Public Relations Specialists pay range in Paducah
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $29,840 a year or less, while the top 10% make $88,250 or more. The middle half of public relations specialists in Paducah earn between $34,700 and $71,160.
- $30K10th
- $35K25th
- $50KMedian
- $71K75th
- $88K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $53,700 | $4,475 | $25.82 |
| Median | $50,500 | $4,208 | $24.28 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $34,700 | $2,892 | $16.68 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $71,160 | $5,930 | $34.21 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Public Relations Specialists pay in Paducah vs. Kentucky and the U.S.
Public relations specialists in Paducah earn 21% less than the Kentucky average ($67,550) and 36% less than the U.S. average ($84,120). At the median the gap is -32% against the U.S. median of $74,750.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paducah | $53,700 | $50,500 | $29,840 | $88,250 | 50 |
| Kentucky | $67,550 | $60,150 | $37,190 | $103,530 | 2,580 |
| 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 Paducah
On the average salary of $53,700, a single filer in Paducah takes home about $42,492 a year, or $3,541 a month and $1,634 every two weeks. Taxes take 21% of gross pay.
The Paducah, KY-IL metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in IL | $42,811 | $3,568 |
| Working in KY | $42,492 | $3,541 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Includes Paducah's local income tax (2%).
Is Paducah a good place for public relations specialists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Paducah area are 14% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 86.1), so the average $53,700 buys what about $62,381 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Paducah ($45,860). A typical home costs $171,436, or 3.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Public Relations Specialists salary in other Kentucky cities
Paducah ranks 6th of 6 Kentucky metro areas for this job; Elizabethtown pays the most ($73,630).
- Elizabethtown$73,630
- Louisville$72,860
- Lexington$68,990
- Owensboro$66,770
- Bowling Green$65,200
- Paducah$53,700
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 Paducah: questions
How much do public relations specialists make an hour in Paducah?
$25.82 an hour on average, and $24.28 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level public relations specialists salary in Paducah?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $29,840 a year and the 25th percentile is $34,700, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the public relations specialists take-home pay in Paducah?
About $42,492 a year ($3,541 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $53,700. Includes Paducah's local income tax (2%).
Do public relations specialists earn more in Paducah than elsewhere?
The average here is 36% 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 Paducah, KY-IL (37140). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 10.5%.
- 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 (2026 rules). Includes Paducah's local income tax (2%).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.59, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.59).
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