialists take-home pay in San Francisco?
About $82,708 a year ($6,892 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $114,310. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do public relations specialists earn more in San Francisco than elsewhere?
The average here is 36% more than the U.S. average for this job ($84,120).
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 27-3031; area San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA (41860). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.5%.
- 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 (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.45, this job is 1.4 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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