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As of October 2025, the average salary for a media consultant in the United States is approximately $53,443 per year or about $26 per hour. Salaries can vary based on factors such as geographic location, years of experience, and the specific media sector in which the consultant works. For instance, media consultants in metropolitan areas tend to earn more due to higher demand and cost of living considerations.
Some of the highest paying states for media consultants include:
Additionally, media consultants with specialized skills or certifications may command higher salaries. Continuous education and networking within the industry can significantly enhance career prospects and earning potential.
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The highest-paying states for media consultants are Washington, New Jersey, and Connecticut. The lowest average media consultant salary states are South Carolina, Texas, and Oklahoma.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rhode Island | $70,481 | $33.89 |
| 2 | District of Columbia | $80,179 | $38.55 |
| 3 | New Jersey | $76,661 | $36.86 |
| 4 | Connecticut | $73,058 | $35.12 |
| 5 | Massachusetts | $70,383 | $33.84 |
| 6 | New York | $70,537 | $33.91 |
| 7 | Washington | $77,544 | $37.28 |
| 8 | Idaho | $65,146 | $31.32 |
| 9 | New Hampshire | $66,012 | $31.74 |
| 10 | Delaware | $66,619 | $32.03 |
| 11 | Oregon | $66,034 | $31.75 |
| 12 | Virginia | $70,516 | $33.90 |
| 13 | North Dakota | $60,454 | $29.06 |
| 14 | Nevada | $63,398 | $30.48 |
| 15 | Maryland | $71,414 | $34.33 |
| 16 | Pennsylvania | $60,865 | $29.26 |
| 17 | Alaska | $64,798 | $31.15 |
| 18 | Illinois | $57,592 | $27.69 |
| 19 | Utah | $54,371 | $26.14 |
| 20 | Vermont | $54,306 | $26.11 |
| 21 | West Virginia | $57,780 | $27.78 |
| 22 | Hawaii | $67,185 | $32.30 |
| 23 | California | $61,227 | $29.44 |
| 24 | Minnesota | $57,573 | $27.68 |
| 25 | South Dakota | $49,223 | $23.66 |
| 26 | Tennessee | $57,416 | $27.60 |
| 27 | Maine | $54,597 | $26.25 |
| 28 | Wisconsin | $56,937 | $27.37 |
| 29 | Ohio | $56,082 | $26.96 |
| 30 | North Carolina | $52,409 | $25.20 |
| 31 | Montana | $49,878 | $23.98 |
| 32 | Wyoming | $47,455 | $22.81 |
| 33 | Colorado | $55,552 | $26.71 |
| 34 | Indiana | $54,825 | $26.36 |
| 35 | Kentucky | $52,165 | $25.08 |
| 36 | Nebraska | $47,896 | $23.03 |
| 37 | Arizona | $48,148 | $23.15 |
| 38 | Oklahoma | $38,691 | $18.60 |
| 39 | Alabama | $38,025 | $18.28 |
| 40 | Michigan | $48,182 | $23.16 |
| 41 | Mississippi | $36,999 | $17.79 |
| 42 | Kansas | $44,017 | $21.16 |
| 43 | Iowa | $46,509 | $22.36 |
| 44 | Arkansas | $42,714 | $20.54 |
| 45 | Florida | $40,148 | $19.30 |
| 46 | Georgia | $42,588 | $20.48 |
| 47 | New Mexico | $42,554 | $20.46 |
| 48 | Missouri | $42,725 | $20.54 |
| 49 | Texas | $39,276 | $18.88 |
| 50 | South Carolina | $39,894 | $19.18 |
| 51 | Louisiana | $36,156 | $17.38 |
The highest-paying cities for media consultants are Washington, DC, Olympia, WA, and Hackensack, NJ.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington, DC | $80,195 | $38.56 |
| 2 | Olympia, WA | $78,138 | $37.57 |
| 3 | Hackensack, NJ | $76,819 | $36.93 |
| 4 | Babylon, NY | $70,880 | $34.08 |
| 5 | San Francisco, CA | $68,888 | $33.12 |
| 6 | Bend, OR | $65,517 | $31.50 |
| 7 | Pocatello, ID | $61,828 | $29.73 |
| 8 | Bismarck, ND | $59,855 | $28.78 |
| 9 | Madison, WI | $55,724 | $26.79 |
| 10 | Denver, CO | $55,597 | $26.73 |
| 11 | Raleigh, NC | $54,424 | $26.17 |
| 12 | Lincoln, NE | $47,635 | $22.90 |
