Public Relations Specialists pay range in Seattle
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $62,330 a year or less, while the top 10% make $146,220 or more. The middle half of public relations specialists in Seattle earn between $78,620 and $122,780.
- $62K10th
- $79K25th
- $96KMedian
- $123K75th
- $146K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $100,940 | $8,412 | $48.53 |
| Median | $96,000 | $8,000 | $46.15 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $78,620 | $6,552 | $37.80 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $122,780 | $10,232 | $59.03 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Public Relations Specialists pay in Seattle vs. Washington and the U.S.
Public relations specialists in Seattle earn 6% more than the Washington average ($95,030) and 20% more than the U.S. average ($84,120). At the median the gap is +28% against the U.S. median of $74,750.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle | $100,940 | $96,000 | $62,330 | $146,220 | 3,980 |
| Washington | $95,030 | $87,470 | $60,760 | $136,020 | 6,430 |
| 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 Seattle
On the average salary of $100,940, a single filer in Seattle takes home about $79,841 a year, or $6,653 a month and $3,071 every two weeks. Taxes take 21% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax. Washington's WA Cares (0.58%) and Paid Family and Medical Leave payroll premiums are not included.
Is Seattle a good place for public relations specialists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Seattle area are 11% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 111.1), so the average $100,940 buys what about $90,828 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.3 times the median wage of all jobs in Seattle ($72,610). A typical home costs $750,279, or 7.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Public Relations Specialists salary in other Washington cities
Seattle ranks 2nd of 10 Washington metro areas for this job; Kennewick pays the most ($102,230).
- Kennewick$102,230
- Seattle$100,940
- Bremerton$89,480
- Mount Vernon$87,260
- Olympia$87,170
- Spokane$82,630
- Wenatchee$81,110
- Walla Walla$81,010
- Bellingham$80,130
- Yakima$78,840
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 Seattle: questions
How much do public relations specialists make an hour in Seattle?
$48.53 an hour on average, and $46.16 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level public relations specialists salary in Seattle?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $62,330 a year and the 25th percentile is $78,620, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the public relations specialists take-home pay in Seattle?
About $79,841 a year ($6,653 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $100,940. Washington has no state income tax; Washington's WA Cares (0.58%) and Paid Family and Medical Leave payroll premiums are not included.
Do public relations specialists earn more in Seattle than elsewhere?
The average here is 20% more 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 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA (42660). 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 no state income tax. Washington's WA Cares (0.58%) and Paid Family and Medical Leave payroll premiums are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.05, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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