Best cities for a public relations specialist
The best cities for public relations specialists are Washington, DC, New York, NY, and Virginia Beach, VA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for public relations specialists vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for public relations specialists in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a public relations specialist or considering a move, this list of the best cities for public relations specialists to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for public relations specialists. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a public relations specialist. While the absolute best city for public relations specialists is Washington, DC, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for public relations specialists in 2024.
If you're looking for a public relations specialist job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for public relations specialists in 2025
1. Washington, DC
Total public relations specialist jobs: 119 Average annual salary: $65,910 Lowest 10 percent warn: $44,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $98,000 Location quotient: 52.38 2. New York, NY
Total public relations specialist jobs: 108 Average annual salary: $55,296 Lowest 10 percent warn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $82,000 Location quotient: 147.25 3. Virginia Beach, VA
Total public relations specialist jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $58,767 Lowest 10 percent warn: $39,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $87,000 Location quotient: 18.97 4. Jersey City, NJ
Total public relations specialist jobs: 28 Average annual salary: $58,303 Lowest 10 percent warn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $87,000 Location quotient: 21.61 5. Seattle, WA
Total public relations specialist jobs: 44 Average annual salary: $68,689 Lowest 10 percent warn: $45,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $103,000 Location quotient: 13.22 6. Boston, MA
Total public relations specialist jobs: 73 Average annual salary: $53,909 Lowest 10 percent warn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $78,000 Location quotient: 25.89 7. Columbus, OH
Total public relations specialist jobs: 19 Average annual salary: $48,973 Lowest 10 percent warn: $33,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $72,000 Location quotient: 10.82 8. Durham, NC
Total public relations specialist jobs: 10 Average annual salary: $48,407 Lowest 10 percent warn: $33,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $70,000 Location quotient: 15.60 9. Greensboro, NC
Total public relations specialist jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $48,091 Lowest 10 percent warn: $33,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $69,000 Location quotient: 16.65 10. Fremont, CA
Total public relations specialist jobs: 32 Average annual salary: $57,099 Lowest 10 percent warn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $86,000 Location quotient: 40.37
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Best cities for public relations specialists
- Washington, DC
- New York, NY
- Virginia Beach, VA
- Jersey City, NJ
- Seattle, WA
- Boston, MA
- Columbus, OH
- Durham, NC
- Greensboro, NC
- Fremont, CA
- (119 public relations specialist jobs)
- (108 public relations specialist jobs)
- (5 public relations specialist jobs)
- (28 public relations specialist jobs)
- (44 public relations specialist jobs)
- (73 public relations specialist jobs)
- (19 public relations specialist jobs)
- (10 public relations specialist jobs)
- (5 public relations specialist jobs)
- (32 public relations specialist jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a public relations specialist
