Research Summary. After extensive research by the Zippia data science team, we identified these details of communications specialist salary by state for the United States in 2026:
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New Jersey has the highest communications specialist salary of $59,402
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Louisiana has the lowest communications specialist salary of $36,384
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The national average salary for communications specialists is $51,023
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The national hourly pay for communications specialists is $24.53
You can read more on the specific methodology.
Background
In today’s job market, salary remains the top priority for many job seekers, including communications specialists. Understanding how much you can expect to earn in your area is crucial for making informed career decisions.
While salaries can vary based on factors such as experience, industry, and location, there is reliable data available for average salaries for communications specialists by state across the United States, differentiated by seniority level. Although local salaries may differ from state averages, these figures provide a solid baseline for what to expect.
The state offering the best salary for communications specialists is New Jersey, reflecting its competitive job market and higher cost of living.
Here’s a quick snapshot of the top ten states for communications specialist salaries:
Let’s take a closer look at how we arrived at these numbers and the full ranking of all the states.
Highest-Paid Communications Specialists By State
| Rank | State | Average Communications Specialist Salary | 10th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Jersey | $59,402 | $41,000 | $85,000 |
| 2 | Connecticut | $59,008 | $41,000 | $84,000 |
| 3 | New York | $57,469 | $40,000 | $82,000 |
| 4 | Washington | $56,705 | $39,000 | $81,000 |
| 5 | Maryland | $55,964 | $38,000 | $80,000 |
| 6 | Rhode Island | $55,473 | $39,000 | $78,000 |
| 7 | Virginia | $55,414 | $38,000 | $79,000 |
| 8 | Massachusetts | $55,160 | $39,000 | $77,000 |
| 9 | California | $54,447 | $36,000 | $80,000 |
| 10 | Hawaii | $53,613 | $41,000 | $69,000 |
| 11 | Delaware | $53,481 | $37,000 | $77,000 |
| 12 | Oregon | $52,507 | $36,000 | $76,000 |
| 13 | Nevada | $52,060 | $35,000 | $76,000 |
| 14 | New Hampshire | $51,927 | $37,000 | $72,000 |
| 15 | Alaska | $51,840 | $41,000 | $64,000 |
| 16 | Michigan | $51,056 | $35,000 | $73,000 |
| 17 | Minnesota | $49,978 | $35,000 | $70,000 |
| 18 | New Mexico | $49,503 | $34,000 | $70,000 |
| 19 | Colorado | $49,239 | $35,000 | $69,000 |
| 20 | North Dakota | $49,201 | $35,000 | $68,000 |
| 21 | Ohio | $49,124 | $34,000 | $70,000 |
| 22 | Wisconsin | $49,082 | $34,000 | $69,000 |
| 23 | West Virginia | $48,786 | $34,000 | $69,000 |
| 24 | Pennsylvania | $48,302 | $33,000 | $69,000 |
| 25 | North Carolina | $47,961 | $33,000 | $67,000 |
| 26 | Kentucky | $47,730 | $33,000 | $67,000 |
| 27 | Tennessee | $47,542 | $34,000 | $66,000 |
| 28 | Illinois | $46,758 | $33,000 | $66,000 |
| 29 | Vermont | $46,543 | $33,000 | $64,000 |
| 30 | Idaho | $46,511 | $32,000 | $66,000 |
| 31 | Nebraska | $44,430 | $31,000 | $62,000 |
| 32 | Utah | $43,914 | $30,000 | $62,000 |
| 33 | Arkansas | $43,599 | $31,000 | $60,000 |
| 34 | Indiana | $43,304 | $30,000 | $61,000 |
| 35 | Arizona | $43,027 | $30,000 | $61,000 |
| 36 | Texas | $42,214 | $29,000 | $59,000 |
| 37 | Georgia | $41,670 | $29,000 | $58,000 |
| 38 | Iowa | $41,515 | $29,000 | $58,000 |
| 39 | Maine | $41,314 | $29,000 | $57,000 |
| 40 | Wyoming | $40,610 | $28,000 | $56,000 |
| 41 | Missouri | $40,149 | $28,000 | $55,000 |
| 42 | South Dakota | $39,839 | $28,000 | $55,000 |
| 43 | Oklahoma | $39,609 | $28,000 | $55,000 |
| 44 | Alabama | $38,792 | $27,000 | $54,000 |
| 45 | Montana | $38,671 | $27,000 | $54,000 |
| 46 | South Carolina | $37,715 | $26,000 | $52,000 |
| 47 | Kansas | $37,401 | $26,000 | $52,000 |
| 48 | Florida | $37,286 | $26,000 | $53,000 |
| 49 | Mississippi | $36,622 | $26,000 | $51,000 |
| 50 | Louisiana | $36,384 | $25,000 | $51,000 |
Methodology: Communications Specialist Salary By State
To better understand communications specialist pay by state, Zippia has aggregated data across multiple sources, including the BLS, FLC, and OPM, along with actual salaries listed in job postings. By calculating a weighted average of these inputs, we create an accurate representation of communications specialists’ average pay by state.
We ranked each state based on the average annual salary for communications specialists, identifying the state with the highest average salary as the leading market for this profession.
Communications Specialist Salary By State FAQs
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What is the highest-paid state for communications specialists?
The highest-paid state for communications specialists is New Jersey with an average salary of $59,402 per year.
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What city pays communications specialists the most?
Washington, DC pays communications specialists the most with an average salary of $63,271 per year.
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What is the worst state for communications specialists?
The worst state for communications specialists is Louisiana with an average salary of $36,384 per year.
Author
Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.
