Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Best states for a public relations
Quoted expert
Sakilé Camara Ph.D.
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
We decided to bring you a list of the best states for jobs for public relations in the United States. Public relations positions are available in every state, but not all states are the same. Some states do not offer the same wages, benefits, time off, etc for public relations.Our research found that Virginia is the best state for public relations, while Virginia and Washington are ranked highest in terms of median salary. Virginia has a median salary of $65,678 and Virginia has the highest median salary among all 50 states for public relations.
Virginia is the best state for jobs for public relations, and Mississippi is the worst. The most common pay in Virginia is $65,678, while the median pay in Mississippi is $36,564.If you are currently seeking employment as a public relations, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.
10 best states for public relations in 2025
1. Virginia
Total public relations jobs: 366 Average annual salary: $65,678 Lowest 10 percent earn: $43,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $100,000 Location Quotient: 1.372. District of Columbia
Total public relations jobs: 237 Average annual salary: $66,019 Lowest 10 percent earn: $43,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $100,000 Location Quotient: 4.983. Rhode Island
Total public relations jobs: 58 Average annual salary: $55,379 Lowest 10 percent earn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $84,000 Location Quotient: 1.684. Oregon
Total public relations jobs: 203 Average annual salary: $55,903 Lowest 10 percent earn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $84,000 Location Quotient: 1.735. Washington
Total public relations jobs: 189 Average annual salary: $64,219 Lowest 10 percent earn: $43,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $95,000 Location Quotient: 0.916. New York
Total public relations jobs: 544 Average annual salary: $57,467 Lowest 10 percent earn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $88,000 Location Quotient: 1.57. Nevada
Total public relations jobs: 68 Average annual salary: $54,445 Lowest 10 percent earn: $35,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $84,000 Location Quotient: 1.158. Alaska
Total public relations jobs: 25 Average annual salary: $60,461 Lowest 10 percent earn: $51,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $71,000 Location Quotient: 1.069. New Jersey
Total public relations jobs: 241 Average annual salary: $57,450 Lowest 10 percent earn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $88,000 Location Quotient: 1.0710. Connecticut
Total public relations jobs: 88 Average annual salary: $57,810 Lowest 10 percent earn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $88,000 Location Quotient: 0.94
Public relations jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a public relations
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a public relations
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Virginia | $65,678 | $43,000 | 8,470,020 | 366 |
| 2 | District of Columbia | $66,019 | $43,000 | 693,972 | 237 |
| 3 | Rhode Island | $55,379 | $36,000 | 1,059,639 | 58 |
| 4 | Oregon | $55,903 | $36,000 | 4,142,776 | 203 |
| 5 | Washington | $64,219 | $43,000 | 7,405,743 | 189 |
| 6 | New York | $57,467 | $37,000 | 19,849,399 | 544 |
| 7 | Nevada | $54,445 | $35,000 | 2,998,039 | 68 |
| 8 | Alaska | $60,461 | $51,000 | 739,795 | 25 |
| 9 | New Jersey | $57,450 | $37,000 | 9,005,644 | 241 |
| 10 | Connecticut | $57,810 | $37,000 | 3,588,184 | 88 |
| 11 | Massachusetts | $55,148 | $36,000 | 6,859,819 | 308 |
| 12 | California | $56,179 | $35,000 | 39,536,653 | 1,091 |
| 13 | Utah | $50,267 | $34,000 | 3,101,833 | 113 |
| 14 | Idaho | $55,662 | $37,000 | 1,716,943 | 33 |
| 15 | North Dakota | $53,784 | $38,000 | 755,393 | 12 |
| 16 | Delaware | $53,082 | $34,000 | 961,939 | 31 |
| 17 | Maryland | $52,164 | $34,000 | 6,052,177 | 182 |
| 18 | Pennsylvania | $49,128 | $31,000 | 12,805,537 | 260 |
| 19 | Colorado | $50,572 | $35,000 | 5,607,154 | 152 |
