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Best states for a community relations specialist
Quoted expert
Karen Myers Ph.D.
- Rank 1 - 10
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Are you thinking of becoming a community relations specialist and really want to work at SouthernCare? Turns out, your chances to become a community relations specialist are better in some states than others.In fact, our research shows that Virginia is the best state for community relations specialists in America. The best city in America for community relations specialists with the highest pay is Alexandria, VA.
The median salary for community relations specialists in Virginia is $66,701. Compare that to the median salary in Mississippi of $34,668, which ranked worst for community relations specialists, and you can see how your location is important for your career.If you are currently seeking employment as a community relations specialist, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.
10 best states for community relations specialists in 2025
1. Virginia
Total community relations specialist jobs: 706 Average annual salary: $66,701 Lowest 10 percent earn: $43,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $102,000 Location Quotient: 1.12
2. Oregon
Total community relations specialist jobs: 354 Average annual salary: $58,220 Lowest 10 percent earn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $87,000 Location Quotient: 1.27
3. District of Columbia
Total community relations specialist jobs: 299 Average annual salary: $62,935 Lowest 10 percent earn: $41,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $96,000 Location Quotient: 2.65
4. Connecticut
Total community relations specialist jobs: 232 Average annual salary: $63,150 Lowest 10 percent earn: $42,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $94,000 Location Quotient: 1.04
5. New York
Total community relations specialist jobs: 1,057 Average annual salary: $58,259 Lowest 10 percent earn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $87,000 Location Quotient: 1.23
6. Alaska
Total community relations specialist jobs: 69 Average annual salary: $57,990 Lowest 10 percent earn: $47,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $71,000 Location Quotient: 1.23
7. Rhode Island
Total community relations specialist jobs: 88 Average annual salary: $55,683 Lowest 10 percent earn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $82,000 Location Quotient: 1.08
8. Washington
Total community relations specialist jobs: 472 Average annual salary: $57,994 Lowest 10 percent earn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $87,000 Location Quotient: 0.96
9. Arizona
Total community relations specialist jobs: 489 Average annual salary: $51,520 Lowest 10 percent earn: $34,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $77,000 Location Quotient: 1.25
10. Delaware
Total community relations specialist jobs: 107 Average annual salary: $52,396 Lowest 10 percent earn: $34,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $79,000 Location Quotient: 1.27
Community relations specialist jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a community relations specialist
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a community relations specialist
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Virginia | $66,701 | $43,000 | 8,470,020 | 706 |
| 2 | Oregon | $58,220 | $38,000 | 4,142,776 | 354 |
| 3 | District of Columbia | $62,935 | $41,000 | 693,972 | 299 |
| 4 | Connecticut | $63,150 | $42,000 | 3,588,184 | 232 |
| 5 | New York | $58,259 | $38,000 | 19,849,399 | 1,057 |
| 6 | Alaska | $57,990 | $47,000 | 739,795 | 69 |
| 7 | Rhode Island | $55,683 | $37,000 | 1,059,639 | 88 |
| 8 | Washington | $57,994 | $38,000 | 7,405,743 | 472 |
| 9 | Arizona | $51,520 | $34,000 | 7,016,270 | 489 |
| 10 | Delaware | $52,396 | $34,000 | 961,939 | 107 |
| 11 | New Jersey | $63,402 | $42,000 | 9,005,644 | 458 |
| 12 | Ohio | $58,542 | $38,000 | 11,658,609 | 543 |
| 13 | Massachusetts | $53,474 | $36,000 | 6,859,819 | 646 |
| 14 | North Dakota | $52,369 | $36,000 | 755,393 | 58 |
| 15 | California | $57,639 | $36,000 | 39,536,653 | 2,027 |
| 16 | West Virginia | $49,066 | $32,000 | 1,815,857 | 93 |
| 17 | Minnesota | $52,227 | $35,000 | 5,576,606 | 389 |
| 18 | Idaho | $52,634 | $35,000 | 1,716,943 | 85 |
| 19 | Pennsylvania | $48,258 | $31,000 | 12,805,537 | 748 |
| 20 | Nevada | $47,723 | $30,000 | 2,998,039 | 144 |
| 21 | Wyoming | $44,126 | $30,000 | 579,315 | 58 |
