Public Relations Specialists pay range in Traverse City
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $36,930 a year or less, while the top 10% make $97,150 or more. The middle half of public relations specialists in Traverse City earn between $50,380 and $78,990.
- $37K10th
- $50K25th
- $62KMedian
- $79K75th
- $97K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $65,830 | $5,486 | $31.65 |
| Median | $61,760 | $5,147 | $29.69 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $50,380 | $4,198 | $24.22 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $78,990 | $6,582 | $37.98 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Public Relations Specialists pay in Traverse City vs. Michigan and the U.S.
Public relations specialists in Traverse City earn 11% less than the Michigan average ($73,660) and 22% less than the U.S. average ($84,120). At the median the gap is -17% against the U.S. median of $74,750.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Traverse City | $65,830 | $61,760 | $36,930 | $97,150 | 110 |
| Michigan | $73,660 | $65,300 | $38,560 | $117,290 | 7,510 |
| 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 Traverse City
On the average salary of $65,830, a single filer in Traverse City takes home about $52,523 a year, or $4,377 a month and $2,020 every two weeks. Taxes take 20% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Traverse City a good place for public relations specialists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Traverse City area are 7% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 93.4), so the average $65,830 buys what about $70,503 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.3 times the median wage of all jobs in Traverse City ($47,470). A typical home costs $421,806, or 6.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Public Relations Specialists salary in other Michigan cities
Traverse City ranks 11th of 15 Michigan metro areas for this job; Jackson pays the most ($84,930).
- Jackson$84,930
- Detroit$78,140
- Lansing$76,960
- Midland$76,430
- Ann Arbor$75,800
- Niles$74,630
- Flint$70,610
- Battle Creek$70,060
- Grand Rapids$68,330
- Traverse City$65,830
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 Traverse City: questions
How much do public relations specialists make an hour in Traverse City?
$31.65 an hour on average, and $29.69 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level public relations specialists salary in Traverse City?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $36,930 a year and the 25th percentile is $50,380, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the public relations specialists take-home pay in Traverse City?
About $52,523 a year ($4,377 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $65,830.
Do public relations specialists earn more in Traverse City than elsewhere?
The average here is 22% 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 Traverse City, MI (45900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.0%.
- 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).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.88, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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