Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, aged to 2026 using compounded market movement. State selections show BLS state-level figures where published. Actual pay varies with experience, industry, and organization size.
Assign, supervise, and review the activities of public relations staff.
Confer with labor relations managers to develop internal communications that keep employees informed of company activities.
Design and edit promotional publications, such as brochures.
Develop and maintain the company's corporate image and identity, which includes the use of logos and signage.
Develop, implement, or maintain crisis communication plans.
Includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (CC BY 4.0).
Public Relations Manager pay by experience level
Entry level$85,500
Typical starting pay (about the 10th percentile)
Early career$110,500
A few years in (about the 25th percentile)
Experienced$152,000
Mid-career median pay
Senior$211,500
Seasoned professionals (about the 75th percentile)
Top earners$295,000
Highest earners (about the 90th percentile)
Experience tiers are derived from the BLS wage percentile distribution for this occupation, aged to 2026. Actual pay varies by employer, location, and specialization.
Job outlook
+5%
projected change in jobs, 2024–2034
6,600
projected openings per year
Growing about as fast as average
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program (2024–2034). Openings include growth and replacement needs.
Public Relations Manager salary by industry
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
15,460 workers
$196,000
Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations
10,860 workers
$160,500
Educational Services
9,580 workers
$132,000
Management of Companies and Enterprises
7,710 workers
$196,000
Management of Companies and Enterprises
7,710 workers
$196,000
Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services
7,310 workers
$197,000
Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Schools and Hospitals and USPS
6,090 workers
$135,000
Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools
5,770 workers
$132,500
Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations
5,130 workers
$179,000
Educational Services, Privately Owned
4,740 workers
$133,000
National sector-level figures, BLS OEWS May 2025, aged to 2026.
How this role compares
Public Relations Manager pays 18% above the average across 58 roles in the Management job family (family average $144,000).
Related occupations from O*NET OnLine, U.S. Department of Labor.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Public Relations Manager make?
The average base salary for a Public Relations Manager in the United States is $170,500 per year, or about $81.97 per hour.
What is the typical salary range?
Pay typically falls between $110,500 and $211,500 per year (25th to 75th percentile) depending on experience, location, industry, and organization size.
How does this compare with other Management roles?
The Management job family averages $144,000 across 58 roles tracked by WePayFairly.
Need a defensible market price for this role? WePayFairly data is compiled from published survey sources and maintained by compensation professionals.
Need Public Relations Manager pay benchmarked for your organization, or defensible compensation analysis for a dispute or valuation? Grahall builds it from primary sources, backed by an expert who testifies.