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The average salary for a Communications Manager is approximately $81,304 per year, translating to about $39 per hour. This figure reflects a blend of factors, including geographic location, industry demand, and years of experience. For instance, those in metropolitan areas or high-demand sectors may command higher pay.
Communications Managers in states like California, New York, and Texas often see higher salaries due to the cost of living and the presence of larger companies. Additionally, specialized industries such as technology and healthcare may offer competitive compensation, making them attractive sectors for job seekers.
As businesses increasingly recognize the importance of effective communication, the demand for skilled professionals like Communications Managers is expected to grow. This position not only offers a stable salary but also various opportunities for career advancement. Networking, continued education, and staying updated with industry trends can enhance prospects in this field.
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The average communications manager salary in California, Nevada, and Washington are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average communications manager salary states are Florida, Kansas, and Wyoming.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Delaware | $95,400 | $45.87 |
| 2 | California | $105,204 | $50.58 |
| 3 | Washington | $97,991 | $47.11 |
| 4 | Connecticut | $96,584 | $46.43 |
| 5 | Nevada | $98,562 | $47.39 |
| 6 | Virginia | $91,360 | $43.92 |
| 7 | Rhode Island | $97,233 | $46.75 |
| 8 | New York | $87,117 | $41.88 |
| 9 | New Jersey | $91,311 | $43.90 |
| 10 | New Hampshire | $91,366 | $43.93 |
| 11 | Maine | $86,564 | $41.62 |
| 12 | Vermont | $82,587 | $39.71 |
| 13 | District of Columbia | $86,841 | $41.75 |
| 14 | Maryland | $81,849 | $39.35 |
| 15 | Oregon | $83,258 | $40.03 |
| 16 | Arkansas | $78,219 | $37.61 |
| 17 | Massachusetts | $80,631 | $38.76 |
| 18 | Ohio | $82,652 | $39.74 |
| 19 | Louisiana | $81,695 | $39.28 |
| 20 | Iowa | $80,733 | $38.81 |
| 21 | North Dakota | $74,504 | $35.82 |
| 22 | Pennsylvania | $75,333 | $36.22 |
| 23 | Montana | $74,892 | $36.01 |
| 24 | Tennessee | $77,669 | $37.34 |
| 25 | Minnesota | $75,899 | $36.49 |
| 26 | Georgia | $72,014 | $34.62 |
| 27 | Michigan | $73,385 | $35.28 |
| 28 | New Mexico | $77,679 | $37.35 |
| 29 | Alaska | $71,298 | $34.28 |
| 30 | Illinois | $71,226 | $34.24 |
| 31 | Arizona | $71,020 | $34.14 |
| 32 | North Carolina | $70,484 | $33.89 |
| 33 | Hawaii | $64,769 | $31.14 |
| 34 | West Virginia | $69,628 | $33.48 |
| 35 | Idaho | $69,753 | $33.54 |
| 36 | Utah | $66,189 | $31.82 |
| 37 | Colorado | $68,015 | $32.70 |
| 38 | South Dakota | $67,927 | $32.66 |
| 39 | Nebraska | $68,990 | $33.17 |
| 40 | Mississippi | $69,561 | $33.44 |
| 41 | Texas | $63,886 | $30.71 |
| 42 | Wyoming | $60,271 | $28.98 |
| 43 | Indiana | $64,303 | $30.91 |
| 44 | Florida | $62,429 | $30.01 |
| 45 | Kentucky | $64,025 | $30.78 |
| 46 | Wisconsin | $64,024 | $30.78 |
| 47 | Kansas | $62,311 | $29.96 |
| 48 | South Carolina | $63,052 | $30.31 |
| 49 | Missouri | $58,436 | $28.09 |
| 50 | Alabama | $59,188 | $28.46 |
| 51 | Oklahoma | $59,165 | $28.44 |
The highest-paying cities for communications managers are San Francisco, CA, Olympia, WA, and Las Vegas, NV.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $116,875 | $56.19 |
| 2 | Olympia, WA | $100,129 | $48.14 |
| 3 | Las Vegas, NV | $97,471 | $46.86 |
| 4 | Providence, RI | $97,084 | $46.67 |
| 5 | Hartford, CT | $95,838 | $46.08 |
| 6 | McLean, VA | $92,924 | $44.67 |
| 7 | New York, NY | $87,425 | $42.03 |
| 8 | Washington, DC | $86,831 | $41.75 |
| 9 | Salem, OR | $83,368 | $40.08 |
| 10 | Columbus, OH | $82,262 | $39.55 |
| 11 | Baltimore, MD | $82,036 | $39.44 |
| 12 | Boston, MA | $80,352 | $38.63 |
| 13 | Des Moines, IA | $79,658 | $38.30 |
| 14 | Little Rock, AR | $78,348 | $37.67 |
| 15 | Saint Paul, MN | $76,104 | $36.59 |
| 16 | Philadelphia, PA | $75,908 | $36.49 |
