Public Relations Specialists pay range in Philadelphia
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $39,540 a year or less, while the top 10% make $114,090 or more. The middle half of public relations specialists in Philadelphia earn between $52,300 and $85,090.
- $40K10th
- $52K25th
- $65KMedian
- $85K75th
- $114K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $73,330 | $6,111 | $35.25 |
| Median | $64,550 | $5,379 | $31.03 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $52,300 | $4,358 | $25.14 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $85,090 | $7,091 | $40.91 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Public Relations Specialists pay in Philadelphia vs. Pennsylvania and the U.S.
Public relations specialists in Philadelphia earn 12% more than the Pennsylvania average ($65,660) and 13% less than the U.S. average ($84,120). At the median the gap is -14% against the U.S. median of $74,750.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia | $73,330 | $64,550 | $39,540 | $114,090 | 5,220 |
| Pennsylvania | $65,660 | $57,460 | $32,810 | $102,330 | 11,180 |
| 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 Philadelphia
On the average salary of $73,330, a single filer in Philadelphia takes home about $58,166 a year, or $4,847 a month and $2,237 every two weeks. Taxes take 21% of gross pay.
The Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in PA | $58,166 | $4,847 |
| Working in NJ | $57,914 | $4,826 |
| Working in MD | $57,146 | $4,762 |
| Working in DE | $56,809 | $4,734 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
Is Philadelphia a good place for public relations specialists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Philadelphia area are 3% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 102.6), so the average $73,330 buys what about $71,504 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Philadelphia ($54,310). A typical home costs $390,463, or 5.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Public Relations Specialists salary in other Pennsylvania cities
Philadelphia ranks 2nd of 16 Pennsylvania metro areas for this job; Harrisburg pays the most ($76,810).
- Harrisburg$76,810
- Philadelphia$73,330
- Lebanon$67,990
- State College$64,500
- York$62,200
- Reading$61,090
- Allentown$61,050
- Williamsport$60,510
- Pittsburgh$60,450
- Erie$58,300
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
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Public Relations Specialists salary in Philadelphia: questions
How much do public relations specialists make an hour in Philadelphia?
$35.25 an hour on average, and $31.04 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level public relations specialists salary in Philadelphia?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $39,540 a year and the 25th percentile is $52,300, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the public relations specialists take-home pay in Philadelphia?
About $58,166 a year ($4,847 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $73,330. Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
Do public relations specialists earn more in Philadelphia than elsewhere?
The average here is 13% 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 Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD (37980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.2%.
- 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). Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.99, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.