Public Relations Specialists pay range in State College
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $45,130 a year or less, while the top 10% make $82,440 or more. The middle half of public relations specialists in State College earn between $49,390 and $78,910.
- $45K10th
- $49K25th
- $64KMedian
- $79K75th
- $82K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $64,500 | $5,375 | $31.01 |
| Median | $63,580 | $5,298 | $30.57 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $49,390 | $4,116 | $23.75 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $78,910 | $6,576 | $37.94 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Public Relations Specialists pay in State College vs. Pennsylvania and the U.S.
Public relations specialists in State College earn about the same as the Pennsylvania average ($65,660) and 23% less than the U.S. average ($84,120). At the median the gap is -15% against the U.S. median of $74,750.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| State College | $64,500 | $63,580 | $45,130 | $82,440 | 160 |
| 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 State College
On the average salary of $64,500, a single filer in State College takes home about $52,026 a year, or $4,335 a month and $2,001 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 State College a good place for public relations specialists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the State College area are 3% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 96.8), so the average $64,500 buys what about $66,658 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.3 times the median wage of all jobs in State College ($49,220). A typical home costs $353,680, or 5.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Public Relations Specialists salary in other Pennsylvania cities
State College ranks 4th 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 State College: questions
How much do public relations specialists make an hour in State College?
$31.01 an hour on average, and $30.57 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level public relations specialists salary in State College?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $45,130 a year and the 25th percentile is $49,390, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the public relations specialists take-home pay in State College?
About $52,026 a year ($4,335 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $64,500. Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
Do public relations specialists earn more in State College than elsewhere?
The average here is 23% 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 State College, PA (44300). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.9%.
- 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 (2025 rules). Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.30, this job is 1.3 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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