Best cities for a public affairs officer
The best cities for public affairs officers are Washington, DC, Brookhaven, NY, and Islip, NY, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for public affairs officers vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for public affairs officers in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a public affairs officer or considering a move, this list of the best cities for public affairs officers to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for public affairs officers. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a public affairs officer. While the absolute best city for public affairs officers is Washington, DC, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for public affairs officers in 2024.
If you're looking for a public affairs officer job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for public affairs officers in 2026
1. Washington, DC
Total public affairs officer jobs: 16 Average annual salary: $110,960 Lowest 10 percent warn: $64,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $191,000 Location quotient: 21.13 2. Brookhaven, NY
Total public affairs officer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $92,451 Lowest 10 percent warn: $55,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $153,000 Location quotient: 0.00 3. Islip, NY
Total public affairs officer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $92,367 Lowest 10 percent warn: $55,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $153,000 Location quotient: 0.00 4. Oyster Bay, NY
Total public affairs officer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $92,304 Lowest 10 percent warn: $55,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $153,000 Location quotient: 0.00 5. New York, NY
Total public affairs officer jobs: 9 Average annual salary: $92,114 Lowest 10 percent warn: $55,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $153,000 Location quotient: 2.09 6. Hempstead, NY
Total public affairs officer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $92,214 Lowest 10 percent warn: $55,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $153,000 Location quotient: 0.00 7. Buffalo, NY
Total public affairs officer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $90,340 Lowest 10 percent warn: $53,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $152,000 Location quotient: 0.00 8. Jersey City, NJ
Total public affairs officer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $88,356 Lowest 10 percent warn: $52,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $147,000 Location quotient: 0.00 9. Cleveland, OH
Total public affairs officer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $71,293 Lowest 10 percent warn: $41,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $122,000 Location quotient: 0.00 10. Newark, NJ
Total public affairs officer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $88,329 Lowest 10 percent warn: $52,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $147,000 Location quotient: 0.00
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Best cities for public affairs officers
- Washington, DC
- Brookhaven, NY
- Islip, NY
- Oyster Bay, NY
- New York, NY
- Hempstead, NY
- Buffalo, NY
- Jersey City, NJ
- Cleveland, OH
- Newark, NJ
- (16 public affairs officer jobs)
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- (9 public affairs officer jobs)
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Detailed list of the best cities for a public affairs officer
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington, DC | $110,960 | $64,000 | 681,170 | 16 |
| 2 | Brookhaven, NY | $92,451 | $55,000 | 486,040 | - |
| 3 | Islip, NY | $92,367 | $55,000 | 335,543 | - |
| 4 | Oyster Bay, NY | $92,304 | $55,000 | 293,214 | - |
| 5 | New York, NY | $92,114 | $55,000 | 8,537,673 | 9 |
| 6 | Hempstead, NY | $92,214 | $55,000 | 759,757 | - |
| 7 | Buffalo, NY | $90,340 | $53,000 | 256,902 | - |
| 8 | Jersey City, NJ | $88,356 | $52,000 | 264,152 | - |
| 9 | Cleveland, OH | $71,293 | $41,000 | 385,809 | - |
| 10 | Newark, NJ | $88,329 | $52,000 | 281,764 | - |
| 11 | Norfolk, VA | $86,070 | $48,000 | 245,115 | - |
| 12 | Virginia Beach, VA | $86,146 | $49,000 | 452,602 | - |
| 13 | Chesapeake, VA | $85,640 | $48,000 | 237,940 | - |
| 14 | Lexington, KY | $64,660 | $36,000 | 318,449 | 1 |
| 15 | Seattle, WA | $84,382 | $47,000 | 704,352 | - |
| 16 | Philadelphia, PA | $73,624 | $43,000 | 1,567,872 | - |
| 17 | Saint Paul, MN | $78,296 | $47,000 | 302,398 | - |
| 18 | Detroit, MI | $72,855 | $42,000 | 672,795 | - |
| 19 | Pittsburgh, PA | $71,421 | $41,000 | 303,625 | - |
| 20 | Minneapolis, MN | $78,219 | $47,000 | 413,651 | - |
| 21 | Toledo, OH | $69,811 | $40,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 22 | Cincinnati, OH | $64,077 | $36,000 | 298,800 | - |
| 23 | Reno, NV | $67,733 | $36,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 24 | Indianapolis, IN | $60,214 | $34,000 | 855,164 | - |
| 25 | Louisville, KY | $63,633 | $36,000 | 597,337 | - |
| 26 | Columbus, OH | $67,854 | $39,000 | 860,090 | - |
| 27 | San Francisco, CA | $77,745 | $41,000 | 870,887 | 3 |
| 28 | Fort Wayne, IN | $63,738 | $37,000 | 264,488 | - |
| 29 | Durham, NC | $61,774 | $34,000 | 263,016 | - |
| 30 | Boston, MA | $73,396 | $44,000 | 673,184 | 2 |
| 31 | Anchorage, AK | $71,796 | $48,000 | 298,192 | - |
| 32 | Raleigh, NC | $61,569 | $34,000 | 458,880 | - |
| 33 | Portland, OR | $71,020 | $40,000 | 639,863 | - |
| 34 | Sacramento, CA | $77,717 | $41,000 | 495,234 | - |
| 35 | Nashville, TN | $58,007 | $33,000 | 660,388 | - |
| 36 | Oakland, CA | $77,503 | $41,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 37 | Greensboro, NC | $60,865 | $34,000 | 287,027 | - |
| 38 | Stockton, CA | $76,840 | $41,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 39 | Omaha, NE | $58,564 | $34,000 | 446,970 | - |
| 40 | Chicago, IL | $66,303 | $38,000 | 2,704,958 | - |
| 41 | Milwaukee, WI | $58,024 | $34,000 | 595,047 | - |
| 42 | Fremont, CA | $76,759 | $40,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 43 | Lincoln, NE | $57,884 | $34,000 | 280,364 | - |
| 44 | San Jose, CA | $76,184 | $40,000 | 1,025,350 | - |
| 45 | Winston-Salem, NC | $60,306 | $33,000 | 242,203 | - |
| 46 | Atlanta, GA | $62,907 | $35,000 | 472,522 | - |
| 47 | Memphis, TN | $55,693 | $31,000 | 652,717 | - |
| 48 | Albuquerque, NM | $59,031 | $33,000 | 559,277 | - |
| 49 | Las Vegas, NV | $58,877 | $32,000 | 632,912 | - |
| 50 | Madison, WI | $56,944 | $33,000 | 252,551 | - |
Highest paying cities for public affairs officers
| Rank | City | Avg. public affairs officer salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington, DC | $110,960 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $92,114 |
| 3 | New Haven, CT | $89,395 |
| 4 | Seattle, WA | $84,382 |
| 5 | San Francisco, CA | $77,745 |
| 6 | Boston, MA | $73,396 |
| 7 | Wilmington, DE | $71,910 |
| 8 | Chicago, IL | $66,303 |
| 9 | Baltimore, MD | $65,921 |
| 10 | Atlanta, GA | $62,907 |
| 11 | Raleigh, NC | $61,569 |
| 12 | Des Moines, IA | $56,654 |
| 13 | Big Spring, TX | $52,998 |
| 14 | Montgomery, AL | $48,359 |
| 15 | Phoenix, AZ | $48,205 |
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Updated January 8, 2025