| 22 | Michigan | $48,757 | $32,000 | 9,962,311 | 453 |
| 23 | New Hampshire | $51,737 | $35,000 | 1,342,795 | 85 |
| 24 | Maryland | $48,107 | $31,000 | 6,052,177 | 478 |
| 25 | Vermont | $45,413 | $31,000 | 623,657 | 61 |
| 26 | Georgia | $47,306 | $31,000 | 10,429,379 | 642 |
| 27 | Colorado | $47,928 | $32,000 | 5,607,154 | 398 |
| 28 | Arkansas | $46,534 | $31,000 | 3,004,279 | 152 |
| 29 | New Mexico | $46,951 | $31,000 | 2,088,070 | 111 |
| 30 | Nebraska | $42,667 | $29,000 | 1,920,076 | 158 |
| 31 | Illinois | $46,002 | $30,000 | 12,802,023 | 763 |
| 32 | Iowa | $41,989 | $28,000 | 3,145,711 | 265 |
| 33 | South Dakota | $42,880 | $29,000 | 869,666 | 72 |
| 34 | Utah | $42,353 | $27,000 | 3,101,833 | 236 |
| 35 | Hawaii | $43,277 | $33,000 | 1,427,538 | 64 |
| 36 | North Carolina | $42,031 | $27,000 | 10,273,419 | 673 |
| 37 | Kentucky | $45,052 | $30,000 | 4,454,189 | 159 |
| 38 | Indiana | $43,803 | $29,000 | 6,666,818 | 341 |
| 39 | Tennessee | $41,943 | $28,000 | 6,715,984 | 355 |
| 40 | Wisconsin | $42,476 | $28,000 | 5,795,483 | 330 |
| 41 | Louisiana | $40,314 | $26,000 | 4,684,333 | 200 |
| 42 | Florida | $35,189 | $23,000 | 20,984,400 | 1,259 |
| 43 | South Carolina | $40,534 | $26,000 | 5,024,369 | 265 |
| 44 | Montana | $40,829 | $27,000 | 1,050,493 | 69 |
| 45 | Texas | $36,930 | $24,000 | 28,304,596 | 1,375 |
| 46 | Missouri | $38,471 | $26,000 | 6,113,532 | 355 |
| 47 | Maine | $38,148 | $26,000 | 1,335,907 | 81 |
| 48 | Alabama | $37,892 | $25,000 | 4,874,747 | 232 |
| 49 | Oklahoma | $37,359 | $25,000 | 3,930,864 | 175 |
| 50 | Kansas | $36,418 | $24,000 | 2,913,123 | 156 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $34,668 | $23,000 | 2,984,100 | 84 |
Highest paying states for community relations specialists
| Rank | State | Avg. Community Relations Specialist Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Virginia | $66,701 |
| 2 | Oregon | $58,220 |
| 3 | District of Columbia | $62,935 |
| 4 | Connecticut | $63,150 |
| 5 | New York | $58,259 |
| 6 | Alaska | $57,990 |
| 7 | Rhode Island | $55,683 |
| 8 | Washington | $57,994 |
| 9 | Arizona | $51,520 |
| 10 | Delaware | $52,396 |
| 11 | New Jersey | $63,402 |
| 12 | Ohio | $58,542 |
| 13 | Massachusetts | $53,474 |
| 14 | North Dakota | $52,369 |
| 15 | California | $57,639 |
| 16 | West Virginia | $49,066 |
| 17 | Minnesota | $52,227 |
| 18 | Idaho | $52,634 |
| 19 | Pennsylvania | $48,258 |
| 20 | Nevada | $47,723 |
| 21 | Wyoming | $44,126 |
| 22 | Michigan | $48,757 |
| 23 | New Hampshire | $51,737 |
| 24 | Maryland | $48,107 |
| 25 | Vermont | $45,413 |
| 26 | Georgia | $47,306 |
| 27 | Colorado | $47,928 |
| 28 | Arkansas | $46,534 |
| 29 | New Mexico | $46,951 |
| 30 | Nebraska | $42,667 |
| 31 | Illinois | $46,002 |
| 32 | Iowa | $41,989 |
| 33 | South Dakota | $42,880 |
| 34 | Utah | $42,353 |
| 35 | Hawaii | $43,277 |
| 36 | North Carolina | $42,031 |
| 37 | Kentucky | $45,052 |
| 38 | Indiana | $43,803 |
| 39 | Tennessee | $41,943 |
| 40 | Wisconsin | $42,476 |
| 41 | Louisiana | $40,314 |
| 42 | Florida | $35,189 |
| 43 | South Carolina | $40,534 |
| 44 | Montana | $40,829 |
| 45 | Texas | $36,930 |
| 46 | Missouri | $38,471 |
| 47 | Maine | $38,148 |
| 48 | Alabama | $37,892 |
| 49 | Oklahoma | $37,359 |
| 50 | Kansas | $36,418 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $34,668 |
Expert opinions on the best states for community relations specialists
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for community relations specialists to find work opportunities?
Karen Myers Ph.D.
Professor and Director of Graduate Studies, University of California, Santa Barbara
Thank goodness, our graduates are positioned pretty well to take advantage of many job opportunities during the pandemic. Any industry that can serve its clients remotely AND whose products are still in demand and sold during the epidemic is in a good position. Tech companies have been disrupted, but mostly they have adjusted and have an even greater need for their products. These companies are hiring and onboarding workers remotely. (I'm working on a research project studying workers who have been onboarded/socialized entirely remotely to compare it to traditional, in-person training.) A number of our grads have been hired in tech industries. I also see a lot of activity in marketing/PR. As long as these companies are serving industries and customers who are still buying, they are recovering and learning how to function in the new circumstances.
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Updated January 8, 2025