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington, DC | $65,910 | $44,000 | 681,170 | 119 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $55,296 | $36,000 | 8,537,673 | 108 |
| 3 | Virginia Beach, VA | $58,767 | $39,000 | 452,602 | 5 |
| 4 | Jersey City, NJ | $58,303 | $38,000 | 264,152 | 28 |
| 5 | Seattle, WA | $68,689 | $45,000 | 704,352 | 44 |
| 6 | Boston, MA | $53,909 | $36,000 | 673,184 | 73 |
| 7 | Columbus, OH | $48,973 | $33,000 | 860,090 | 19 |
| 8 | Durham, NC | $48,407 | $33,000 | 263,016 | 10 |
| 9 | Greensboro, NC | $48,091 | $33,000 | 287,027 | 5 |
| 10 | Fremont, CA | $57,099 | $37,000 | 233,136 | 32 |
| 11 | San Francisco, CA | $57,649 | $38,000 | 870,887 | 137 |
| 12 | Raleigh, NC | $48,312 | $33,000 | 458,880 | 14 |
| 13 | Madison, WI | $50,242 | $34,000 | 252,551 | 7 |
| 14 | Anchorage, AK | $59,335 | $50,000 | 298,192 | 2 |
| 15 | Las Vegas, NV | $44,102 | $30,000 | 632,912 | 50 |
| 16 | Portland, OR | $63,398 | $42,000 | 639,863 | 12 |
| 17 | Philadelphia, PA | $47,205 | $31,000 | 1,567,872 | 29 |
| 18 | Minneapolis, MN | $57,720 | $39,000 | 413,651 | 12 |
| 19 | Glendale, AZ | $42,510 | $29,000 | 245,895 | 4 |
| 20 | Oakland, CA | $57,513 | $38,000 | 420,005 | 9 |
| 21 | Buffalo, NY | $55,039 | $37,000 | 256,902 | 8 |
| 22 | Pittsburgh, PA | $46,368 | $31,000 | 303,625 | 18 |
| 23 | Cleveland, OH | $50,872 | $34,000 | 385,809 | 3 |
| 24 | Baltimore, MD | $54,363 | $36,000 | 614,664 | 24 |
| 25 | Scottsdale, AZ | $42,505 | $29,000 | 246,645 | 11 |
| 26 | Los Angeles, CA | $49,653 | $34,000 | 3,976,322 | 252 |
| 27 | Newark, NJ | $58,303 | $38,000 | 281,764 | 4 |
| 28 | San Jose, CA | $56,752 | $37,000 | 1,025,350 | 44 |
| 29 | Detroit, MI | $51,364 | $34,000 | 672,795 | 2 |
| 30 | Reno, NV | $47,700 | $31,000 | 245,255 | 3 |
| 31 | Cincinnati, OH | $47,282 | $32,000 | 298,800 | 7 |
| 32 | Garland, TX | $40,145 | $28,000 | 234,943 | 6 |
| 33 | Sacramento, CA | $57,530 | $37,000 | 495,234 | 10 |
| 34 | Saint Paul, MN | $57,717 | $39,000 | 302,398 | 2 |
| 35 | Toledo, OH | $50,281 | $33,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 36 | Nashville, TN | $46,663 | $32,000 | 660,388 | 8 |
| 37 | Chicago, IL | $45,380 | $30,000 | 2,704,958 | 87 |
| 38 | Gilbert, AZ | $42,351 | $29,000 | 237,133 | 2 |
| 39 | Long Beach, CA | $49,310 | $34,000 | 470,130 | 20 |
| 40 | Milwaukee, WI | $50,574 | $34,000 | 595,047 | 1 |
| 41 | Arlington, TX | $40,183 | $28,000 | 392,772 | 6 |
| 42 | Louisville, KY | $47,473 | $33,000 | 597,337 | 3 |
| 43 | Santa Ana, CA | $49,217 | $34,000 | 334,217 | 12 |
| 44 | Norfolk, VA | $58,699 | $39,000 | 245,115 | - |
| 45 | Irvine, CA | $49,145 | $34,000 | 266,122 | 59 |
| 46 | Chesapeake, VA | $58,474 | $39,000 | 237,940 | - |
| 47 | Lexington, KY | $47,708 | $33,000 | 318,449 | - |
| 48 | San Antonio, TX | $40,213 | $28,000 | 1,492,510 | 21 |
| 49 | Houston, TX | $40,022 | $28,000 | 2,303,482 | 108 |
| 50 | Memphis, TN | $46,069 | $32,000 | 652,717 | 3 |
Highest paying cities for public relations specialists
| Rank | City | Avg. public relations specialist salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $68,689 |
| 2 | Washington, DC | $65,910 |
| 3 | Jersey City, NJ | $58,303 |
| 4 | San Francisco, CA | $57,649 |
| 5 | New York, NY | $55,296 |
| 6 | Baltimore, MD | $54,363 |
| 7 | Boston, MA | $53,909 |
| 8 | Columbus, OH | $48,973 |
| 9 | Denver, CO | $48,354 |
| 10 | Philadelphia, PA | $47,205 |
| 11 | Chicago, IL | $45,380 |
| 12 | Las Vegas, NV | $44,102 |
| 13 | Phoenix, AZ | $42,505 |
| 14 | Atlanta, GA | $41,509 |
| 15 | San Antonio, TX | $40,213 |
| 16 | Columbus, IN | $40,101 |
| 17 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $39,284 |
| 18 | Orlando, FL | $38,203 |
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Updated January 8, 2025