Public Relations Specialists pay range in Richmond
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $46,870 a year or less, while the top 10% make $128,120 or more. The middle half of public relations specialists in Richmond earn between $58,980 and $100,190.
- $47K10th
- $59K25th
- $76KMedian
- $100K75th
- $128K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $82,880 | $6,907 | $39.85 |
| Median | $75,730 | $6,311 | $36.41 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $58,980 | $4,915 | $28.36 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $100,190 | $8,349 | $48.17 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Public Relations Specialists pay in Richmond vs. Virginia and the U.S.
Public relations specialists in Richmond earn 11% less than the Virginia average ($92,860) and about the same as the U.S. average ($84,120). At the median the gap is +1% against the U.S. median of $74,750.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Richmond | $82,880 | $75,730 | $46,870 | $128,120 | 1,760 |
| Virginia | $92,860 | $80,380 | $46,840 | $162,050 | 9,990 |
| 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 Richmond
On the average salary of $82,880, a single filer in Richmond takes home about $63,185 a year, or $5,265 a month and $2,430 every two weeks. Taxes take 24% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Richmond a good place for public relations specialists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Richmond area are 2% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 97.9), so the average $82,880 buys what about $84,694 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.5 times the median wage of all jobs in Richmond ($51,460). A typical home costs $397,705, or 4.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Public Relations Specialists salary in other Virginia cities
Richmond ranks 2nd of 9 Virginia metro areas for this job; Charlottesville pays the most ($83,880).
- Charlottesville$83,880
- Richmond$82,880
- Virginia Beach$77,570
- Winchester$73,580
- Roanoke$72,080
- Harrisonburg$69,880
- Staunton$67,660
- Lynchburg$67,220
- Blacksburg$65,870
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 Richmond: questions
How much do public relations specialists make an hour in Richmond?
$39.85 an hour on average, and $36.41 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level public relations specialists salary in Richmond?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $46,870 a year and the 25th percentile is $58,980, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the public relations specialists take-home pay in Richmond?
About $63,185 a year ($5,265 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $82,880.
Do public relations specialists earn more in Richmond than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as 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 Richmond, VA (40060). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.7%.
- 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).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.46, this job is 1.5 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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