Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Media relations director salary
Average media relations director salary
$115,268
Understanding the Media Relations Director Salary
A Media Relations Director plays a critical role in managing an organization’s communication strategies. According to data, the average salary for this position is $115,268 annually, translating to approximately $55 per hour. Compensation can vary significantly based on factors such as geographic location, years of experience, and the specific industry.
Salary by State and City
States like California and New York tend to offer higher salaries for Media Relations Directors, reflecting the competitive nature of these markets. Cities such as San Francisco and New York City are known for their lucrative opportunities, often providing salaries above the national average.
Industries Offering Higher Pay
Industries such as technology, healthcare, and finance frequently offer the highest compensation for Media Relations Directors. Professionals with experience in crisis management and strategic communication often command premium salaries, further enhancing their career prospects.
For those interested in pursuing a career in media relations, understanding these salary dynamics is essential in making informed decisions about job opportunities and career growth.
Let Zippia find your next media relations director job
Let Zippia find your next media relations director job
Where can a Media Relations Director earn more?
Average media relations director salary by state
The highest-paying states for media relations directors are Nevada, New Mexico, and Pennsylvania. The lowest average media relations director salary states are Mississippi, Alaska, and Oregon.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for media relations directors
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Delaware | $135,834 | $65.30 |
| 2 | Nevada | $143,428 | $68.96 |
| 3 | Connecticut | $135,150 | $64.98 |
| 4 | New Mexico | $141,396 | $67.98 |
| 5 | Pennsylvania | $135,865 | $65.32 |
| 6 | Vermont | $126,398 | $60.77 |
| 7 | Arkansas | $133,669 | $64.26 |
| 8 | New York | $130,263 | $62.63 |
| 9 | Illinois | $129,823 | $62.41 |
| 10 | South Dakota | $126,783 | $60.95 |
| 11 | Georgia | $131,759 | $63.35 |
| 12 | North Dakota | $126,155 | $60.65 |
| 13 | Louisiana | $118,116 | $56.79 |
| 14 | Arizona | $129,048 | $62.04 |
| 15 | New Jersey | $130,671 | $62.82 |
| 16 | Kansas | $131,592 | $63.27 |
| 17 | Oklahoma | $114,298 | $54.95 |
| 18 | Utah | $117,232 | $56.36 |
| 19 | North Carolina | $121,559 | $58.44 |
| 20 | Massachusetts | $122,775 | $59.03 |
| 21 | California | $121,832 | $58.57 |
| 22 | Rhode Island | $112,717 | $54.19 |
| 23 | Alabama | $107,285 | $51.58 |
| 24 | Ohio | $119,744 | $57.57 |
| 25 | Colorado | $117,856 | $56.66 |
| 26 | Washington | $116,012 | $55.77 |
| 27 | Idaho | $109,763 | $52.77 |
| 28 | Tennessee | $112,599 | $54.13 |
| 29 | Virginia | $116,161 | $55.85 |
| 30 | Indiana | $114,596 | $55.09 |
| 31 | District of Columbia | $109,242 | $52.52 |
| 32 | Michigan | $111,812 | $53.76 |
| 33 | Wisconsin | $114,102 | $54.86 |
| 34 | Alaska | $101,371 | $48.74 |
| 35 | Mississippi | $101,510 | $48.80 |
| 36 | Wyoming | $102,708 | $49.38 |
| 37 | Nebraska | $108,036 | $51.94 |
| 38 | Montana | $104,295 | $50.14 |
| 39 | Texas | $106,159 | $51.04 |
| 40 | Kentucky | $106,108 | $51.01 |
| 41 | Maryland | $106,484 | $51.19 |
| 42 | Iowa | $106,024 | $50.97 |
| 43 | Oregon | $100,689 | $48.41 |
| 44 | Maine | $98,413 | $47.31 |
| 45 | New Hampshire | $101,652 | $48.87 |
| 46 | Florida | $105,307 | $50.63 |
| 47 | West Virginia | $102,666 | $49.36 |
| 48 | Hawaii | $101,706 | $48.90 |
| 49 | Missouri | $103,312 | $49.67 |
| 50 | South Carolina | $99,995 | $48.07 |
| 51 | Minnesota | $97,633 | $46.94 |
Highest paying cities for media relations directors
The highest-paying cities for media relations directors are Philadelphia, PA, Savannah, GA, and Rahway, NJ.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Philadelphia, PA | $137,941 | $66.32 |
| 2 | Savannah, GA | $133,510 | $64.19 |
| 3 | Rahway, NJ | $131,999 | $63.46 |
| 4 | Chicago, IL | $131,683 | $63.31 |
| 5 | New York, NY | $131,564 | $63.25 |
| 6 | Phoenix, AZ | $131,544 | $63.24 |
| 7 | Berkeley, CA | $126,934 | $61.03 |
| 8 | Grand Forks, ND | $126,455 | $60.80 |
| 9 | Boston, MA | $123,315 | $59.29 |
| 10 | Cleveland, OH | $120,926 | $58.14 |
| 11 | Denver, CO | $118,221 | $56.84 |
| 12 | Indianapolis, IN | $115,268 | $55.42 |
| 13 | Washington, DC | $109,577 | $52.68 |
| 14 | Gaithersburg, MD | $106,601 | $51.25 |
| 15 | Austin, TX | $106,209 | $51.06 |
| 16 | Saint Paul, MN | $97,759 | $47.00 |
Media relations director salary details
A media relations director's salary ranges from $70,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $188,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a media relations director's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $188,000 | $15,667 | $90 |
| 75th Percentile | $149,000 | $12,417 | $72 |
| Average | $115,268 | $9,606 | $55 |
| 25th Percentile | $88,000 | $7,333 | $42 |
| 10th Percentile | $70,000 | $5,833 | $34 |
Highest paying media relations director jobs
The highest paying types of media relations directors are director, customer relations, director of client relations, and director of public affairs.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manager Of Corporate Communications | $84,161 | $7,013 | $40.46 | 34,908 |
| Director Of Public Affairs | $114,639 | $9,553 | $55.11 | 26,290 |
| Communications Manager | $81,304 | $6,775 | $39.09 | 26,350 |
| Publications Manager | $94,155 | $7,846 | $45.27 | 18,211 |
| Communications Lead | $96,988 | $8,082 | $46.63 | 20,413 |
| Director, Customer Relations | $134,672 | $11,223 | $64.75 | 26,470 |
Top companies hiring media relations directors now:
Which companies pay media relations directors the most?