| 20 | Wisconsin | $49,839 | $34,000 | 5,795,483 | 89 |
| 21 | Minnesota | $49,248 | $34,000 | 5,576,606 | 181 |
| 22 | New Hampshire | $51,501 | $34,000 | 1,342,795 | 27 |
| 23 | New Mexico | $49,318 | $34,000 | 2,088,070 | 38 |
| 24 | West Virginia | $48,164 | $32,000 | 1,815,857 | 22 |
| 25 | North Carolina | $46,519 | $31,000 | 10,273,419 | 280 |
| 26 | Ohio | $47,389 | $32,000 | 11,658,609 | 180 |
| 27 | Arizona | $47,066 | $31,000 | 7,016,270 | 156 |
| 28 | Michigan | $46,978 | $31,000 | 9,962,311 | 188 |
| 29 | Illinois | $46,187 | $32,000 | 12,802,023 | 349 |
| 30 | Kentucky | $47,151 | $32,000 | 4,454,189 | 54 |
| 31 | Wyoming | $43,482 | $30,000 | 579,315 | 18 |
| 32 | Hawaii | $53,135 | $42,000 | 1,427,538 | 14 |
| 33 | Montana | $43,441 | $30,000 | 1,050,493 | 39 |
| 34 | Tennessee | $44,564 | $31,000 | 6,715,984 | 108 |
| 35 | Vermont | $43,111 | $28,000 | 623,657 | 26 |
| 36 | Missouri | $44,575 | $31,000 | 6,113,532 | 127 |
| 37 | Nebraska | $44,235 | $31,000 | 1,920,076 | 48 |
| 38 | South Dakota | $41,876 | $29,000 | 869,666 | 31 |
| 39 | Maine | $42,495 | $28,000 | 1,335,907 | 37 |
| 40 | Texas | $42,985 | $29,000 | 28,304,596 | 507 |
| 41 | Arkansas | $43,321 | $30,000 | 3,004,279 | 32 |
| 42 | Iowa | $42,212 | $29,000 | 3,145,711 | 62 |
| 43 | Georgia | $38,243 | $26,000 | 10,429,379 | 314 |
| 44 | Florida | $39,492 | $26,000 | 20,984,400 | 449 |
| 45 | South Carolina | $36,715 | $25,000 | 5,024,369 | 139 |
| 46 | Oklahoma | $36,967 | $25,000 | 3,930,864 | 84 |
| 47 | Kansas | $41,078 | $28,000 | 2,913,123 | 42 |
| 48 | Indiana | $39,718 | $27,000 | 6,666,818 | 107 |
| 49 | Alabama | $37,202 | $25,000 | 4,874,747 | 65 |
| 50 | Louisiana | $36,188 | $24,000 | 4,684,333 | 62 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $36,564 | $25,000 | 2,984,100 | 19 |
Highest paying states for public relations
| Rank | State | Avg. Public Relations Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Virginia | $65,678 |
| 2 | District of Columbia | $66,019 |
| 3 | Rhode Island | $55,379 |
| 4 | Oregon | $55,903 |
| 5 | Washington | $64,219 |
| 6 | New York | $57,467 |
| 7 | Nevada | $54,445 |
| 8 | Alaska | $60,461 |
| 9 | New Jersey | $57,450 |
| 10 | Connecticut | $57,810 |
| 11 | Massachusetts | $55,148 |
| 12 | California | $56,179 |
| 13 | Utah | $50,267 |
| 14 | Idaho | $55,662 |
| 15 | North Dakota | $53,784 |
| 16 | Delaware | $53,082 |
| 17 | Maryland | $52,164 |
| 18 | Pennsylvania | $49,128 |
| 19 | Colorado | $50,572 |
| 20 | Wisconsin | $49,839 |
| 21 | Minnesota | $49,248 |
| 22 | New Hampshire | $51,501 |
| 23 | New Mexico | $49,318 |
| 24 | West Virginia | $48,164 |
| 25 | North Carolina | $46,519 |
| 26 | Ohio | $47,389 |
| 27 | Arizona | $47,066 |
| 28 | Michigan | $46,978 |
| 29 | Illinois | $46,187 |
| 30 | Kentucky | $47,151 |
| 31 | Wyoming | $43,482 |
| 32 | Hawaii | $53,135 |
| 33 | Montana | $43,441 |
| 34 | Tennessee | $44,564 |
| 35 | Vermont | $43,111 |
| 36 | Missouri | $44,575 |
| 37 | Nebraska | $44,235 |
| 38 | South Dakota | $41,876 |
| 39 | Maine | $42,495 |
| 40 | Texas | $42,985 |
| 41 | Arkansas | $43,321 |
| 42 | Iowa | $42,212 |
| 43 | Georgia | $38,243 |
| 44 | Florida | $39,492 |
| 45 | South Carolina | $36,715 |
| 46 | Oklahoma | $36,967 |
| 47 | Kansas | $41,078 |
| 48 | Indiana | $39,718 |
| 49 | Alabama | $37,202 |
| 50 | Louisiana | $36,188 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $36,564 |
Expert opinions on the best states for public relations
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for public relationss to find work opportunities?
Sakilé Camara Ph.D.
Professor, California State University
What is a good place? Geographically, every place on earth has been impacted; every organization has made changes to its infrastructure or have closed their doors for business. The question is not "What good places can graduates find work in the field?" Every place is a good place. The question should be, "How do graduates reinvent themselves to fit into what might become the new normal?" The answer lies with the student.
Public relations best states FAQs
Have more questions? See all answers to common arts, entertainment, sports, and media questions.
Search for public relations jobs
Updated January 8, 2025