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Publicist salary
Average publicist salary
$50,679
Average Publicist Salary
The average salary for a publicist in the United States is $50,679 per year, or approximately $24 per hour. Compensation can vary significantly based on factors such as geographic location, years of experience, and the specific industry. For example, publicists working in large metropolitan areas often earn more than those in smaller towns.
Where Can a Publicist Earn More?
Publicists can find the highest paying jobs in states like California, New York, and Texas. These states not only offer a higher average salary but also a greater number of job opportunities in various sectors, including entertainment, public relations, and corporate communications. As the demand for skilled publicists continues to grow, those entering the field can expect competitive compensation packages and benefits.
Salary Estimates Over Time
Over the years, publicist salaries have shown a steady increase, reflecting the growing importance of media relations and brand management in today’s market. As businesses continue to recognize the value of effective public relations, aspiring publicists can anticipate promising career prospects and advancement opportunities.
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Where can a Publicist earn more?
Publicist salary estimates from across the web
Average publicist salary by state
The highest-paying states for publicists are Washington, Alaska, and Oregon. The lowest average publicist salary states are Missouri, Michigan, and Georgia.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for publicists
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $64,711 | $31.11 |
| 2 | Oregon | $63,347 | $30.46 |
| 3 | Washington | $71,127 | $34.20 |
| 4 | New York | $54,311 | $26.11 |
| 5 | California | $57,541 | $27.66 |
| 6 | District of Columbia | $55,532 | $26.70 |
| 7 | New Jersey | $55,385 | $26.63 |
| 8 | Maryland | $54,645 | $26.27 |
| 9 | Minnesota | $51,347 | $24.69 |
| 10 | Virginia | $50,634 | $24.34 |
| 11 | Connecticut | $56,898 | $27.35 |
| 12 | Nevada | $47,866 | $23.01 |
| 13 | Texas | $48,735 | $23.43 |
| 14 | Rhode Island | $49,279 | $23.69 |
| 15 | Idaho | $52,940 | $25.45 |
| 16 | North Dakota | $49,904 | $23.99 |
| 17 | Utah | $44,512 | $21.40 |
| 18 | Delaware | $47,292 | $22.74 |
| 19 | Wyoming | $42,525 | $20.44 |
| 20 | Arizona | $46,652 | $22.43 |
| 21 | Massachusetts | $45,640 | $21.94 |
| 22 | Pennsylvania | $45,838 | $22.04 |
| 23 | Colorado | $47,323 | $22.75 |
| 24 | Tennessee | $42,769 | $20.56 |
| 25 | Arkansas | $46,626 | $22.42 |
| 26 | South Dakota | $40,490 | $19.47 |
| 27 | Ohio | $43,499 | $20.91 |
| 28 | Nebraska | $40,737 | $19.59 |
| 29 | Illinois | $41,804 | $20.10 |
| 30 | West Virginia | $43,719 | $21.02 |
| 31 | Kentucky | $42,883 | $20.62 |
| 32 | South Carolina | $40,439 | $19.44 |
| 33 | Hawaii | $41,487 | $19.95 |
| 34 | North Carolina | $40,378 | $19.41 |
| 35 | New Hampshire | $43,416 | $20.87 |
| 36 | Louisiana | $40,101 | $19.28 |
| 37 | Indiana | $39,615 | $19.05 |
| 38 | New Mexico | $39,888 | $19.18 |
| 39 | Vermont | $37,618 | $18.09 |
| 40 | Florida | $39,350 | $18.92 |
| 41 | Montana | $40,538 | $19.49 |
| 42 | Iowa | $38,828 | $18.67 |
| 43 | Michigan | $37,250 | $17.91 |
| 44 | Wisconsin | $38,877 | $18.69 |
| 45 | Missouri | $37,317 | $17.94 |
| 46 | Alabama | $38,105 | $18.32 |
| 47 | Georgia | $36,843 | $17.71 |
| 48 | Oklahoma | $37,405 | $17.98 |
| 49 | Kansas | $35,757 | $17.19 |
| 50 | Mississippi | $34,996 | $16.82 |
| 51 | Maine | $30,939 | $14.87 |
Highest paying cities for publicists
The highest-paying cities for publicists are San Francisco, CA, New York, NY, and Reston, VA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $61,606 | $29.62 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $54,701 | $26.30 |
| 3 | Reston, VA | $51,451 | $24.74 |
| 4 | Springfield, MO | $37,201 | $17.89 |
Publicist salary details
A publicist's salary ranges from $30,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $83,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a publicist's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $83,000 | $6,917 | $40 |
| 75th Percentile | $66,000 | $5,500 | $32 |
| Average | $50,679 | $4,223 | $24 |
| 25th Percentile | $38,000 | $3,167 | $18 |
| 10th Percentile | $30,000 | $2,500 | $14 |
Highest paying publicist jobs
The highest paying types of publicists are public affairs specialist, marketing communications specialist, and social media specialist.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Social Media Internship | $31,145 | $2,595 | $14.97 | 79,411 |
| Media Coordinator | $47,471 | $3,956 | $22.82 | 35,285 |
| Community Relations Coordinator | $45,632 | $3,803 | $21.94 | 46,318 |
| Communications Coordinator | $47,075 | $3,923 | $22.63 | 39,790 |
| Communications Internship | $33,458 | $2,788 | $16.09 | 62,641 |
| Public Relations Coordinator | $46,225 | $3,852 | $22.22 | 35,324 |
Which companies pay publicists the most?
