Public Relations Specialists pay range in Indianapolis
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $45,440 a year or less, while the top 10% make $107,110 or more. The middle half of public relations specialists in Indianapolis earn between $53,150 and $83,880.
- $45K10th
- $53K25th
- $66KMedian
- $84K75th
- $107K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $75,970 | $6,331 | $36.52 |
| Median | $66,450 | $5,538 | $31.95 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $53,150 | $4,429 | $25.55 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $83,880 | $6,990 | $40.33 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Public Relations Specialists pay in Indianapolis vs. Indiana and the U.S.
Public relations specialists in Indianapolis earn 5% more than the Indiana average ($72,510) and 10% less than the U.S. average ($84,120). At the median the gap is -11% against the U.S. median of $74,750.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indianapolis | $75,970 | $66,450 | $45,440 | $107,110 | 1,740 |
| Indiana | $72,510 | $64,900 | $42,060 | $105,580 | 3,750 |
| 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 Indianapolis
On the average salary of $75,970, a single filer in Indianapolis takes home about $58,511 a year, or $4,876 a month and $2,250 every two weeks. Taxes take 23% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Includes Indianapolis's local income tax (2.02%).
Is Indianapolis a good place for public relations specialists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Indianapolis area are 4% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 95.7), so the average $75,970 buys what about $79,387 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.3 times the median wage of all jobs in Indianapolis ($49,340). A typical home costs $295,921, or 3.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Public Relations Specialists salary in other Indiana cities
Indianapolis ranks 1st of 11 Indiana metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Indianapolis$75,970
- Lafayette$73,390
- Fort Wayne$72,860
- Elkhart$72,720
- Bloomington$71,550
- Terre Haute$69,950
- Evansville$69,180
- Columbus$66,210
- South Bend$65,480
- Muncie$60,880
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 Indianapolis: questions
How much do public relations specialists make an hour in Indianapolis?
$36.52 an hour on average, and $31.95 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level public relations specialists salary in Indianapolis?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $45,440 a year and the 25th percentile is $53,150, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the public relations specialists take-home pay in Indianapolis?
About $58,511 a year ($4,876 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $75,970. Includes Indianapolis's local income tax (2.02%).
Do public relations specialists earn more in Indianapolis than elsewhere?
The average here is 10% less 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 Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN (26900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.4%.
- 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). Includes Indianapolis's local income tax (2.02%).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.87, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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