Public Relations Specialists pay range in Hickory
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $37,190 a year or less, while the top 10% make $90,710 or more. The middle half of public relations specialists in Hickory earn between $44,450 and $76,370.
- $37K10th
- $44K25th
- $58KMedian
- $76K75th
- $91K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $63,970 | $5,331 | $30.75 |
| Median | $58,270 | $4,856 | $28.01 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $44,450 | $3,704 | $21.37 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $76,370 | $6,364 | $36.72 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Public Relations Specialists pay in Hickory vs. North Carolina and the U.S.
Public relations specialists in Hickory earn 19% less than the North Carolina average ($78,940) and 24% less than the U.S. average ($84,120). At the median the gap is -22% against the U.S. median of $74,750.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hickory | $63,970 | $58,270 | $37,190 | $90,710 | 180 |
| North Carolina | $78,940 | $67,230 | $39,840 | $136,450 | 9,910 |
| 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 Hickory
On the average salary of $63,970, a single filer in Hickory takes home about $51,536 a year, or $4,295 a month and $1,982 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Hickory a good place for public relations specialists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Hickory area are 12% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 88.5), so the average $63,970 buys what about $72,294 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.3 times the median wage of all jobs in Hickory ($45,220). A typical home costs $271,739, or 4.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Public Relations Specialists salary in other North Carolina cities
Hickory ranks 14th of 15 North Carolina metro areas for this job; Charlotte pays the most ($86,370).
- Charlotte$86,370
- Durham$84,780
- Raleigh$82,230
- Pinehurst$79,970
- Fayetteville$79,340
- Wilmington$72,290
- Greensboro$69,280
- Greenville$68,780
- Winston-Salem$67,930
- Hickory$63,970
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
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Public Relations Specialists salary in Hickory: questions
How much do public relations specialists make an hour in Hickory?
$30.76 an hour on average, and $28.01 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level public relations specialists salary in Hickory?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $37,190 a year and the 25th percentile is $44,450, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the public relations specialists take-home pay in Hickory?
About $51,536 a year ($4,295 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $63,970.
Do public relations specialists earn more in Hickory than elsewhere?
The average here is 24% 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 Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC (25860). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.9%.
- 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 0.64, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.64).
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.