Best cities for a public relations director
The best cities for public relations directors are Reno, NV, Portland, OR, and Chicago, IL, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for public relations directors vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for public relations directors in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a public relations director or considering a move, this list of the best cities for public relations directors to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for public relations directors. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a public relations director. While the absolute best city for public relations directors is Reno, NV, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for public relations directors in 2024.
If you're looking for a public relations director job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for public relations directors in 2025
1. Reno, NV
Total public relations director jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $144,801 Lowest 10 percent warn: $86,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $241,000 Location quotient: 10.11 2. Portland, OR
Total public relations director jobs: 6 Average annual salary: $117,868 Lowest 10 percent warn: $70,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $197,000 Location quotient: 4.47 3. Chicago, IL
Total public relations director jobs: 11 Average annual salary: $113,676 Lowest 10 percent warn: $69,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $187,000 Location quotient: 2.82 4. Nashville, TN
Total public relations director jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $109,052 Lowest 10 percent warn: $65,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $181,000 Location quotient: 1.93 5. Jersey City, NJ
Total public relations director jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $120,575 Lowest 10 percent warn: $73,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $198,000 Location quotient: 3.86 6. San Francisco, CA
Total public relations director jobs: 15 Average annual salary: $127,363 Lowest 10 percent warn: $77,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $209,000 Location quotient: 3.81 7. Las Vegas, NV
Total public relations director jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $137,795 Lowest 10 percent warn: $82,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $229,000 Location quotient: 1.08 8. Colorado Springs, CO
Total public relations director jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $112,461 Lowest 10 percent warn: $67,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $188,000 Location quotient: 4.70 9. Denver, CO
Total public relations director jobs: 20 Average annual salary: $111,324 Lowest 10 percent warn: $66,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $186,000 Location quotient: 6.00 10. Seattle, WA
Total public relations director jobs: 6 Average annual salary: $120,268 Lowest 10 percent warn: $72,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $200,000 Location quotient: 1.80
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Best cities for public relations directors
- Reno, NV
- Portland, OR
- Chicago, IL
- Nashville, TN
- Jersey City, NJ
- San Francisco, CA
- Las Vegas, NV
- Colorado Springs, CO
- Denver, CO
- Seattle, WA
- (3 public relations director jobs)
- (6 public relations director jobs)
- (11 public relations director jobs)
- (2 public relations director jobs)
- (5 public relations director jobs)
- (15 public relations director jobs)
- (1 public relations director jobs)
- (4 public relations director jobs)
- (20 public relations director jobs)
- (6 public relations director jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a public relations director
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Reno, NV | $144,801 | $86,000 | 245,255 | 3 |
