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Public relations and communications director salary
Average public relations and communications director salary
$123,145
Average Public Relations and Communications Director Salary
The average salary for a public relations and communications director in the United States is approximately $123,145 annually. This figure can vary significantly based on factors such as location, experience, and the industry of employment. For instance, larger corporations typically offer higher compensation compared to smaller organizations.
Salary by State
States such as California and New York often provide some of the highest salaries for this role, reflecting their competitive job markets and higher living costs. Cities like San Francisco and New York City are known for their lucrative opportunities in public relations.
Highest Paying Industries
Industries like technology, healthcare, and finance tend to offer the most competitive salaries for public relations directors. As organizations increasingly recognize the importance of brand image, the demand for skilled professionals in this field continues to grow.
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Where can a Public Relations And Communications Director earn more?
Average public relations and communications director salary by state
The average public relations and communications director salary in California, Nevada, and New Mexico are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average public relations and communications director salary states are Ohio, Minnesota, and Mississippi.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for public relations and communications directors
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $158,125 | $76.02 |
| 2 | Delaware | $138,897 | $66.78 |
| 3 | Nevada | $154,712 | $74.38 |
| 4 | South Dakota | $124,032 | $59.63 |
| 5 | Vermont | $130,307 | $62.65 |
| 6 | Connecticut | $138,426 | $66.55 |
| 7 | New Mexico | $147,538 | $70.93 |
| 8 | Massachusetts | $134,675 | $64.75 |
| 9 | District of Columbia | $138,309 | $66.49 |
| 10 | New Jersey | $139,179 | $66.91 |
| 11 | Michigan | $133,575 | $64.22 |
| 12 | North Dakota | $124,960 | $60.08 |
| 13 | Arkansas | $131,893 | $63.41 |
| 14 | Georgia | $127,963 | $61.52 |
| 15 | Oregon | $127,789 | $61.44 |
| 16 | Louisiana | $116,276 | $55.90 |
| 17 | Oklahoma | $113,742 | $54.68 |
| 18 | Kansas | $130,693 | $62.83 |
| 19 | Texas | $126,408 | $60.77 |
| 20 | Rhode Island | $117,059 | $56.28 |
| 21 | New York | $122,677 | $58.98 |
| 22 | Arizona | $118,607 | $57.02 |
| 23 | Idaho | $114,316 | $54.96 |
| 24 | Virginia | $115,653 | $55.60 |
| 25 | West Virginia | $104,520 | $50.25 |
| 26 | Utah | $110,316 | $53.04 |
| 27 | Indiana | $114,564 | $55.08 |
| 28 | Wisconsin | $113,078 | $54.36 |
| 29 | Alabama | $104,905 | $50.44 |
| 30 | Colorado | $114,739 | $55.16 |
| 31 | Alaska | $108,764 | $52.29 |
| 32 | Tennessee | $111,145 | $53.44 |
| 33 | North Carolina | $108,878 | $52.35 |
| 34 | Washington | $111,541 | $53.63 |
| 35 | Wyoming | $103,544 | $49.78 |
| 36 | Iowa | $110,520 | $53.13 |
| 37 | Montana | $105,203 | $50.58 |
| 38 | Maryland | $109,450 | $52.62 |
| 39 | Maine | $103,466 | $49.74 |
| 40 | Nebraska | $106,808 | $51.35 |
| 41 | Kentucky | $106,170 | $51.04 |
| 42 | New Hampshire | $106,160 | $51.04 |
| 43 | South Carolina | $97,483 | $46.87 |
| 44 | Pennsylvania | $104,684 | $50.33 |
| 45 | Missouri | $104,445 | $50.21 |
| 46 | Illinois | $102,028 | $49.05 |
| 47 | Mississippi | $100,392 | $48.27 |
| 48 | Hawaii | $82,874 | $39.84 |
| 49 | Ohio | $101,498 | $48.80 |
| 50 | Minnesota | $100,481 | $48.31 |
| 51 | Florida | $85,396 | $41.06 |
Highest paying cities for public relations and communications directors
The highest-paying cities for public relations and communications directors are Palo Alto, CA, Washington, DC, and Boston, MA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Palo Alto, CA | $175,483 | $84.37 |
| 2 | Washington, DC | $141,789 | $68.17 |
| 3 | Boston, MA | $137,321 | $66.02 |
| 4 | Austin, TX | $128,186 | $61.63 |
| 5 | New York, NY | $124,106 | $59.67 |
| 6 | Charlottesville, VA | $116,393 | $55.96 |
| 7 | Oklahoma City, OK | $115,886 | $55.71 |
| 8 | Seattle, WA | $111,984 | $53.84 |
| 9 | Salt Lake City, UT | $109,939 | $52.86 |
| 10 | Miami, FL | $78,554 | $37.77 |
Public relations and communications director salary details
A public relations and communications director's salary ranges from $70,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $213,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a public relations and communications director's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $213,000 | $17,750 | $102 |
| 75th Percentile | $164,000 | $13,667 | $79 |
| Average | $123,145 | $10,262 | $59 |
| 25th Percentile | $92,000 | $7,667 | $44 |
| 10th Percentile | $70,000 | $5,833 | $34 |
Highest paying public relations and communications director jobs
The highest paying types of public relations and communications directors are vice president of public relations, director, customer relations, and director of client relations.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Director Of Public Affairs | $114,639 | $9,553 | $55.11 | 26,290 |
| Director, Customer Relations | $134,672 | $11,223 | $64.75 | 26,470 |
| Director Of Client Relations | $116,480 | $9,707 | $56.00 | 63,226 |
| Media Director | $112,564 | $9,380 | $54.12 | 22,511 |
| Vice President Of Public Relations | $143,172 | $11,931 | $68.83 | 55,300 |
| Marketing Director | $114,906 | $9,575 | $55.24 | 93,503 |
Top companies hiring public relations and communications directors now:
Which companies pay public relations and communications directors the most?
