Public Relations Specialists pay range in Knoxville
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $38,900 a year or less, while the top 10% make $103,110 or more. The middle half of public relations specialists in Knoxville earn between $48,630 and $76,920.
- $39K10th
- $49K25th
- $57KMedian
- $77K75th
- $103K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $64,900 | $5,408 | $31.20 |
| Median | $57,360 | $4,780 | $27.58 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $48,630 | $4,052 | $23.38 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $76,920 | $6,410 | $36.98 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Public Relations Specialists pay in Knoxville vs. Tennessee and the U.S.
Public relations specialists in Knoxville earn about the same as the Tennessee average ($65,360) and 23% less than the U.S. average ($84,120). At the median the gap is -23% against the U.S. median of $74,750.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Knoxville | $64,900 | $57,360 | $38,900 | $103,110 | 420 |
| Tennessee | $65,360 | $60,900 | $37,450 | $98,370 | 3,380 |
| 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 Knoxville
On the average salary of $64,900, a single filer in Knoxville takes home about $54,327 a year, or $4,527 a month and $2,090 every two weeks. Taxes take 16% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Knoxville a good place for public relations specialists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Knoxville area are 7% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.6), so the average $64,900 buys what about $70,110 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Knoxville ($47,080). A typical home costs $367,158, or 5.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Public Relations Specialists salary in other Tennessee cities
Knoxville ranks 4th of 8 Tennessee metro areas for this job; Nashville pays the most ($67,880).
- Nashville$67,880
- Memphis$67,740
- Chattanooga$67,060
- Knoxville$64,900
- Kingsport$64,190
- Clarksville$59,750
- Jackson$55,360
- Johnson City$54,910
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 Knoxville: questions
How much do public relations specialists make an hour in Knoxville?
$31.20 an hour on average, and $27.58 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level public relations specialists salary in Knoxville?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $38,900 a year and the 25th percentile is $48,630, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the public relations specialists take-home pay in Knoxville?
About $54,327 a year ($4,527 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $64,900. Tennessee has no state income tax.
Do public relations specialists earn more in Knoxville 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 Knoxville, TN (28940). 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 no state income tax.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.55, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.55).
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