| 2 | Portland, OR | $117,868 | $70,000 | 639,863 | 6 |
| 3 | Chicago, IL | $113,676 | $69,000 | 2,704,958 | 11 |
| 4 | Nashville, TN | $109,052 | $65,000 | 660,388 | 2 |
| 5 | Jersey City, NJ | $120,575 | $73,000 | 264,152 | 5 |
| 6 | San Francisco, CA | $127,363 | $77,000 | 870,887 | 15 |
| 7 | Las Vegas, NV | $137,795 | $82,000 | 632,912 | 1 |
| 8 | Colorado Springs, CO | $112,461 | $67,000 | 465,101 | 4 |
| 9 | Denver, CO | $111,324 | $66,000 | 693,060 | 20 |
| 10 | Seattle, WA | $120,268 | $72,000 | 704,352 | 6 |
| 11 | North Las Vegas, NV | $137,892 | $82,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 12 | Lincoln, NE | $109,837 | $66,000 | 280,364 | - |
| 13 | Chandler, AZ | $102,834 | $61,000 | 247,477 | 2 |
| 14 | New York, NY | $115,371 | $69,000 | 8,537,673 | 137 |
| 15 | Omaha, NE | $109,092 | $66,000 | 446,970 | - |
| 16 | Albuquerque, NM | $124,480 | $73,000 | 559,277 | - |
| 17 | Henderson, NV | $136,506 | $81,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 18 | Memphis, TN | $106,487 | $63,000 | 652,717 | - |
| 19 | Sacramento, CA | $127,262 | $77,000 | 495,234 | 2 |
| 20 | Wichita, KS | $113,987 | $68,000 | 389,902 | - |
| 21 | Columbus, OH | $99,410 | $60,000 | 860,090 | 2 |
| 22 | Kansas City, MO | $105,155 | $63,000 | 481,420 | 2 |
| 23 | Philadelphia, PA | $101,575 | $61,000 | 1,567,872 | 2 |
| 24 | Cleveland, OH | $99,422 | $59,000 | 385,809 | - |
| 25 | Pittsburgh, PA | $100,883 | $60,000 | 303,625 | 2 |
| 26 | Toledo, OH | $98,806 | $59,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 27 | Norfolk, VA | $118,327 | $70,000 | 245,115 | - |
| 28 | Virginia Beach, VA | $118,211 | $70,000 | 452,602 | - |
| 29 | Saint Louis, MO | $105,376 | $63,000 | 311,404 | 2 |
| 30 | Milwaukee, WI | $96,805 | $58,000 | 595,047 | 3 |
| 31 | Chesapeake, VA | $118,078 | $70,000 | 237,940 | - |
| 32 | Cincinnati, OH | $98,099 | $59,000 | 298,800 | - |
| 33 | San Jose, CA | $126,622 | $77,000 | 1,025,350 | 4 |
| 34 | Newark, NJ | $120,577 | $73,000 | 281,764 | - |
| 35 | Phoenix, AZ | $103,296 | $61,000 | 1,615,017 | 4 |
| 36 | Oakland, CA | $127,258 | $77,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 37 | Washington, DC | $115,807 | $69,000 | 681,170 | 16 |
| 38 | Los Angeles, CA | $110,836 | $67,000 | 3,976,322 | 35 |
| 39 | Stockton, CA | $126,937 | $77,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 40 | Madison, WI | $96,194 | $58,000 | 252,551 | 2 |
| 41 | Fremont, CA | $126,930 | $77,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 42 | Raleigh, NC | $95,908 | $57,000 | 458,880 | 3 |
| 43 | Glendale, AZ | $103,262 | $61,000 | 245,895 | - |
| 44 | Mesa, AZ | $102,965 | $61,000 | 484,587 | - |
| 45 | Aurora, CO | $111,293 | $66,000 | 361,710 | - |
| 46 | Scottsdale, AZ | $103,427 | $62,000 | 246,645 | - |
| 47 | Fresno, CA | $124,739 | $75,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 48 | Gilbert, AZ | $102,824 | $61,000 | 237,133 | - |
| 49 | Lexington, KY | $94,452 | $57,000 | 318,449 | - |
| 50 | Charlotte, NC | $94,061 | $56,000 | 842,051 | 6 |
Highest paying cities for public relations directors
| Rank | City | Avg. public relations director salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Napa, CA | $127,566 |
| 2 | Santa Fe, NM | $125,596 |
| 3 | Jersey City, NJ | $120,575 |
| 4 | Seattle, WA | $120,268 |
| 5 | Fredericksburg, VA | $120,039 |
| 6 | Portland, OR | $117,868 |
| 7 | Washington, DC | $115,807 |
| 8 | New York, NY | $115,371 |
| 9 | Chicago, IL | $113,676 |
| 10 | Denver, CO | $111,324 |
| 11 | Sioux City, IA | $109,122 |
| 12 | Salt Lake City, UT | $103,388 |
| 13 | Chandler, AZ | $102,834 |
| 14 | Charlotte, NC | $94,061 |
| 15 | Indianapolis, IN | $92,343 |
| 16 | Minneapolis, MN | $89,177 |
| 17 | Boston, MA | $87,298 |
| 18 | Richardson, TX | $86,870 |
| 19 | Detroit, MI | $86,617 |
| 20 | Birmingham, AL | $85,415 |
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Updated January 8, 2025