Public Relations Specialists pay range in Pittsburgh
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $31,200 a year or less, while the top 10% make $95,880 or more. The middle half of public relations specialists in Pittsburgh earn between $41,470 and $71,580.
- $31K10th
- $41K25th
- $56KMedian
- $72K75th
- $96K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $60,450 | $5,038 | $29.06 |
| Median | $55,910 | $4,659 | $26.88 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $41,470 | $3,456 | $19.94 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $71,580 | $5,965 | $34.41 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Public Relations Specialists pay in Pittsburgh vs. Pennsylvania and the U.S.
Public relations specialists in Pittsburgh earn 8% less than the Pennsylvania average ($65,660) and 28% less than the U.S. average ($84,120). At the median the gap is -25% against the U.S. median of $74,750.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pittsburgh | $60,450 | $55,910 | $31,200 | $95,880 | 1,970 |
| 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 Pittsburgh
On the average salary of $60,450, a single filer in Pittsburgh takes home about $48,896 a year, or $4,075 a month and $1,881 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 (2025 rules). Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
Is Pittsburgh a good place for public relations specialists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Pittsburgh area are 5% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 94.7), so the average $60,450 buys what about $63,853 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Pittsburgh ($49,650). A typical home costs $231,356, or 3.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Public Relations Specialists salary in other Pennsylvania cities
Pittsburgh ranks 9th 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
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Public Relations Specialists salary in Pittsburgh: questions
How much do public relations specialists make an hour in Pittsburgh?
$29.06 an hour on average, and $26.88 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level public relations specialists salary in Pittsburgh?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $31,200 a year and the 25th percentile is $41,470, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the public relations specialists take-home pay in Pittsburgh?
About $48,896 a year ($4,075 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $60,450. Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
Do public relations specialists earn more in Pittsburgh than elsewhere?
The average here is 28% 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 Pittsburgh, PA (38300). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.7%.
- 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 0.97, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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