Publicist salaries at J. The Jewish News of Northern California and Amazon are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average publicist salary at companies like Shutterstock and Oxford University Press are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | J. The Jewish News of Northern California | $97,352 | $46.80 |
| 2 | Amazon | $89,077 | $42.83 |
| 3 | Shutterstock | $73,332 | $35.26 |
| 4 | Oxford University Press | $72,807 | $35.00 |
| 5 | HarperCollins | $69,032 | $33.19 |
| 6 | AMV BBDO | $64,443 | $30.98 |
| 7 | Dow Jones | $59,806 | $28.75 |
| 8 | Ellucian | $59,774 | $28.74 |
| 9 | University of Virginia | $59,090 | $28.41 |
| 10 | AMC Networks | $53,390 | $25.67 |
| 11 | Pia | $51,511 | $24.76 |
| 12 | The Walt Disney Company | $47,766 | $22.96 |
| 13 | PMK•BNC | $46,671 | $22.44 |
| 14 | Hadassah | $46,430 | $22.32 |
| 15 | VTM Group | $44,749 | $21.51 |
| 16 | AMW Group | $43,872 | $21.09 |
| 17 | Scholastic | $43,605 | $20.96 |
| 18 | Missouri State University | $42,088 | $20.23 |
| 19 | Paramount | $41,741 | $20.07 |
| 20 | Sundance Institute | $39,381 | $18.93 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Publicist salary trends
The average publicist salary has risen by $7,762 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average publicist earned $42,917 annually, but today, they earn $50,679 a year. That works out to a 8% change in pay for publicists over the last decade.
Compare publicist salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average publicist salary over time
Compare publicist salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Publicist salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $50,700 | $24.36 | +2.6% |
| 2024 | $49,300 | $23.72 | +1.9% |
| 2023 | $48,400 | $23.27 | +1.2% |
| 2022 | $47,800 | $23.00 | +2.2% |
| 2021 | $46,800 | $22.51 | +2.2% |
Recently added publicist salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Metropolitan Museum of Art | Publicist | New York, NY | 06/29/2025 | $95,000 |
| University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Il | Publicist-University Press (Hybrid/Remote) | Urbana, IL | 06/13/2025 | $48,000 |
| Sourcebooks | Publicist-Bloom/Casablanca | New York, NY | 06/05/2025 | $65,000 |
| Holtzbrinck Publishing Group | Publicist, Audio | New York, NY | 05/26/2025 | $60,000 |
| J/Pr | Publicist, Lifestyle | New York, NY | 05/04/2025 | $50,088 |
| MacMillan | Publicist, Audio | New York, NY | 05/02/2025 | $60,000 |
| MacMillan | Publicist, Audio | New York, NY | 04/29/2025 | $60,000 |
| Bertelsmann | Publicist, Random House Children's Books (Hybrid) | New York, NY | 04/26/2025 | $66,500 |
| Penguin Random House | Publicist, Random House Children's Books (Hybrid) | New York, NY | 04/26/2025 | $66,500 |
| Simon & Schuster | Publicist, Scribner Books | New York, NY | 04/05/2025 | $65,000 |
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