Media relations director salaries at Phoenix Children's and Baker Botts are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average media relations director salary at companies like Harvard University and Endo Pharmaceuticals Inc are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Phoenix Children's | $184,939 | $88.91 |
| 2 | Baker Botts | $179,848 | $86.47 |
| 3 | Harvard University | $153,793 | $73.94 |
| 4 | Endo Pharmaceuticals Inc | $140,696 | $67.64 |
| 5 | Bristol-Myers Squibb | $136,841 | $65.79 |
| 6 | VF | $135,278 | $65.04 |
| 7 | Merck | $134,450 | $64.64 |
| 8 | Center for American Progress | $130,573 | $62.78 |
| 9 | Ferro | $130,383 | $62.68 |
| 10 | Gulfstream Aerospace | $126,869 | $60.99 |
| 11 | BlackRock | $124,046 | $59.64 |
| 12 | National Life Group | $123,369 | $59.31 |
| 13 | The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights | $122,457 | $58.87 |
| 14 | Pfizer | $122,191 | $58.75 |
| 15 | Lincoln Memorial University | $121,694 | $58.51 |
| 16 | Eversource Energy | $120,436 | $57.90 |
| 17 | Growth Energy | $117,156 | $56.33 |
| 18 | IDX System Technology | $114,594 | $55.09 |
| 19 | NBCUniversal | $114,572 | $55.08 |
| 20 | Sodexo Management, Inc. | $113,081 | $54.37 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Media Relations Director salary by industry
The average media relations director salary varies across industries:
- The average media relations director salary in the professional industry is $124,380, the highest of any industry.
- The average media relations director salary in the finance industry is $123,004.
- Media relations directors in the education industry earn an average salary of $106,123, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for media relations directors
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Professional | $124,380 | $59.80 |
| 2 | Transportation | $123,004 | $59.14 |
| 3 | Manufacturing | $116,869 | $56.19 |
| 4 | Non Profits | $109,263 | $52.53 |
| 5 | Education | $106,123 | $51.02 |
High paying media relations director jobs
Media relations director salary trends
The average media relations director salary has risen by $27,075 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average media relations director earned $88,193 annually, but today, they earn $115,268 a year. That works out to a 14% change in pay for media relations directors over the last decade.
Compare media relations director salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average media relations director salary over time
Compare media relations director salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Media relations director salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $115,000 | $55.42 | +3.9% |
| 2024 | $111,000 | $53.25 | +2.0% |
| 2023 | $109,000 | $52.17 | +3.1% |
| 2022 | $105,000 | $50.57 | +3.6% |
| 2021 | $101,000 | $48.77 | +3.0% |
Recently added media relations director salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guardant Health, Inc. | Director, Media Relations | Palo Alto, CA | 06/18/2025 | $210,400 |
| Open | Director-Media Relations/Earned Media | Chicago, IL | 06/09/2025 | $94,000 |
| Circa-IPG Dxtra | Director-Media Relations/Earned Media | Chicago, IL | 06/09/2025 | $94,000 |
| Ultimate Kronos Group | Director Media Relations | Lowell, MA | 05/28/2025 | $159,900 |
| Open | Director-Media Relations/Earned Media | Chicago, IL | 05/26/2025 | $94,000 |
| Precision Medicine Group | Director Investor Relations | New York, NY | 05/26/2025 | $115,000 |
| Circa-IPG Dxtra | Director-Media Relations/Earned Media | Chicago, IL | 05/26/2025 | $94,000 |
| Golin | Director-Media Relations/Earned Media | Chicago, IL | 05/24/2025 | $94,000 |
| Also | Communications and Media Relations Director | Seattle, WA | 05/22/2025 | $211,000 |
| Honeywell | Director Government Relations-NA | Atlanta, GA | 05/19/2025 | $206,000 |
Media relations director salary FAQs
Search for media relations director jobs