Public Relations Specialist Salary in Tennessee: $67,500 Average

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Average base salary, Tennessee

$67,500 / year

≈ $5,650 per month · $32.45 per hour

LocationOr metro area

BLS May 2025 state data for Tennessee · median $63,000

25th percentile
$49,000Average
$67,50075th percentile
$82,000

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.

Public Relations Specialist salary by state

Alabama$73,000

Alaska$80,500

Arizona$79,500

Arkansas$80,000

California$100,500

Colorado$99,000

Connecticut$98,500

Delaware$83,000

District of Columbia$124,500

Florida$74,500

Georgia$87,500

Hawaii$72,500

Idaho$69,500

Illinois$89,000

Indiana$75,000

Iowa$70,500

Kansas$72,500

Kentucky$70,000

Louisiana$70,000

Maine$69,500

Maryland$91,500

Massachusetts$93,500

Michigan$76,000

Minnesota$77,500

Mississippi$67,000

Missouri$70,000

Montana$70,500

Nebraska$68,500

Nevada$82,000

New Hampshire$84,000

New Jersey$91,500

New Mexico$78,500

New York$99,000

North Carolina$81,500

North Dakota$76,500

Ohio$77,000

Oklahoma$75,000

Oregon$83,500

Pennsylvania$68,000

Rhode Island$87,500

South Carolina$83,000

South Dakota$74,500

Tennessee$67,500

Texas$75,500

Utah$77,000

Vermont$72,500

Virginia$96,000

Washington$98,500

West Virginia$66,500

Wisconsin$76,500

Wyoming$78,500

About this role

Public Relations Specialist is a professional role in the Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media job family, focused on Public Relations Specialist work. Pay for this title reflects both its level and its scope; see our Title Level and Organization Responsibility guides for how WePayFairly defines them.

What Public Relations Specialists do

Typical education: Bachelor's Degree

Respond to requests for information from the media or designate an appropriate spokesperson or information source.
Plan or direct development or communication of programs to maintain favorable public or stockholder perceptions of an organization's accomplishments, agenda, or environmental responsibility.
Post and update content on the company's Web site and social media outlets.
Write press releases or other media communications to promote clients.
Establish or maintain cooperative relationships with representatives of community, consumer, employee, or public interest groups.

Top skills: Speaking Active Listening Writing Social Perceptiveness Reading Comprehension Time Management

Includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (CC BY 4.0).

Public Relations Specialist salary by industry

Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services

62,010 workers

$99,000

Other Services (except Public Administration)

41,030 workers

$83,000

Educational Services

37,920 workers

$75,500

Federal, State, and Local Government, excl. State & Local Schools & Hospitals & USPS

31,410 workers

$90,500

Local Government, including Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation)

25,090 workers

$82,000

Health Care and Social Assistance

22,240 workers

$72,000

State Government, including Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation)

21,090 workers

$77,000

Finance and Insurance

13,630 workers

$106,500

National sector-level figures, BLS OEWS May 2025, aged to 2026.

How this role compares

Public Relations Specialist pays 1% above the average across 41 roles in the Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media job family (family average $86,500).

Similar-paying roles in Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media

Media and Communication Workers, All Other$87,000

Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film$86,000

Film and Video Editors$89,000

Sound Engineering Technician$84,000

Designers, All Other$82,000

Court Reporters and Simultaneous Captioners$81,500

Lighting Technician$81,000

Editor$93,500

Fashion Designer$94,500

Frequently asked questions

How much does a Public Relations Specialist make?

The average base salary for a Public Relations Specialist in the United States is $87,000 per year, or about $41.83 per hour.

What is the typical salary range?

Pay typically falls between $58,500 and $104,000 per year (25th to 75th percentile) depending on experience, location, industry, and organization size.

How does this compare with other Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media roles?

The Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media job family averages $86,500 across 41 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.

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