| 13 | Saint Joseph, MO | $43,444 | $20.89 |
| 14 | Orlando, FL | $40,738 | $19.59 |
| 15 | Dallas, TX | $38,814 | $18.66 |
A media consultant's salary ranges from $32,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $89,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $89,000 | $7,417 | $43 |
| 75th Percentile | $69,000 | $5,750 | $33 |
| Average | $53,443 | $4,454 | $26 |
| 25th Percentile | $40,000 | $3,333 | $19 |
| 10th Percentile | $32,000 | $2,667 | $15 |
The highest paying types of media consultants are media manager, communications consultant, and consultant.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Relations Internship | $30,868 | $2,572 | $14.84 | 65,163 |
| Marketing Internship | $30,260 | $2,522 | $14.55 | 122,135 |
| Social Media Editor | $53,943 | $4,495 | $25.93 | 37,769 |
| Digital Media Internship | $32,033 | $2,669 | $15.40 | 72,449 |
| Social Media Internship | $31,145 | $2,595 | $14.97 | 79,411 |
| Marketing Coordinator | $48,326 | $4,027 | $23.23 | 91,281 |
How would you rate the starting salaries for media consultants, as well as the prospects for salary advancement?
Mary Beth Pinto
Professor, Pennsylvania State University - Erie (The Behrend College)
Top companies hiring media consultants now:
Media consultant salaries at iHeartMedia and IDR are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average media consultant salary at companies like Centurum and Cox Media Group are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | iHeartMedia | $71,933 | $34.58 |
| 2 | IDR | $71,361 | $34.31 |
| 3 | Centurum | $68,226 | $32.80 |
| 4 | Cox Media Group | $66,531 | $31.99 |
| 5 | United Nations Foundation | $63,105 | $30.34 |
| 6 | RevLocal | $55,433 | $26.65 |
| 7 | Kelly Services | $51,798 | $24.90 |
| 8 | TDS | $50,675 | $24.36 |
| 9 | Lee Enterprises | $32,250 | $15.50 |
| 10 | Pocatello/Chubbuck School District 25 | $25,159 | $12.10 |
The average media consultant salary has risen by $8,185 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average media consultant earned $45,258 annually, but today, they earn $53,443 a year. That works out to a 8% change in pay for media consultants over the last decade.
Compare media consultant salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare media consultant salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $53,400 | $25.69 | +2.6% |
| 2025 | $52,000 | $25.01 | +1.9% |
| 2024 | $51,100 | $24.54 | +1.2% |
| 2023 | $50,500 | $24.26 | +2.2% |
| 2022 | $49,400 | $23.73 | +2.2% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tds Telecom | SR Media Consultant | Bend, OR | 06/21/2025 | $71,500 |
| American Family Insurance Group | Social Media Consultant | Madison, WI | 06/07/2025 | $97,000 |
| American Family Insurance Group | Social Media Consultant | Keene, NH | 06/07/2025 | $97,000 |
| Chisago Lakes Schools | Media Paraprofessional | Nore, MN | 05/25/2025 | $40,070 |
| Oregon State University | Media Hub-Consultant Pool | Corvallis, OR | 03/15/2025 | $29,635 |
| MSA Global Consulting LLC | Experienced Media Consultant | Lake Mary, FL | 02/26/2025 | $66,784 |
| News-Press & Gazette | Integrated Media Consultant | Salinas, CA | 02/18/2025 | $35,000 |
| News-Press & Gazette | Integrated Media Consultant | Salinas, CA | 01/27/2025 | $35,000 |
| Dell | Global Programmatic Media Consultant | Round Rock, TX | 01/26/2025 | $154,700 |
| MSA Global Consulting LLC | Experienced Media Consultant | Lake Mary, FL | 01/08/2025 | $66,784 |
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