Public Relations Specialists pay range in Charleston
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $32,720 a year or less, while the top 10% make $85,190 or more. The middle half of public relations specialists in Charleston earn between $46,950 and $68,240.
- $33K10th
- $47K25th
- $55KMedian
- $68K75th
- $85K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $58,740 | $4,895 | $28.24 |
| Median | $54,790 | $4,566 | $26.34 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $46,950 | $3,912 | $22.57 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $68,240 | $5,687 | $32.81 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Public Relations Specialists pay in Charleston vs. West Virginia and the U.S.
Public relations specialists in Charleston earn 9% less than the West Virginia average ($64,450) and 30% less than the U.S. average ($84,120). At the median the gap is -27% against the U.S. median of $74,750.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston | $58,740 | $54,790 | $32,720 | $85,190 | 90 |
| West Virginia | $64,450 | $56,730 | $39,720 | $103,380 | 350 |
| 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 Charleston
On the average salary of $58,740, a single filer in Charleston takes home about $47,565 a year, or $3,964 a month and $1,829 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 (2026 rules).
Is Charleston a good place for public relations specialists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Charleston area are 11% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 88.7), so the average $58,740 buys what about $66,211 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Charleston ($45,830). A typical home costs $148,817, or 2.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Public Relations Specialists salary in other West Virginia cities
Charleston ranks 4th of 4 West Virginia metro areas for this job; Huntington pays the most ($63,740).
- Huntington$63,740
- Morgantown$62,700
- Weirton$60,590
- Charleston$58,740
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 Charleston: questions
How much do public relations specialists make an hour in Charleston?
$28.24 an hour on average, and $26.34 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level public relations specialists salary in Charleston?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $32,720 a year and the 25th percentile is $46,950, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the public relations specialists take-home pay in Charleston?
About $47,565 a year ($3,964 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $58,740.
Do public relations specialists earn more in Charleston than elsewhere?
The average here is 30% 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 Charleston, WV (16620). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.6%.
- 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 (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.46, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.46).
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