| 17 | Atlanta, GA | $72,180 | $34.70 |
| 18 | Raleigh, NC | $72,039 | $34.63 |
| 19 | Chicago, IL | $71,647 | $34.45 |
| 20 | Phoenix, AZ | $71,192 | $34.23 |
Communications Managers are the most in-demand in these five cities:
A communications manager's salary ranges from $53,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $122,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $122,000 | $10,167 | $59 |
| 75th Percentile | $100,000 | $8,333 | $48 |
| Average | $81,304 | $6,775 | $39 |
| 25th Percentile | $65,000 | $5,417 | $31 |
| 10th Percentile | $53,000 | $4,417 | $25 |
The highest paying types of communications managers are communications director, communications/senior communications manager, and acquisitions manager.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manager | $58,651 | $4,888 | $28.20 | 1,236,194 |
| Leasing Manager | $47,633 | $3,969 | $22.90 | 16,376 |
| Manager Of Corporate Communications | $84,161 | $7,013 | $40.46 | 34,908 |
| Property Manager | $49,958 | $4,163 | $24.02 | 15,402 |
| Resident Manager | $50,811 | $4,234 | $24.43 | 17,468 |
| Building Manager | $66,595 | $5,550 | $32.02 | 15,982 |
How would you rate the starting salaries for communications managers, as well as the prospects for salary advancement?
Peter Bicak Ph.D.
Professor of Communication, Rockhurst University
Top companies hiring communications managers now:
Communications manager salaries at McKinsey & Company Inc and Meta are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average communications manager salary at companies like Google and Apple are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | McKinsey & Company Inc | $153,901 | $73.99 |
| 2 | Meta | $141,365 | $67.96 |
| 3 | $139,172 | $66.91 | |
| 4 | Apple | $134,830 | $64.82 |
| 5 | Schlumberger | $128,610 | $61.83 |
| 6 | Urban Institute | $125,631 | $60.40 |
| 7 | Genentech | $123,226 | $59.24 |
| 8 | Microsoft | $123,116 | $59.19 |
| 9 | Flexport | $121,866 | $58.59 |
| 10 | $121,024 | $58.18 | |
| 11 | Atlassian | $119,491 | $57.45 |
| 12 | Yahoo | $119,449 | $57.43 |
| 13 | HSBC Bank | $118,132 | $56.79 |
| 14 | Edwards Lifesciences | $117,994 | $56.73 |
| 15 | Novo Nordisk | $117,016 | $56.26 |
| 16 | Amd | $116,547 | $56.03 |
| 17 | Amgen | $116,172 | $55.85 |
| 18 | Autodesk | $115,389 | $55.48 |
| 19 | Palo Alto Networks | $115,185 | $55.38 |
| 20 | $114,792 | $55.19 |
The average communications manager salary has risen by $19,098 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average communications manager earned $62,206 annually, but today, they earn $81,304 a year. That works out to a 14% change in pay for communications managers over the last decade.
Compare communications manager salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare communications manager salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $81,300 | $39.09 | +3.9% |
| 2024 | $78,100 | $37.56 | +2.0% |
| 2023 | $76,500 | $36.79 | +3.1% |
| 2022 | $74,200 | $35.67 | +3.6% |
| 2021 | $71,500 | $34.40 | +3.0% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RSM | Enterprise Communications and Enablement Manager | Baltimore, MD | 06/30/2025 | $102,800 |
| RSM | Enterprise Communications and Enablement Manager | McLean, VA | 06/30/2025 | $102,800 |
| 2020Companies | Communications Manager | Arlington, TX | 06/30/2025 | $80,000 |
| 2020Companies | Communications Manager | Denver, CO | 06/30/2025 | $80,000 |
| 2020Companies | Communications Manager | Minneapolis, MN | 06/30/2025 | $80,000 |
| Hord Coplan MacHt, Inc. | Communications Manager | Baltimore, MD | 06/29/2025 | $93,000 |
| Anduril Industries | Communications and Enablement Manager | Costa Mesa, CA | 06/29/2025 | $122,000 |
| Doordash | Manager, Policy Communications West & East | Phoenix, AZ | 06/29/2025 | $136,000 |
| Augustine Institute Inc. | Advancement Communications Manager (Onsite) | Florissant, MO | 06/29/2025 | $115,000 |
| Nvent Electric Plc | Communications Manager | Saint Louis Park, MN | 06/29/2025 | $89,300 |
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