Public relations and communications director salaries at TripActions and Michael Kors are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average public relations and communications director salary at companies like Edison Electric Institute and Faraday Technology are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | TripActions | $185,923 | $89.39 |
| 2 | Michael Kors | $181,201 | $87.12 |
| 3 | Edison Electric Institute | $180,190 | $86.63 |
| 4 | Faraday Technology | $169,319 | $81.40 |
| 5 | Amazon | $163,593 | $78.65 |
| 6 | Feed the Children | $131,412 | $63.18 |
| 7 | Air Incorporated | $121,616 | $58.47 |
| 8 | Culture Amp | $118,114 | $56.79 |
| 9 | Mythical Store | $117,457 | $56.47 |
| 10 | Eleanor Health | $117,437 | $56.46 |
| 11 | Cambridge Mobile Telematics | $116,502 | $56.01 |
| 12 | Convene | $114,693 | $55.14 |
| 13 | Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts | $113,853 | $54.74 |
| 14 | Girl Scouts of the USA | $105,763 | $50.85 |
| 15 | Snappy | $103,607 | $49.81 |
| 16 | Reef | $102,054 | $49.06 |
| 17 | Children's Home Society of Florida | $72,295 | $34.76 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Public Relations And Communications Director salary by industry
The average public relations and communications director salary varies across industries:
- The average public relations and communications director salary in the health care industry is $153,738, the highest of any industry.
- The average public relations and communications director salary in the finance industry is $124,087.
- Public relations and communications directors in the education industry earn an average salary of $99,811, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for public relations and communications directors
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Health Care | $153,738 | $73.91 |
| 2 | Manufacturing | $124,087 | $59.66 |
| 3 | Non Profits | $120,153 | $57.77 |
| 4 | Technology | $118,391 | $56.92 |
| 5 | Education | $99,811 | $47.99 |
High paying public relations and communications director jobs
Public relations and communications director salary trends
The average public relations and communications director salary has risen by $28,926 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average public relations and communications director earned $94,219 annually, but today, they earn $123,145 a year. That works out to a 14% change in pay for public relations and communications directors over the last decade.
Compare public relations and communications director salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average public relations and communications director salary over time
Compare public relations and communications director salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Public relations and communications director salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $123,000 | $59.20 | +3.9% |
| 2024 | $118,000 | $56.89 | +2.0% |
| 2023 | $116,000 | $55.73 | +3.1% |
| 2022 | $112,000 | $54.02 | +3.6% |
| 2021 | $108,000 | $52.10 | +3.0% |
Recently added public relations and communications director salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Samsung Electronics America | Director, Communication & Publicity-Samsung TV Plus | Los Angeles, CA | 06/20/2025 | $190,000 |
| Samsung Electronics America | Director, Communication & Publicity-Samsung TV Plus | Los Angeles, CA | 05/25/2025 | $190,000 |
| The Consello Group | Director, Investor Relations and Financial Communications | New York, NY | 05/20/2025 | $250,000 |
| Flexport | Director, PR & Communications | Los Angeles, CA | 05/18/2025 | $145,000 |
| Galapagos | Director, Publications and Medical Communications, Oncology | Princeton, NJ | 05/12/2025 | $150,000 |
| Warner Bros Discovery Inc. | Director, Publicity & Communications | Burbank, CA | 05/10/2025 | $117,950 |
| Flexport | Director, PR & Communications | Los Angeles, CA | 04/28/2025 | $145,000 |
| Penn State University | Director of College Relations and Communications | Parkesburg, PA | 04/04/2025 | $109,300 |
| Flexport | Director, PR & Communications | Los Angeles, CA | 03/26/2025 | $145,000 |
| Genmab A/S | Director, Medical Communication and Publications | Princeton, NJ | 03/26/2025 | $182,400 |
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