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Public affairs manager salary
Average public affairs manager salary
$84,758
Understanding Public Affairs Manager Salaries
A Public Affairs Manager typically earns an average salary of $84,758 annually, translating to about $41 per hour. Salary levels can vary significantly depending on location, industry, and years of experience. For instance, professionals in states like California and New York often command higher salaries due to the cost of living and demand for skilled personnel.
In addition to geographical factors, the specific sector a public affairs manager operates in can impact earnings. For instance, those working in government or nonprofit organizations may have different salary structures compared to their counterparts in corporate settings. A comprehensive understanding of these factors can help job seekers navigate their career paths more effectively.
To enhance your earning potential, consider gaining experience in strategic communication, stakeholder engagement, and crisis management. As the field evolves, professionals who stay updated with trends and continue developing their skills will find better opportunities and compensation. Explore job openings today to discover positions that match your expertise in public affairs management.
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Where can a Public Affairs Manager earn more?
Public affairs manager salary estimates from across the web
Average public affairs manager salary by state
The average public affairs manager salary in California, Nevada, and Delaware are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average public affairs manager salary states are New Hampshire, Alabama, and Maine.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for public affairs managers
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $113,986 | $54.80 |
| 2 | Delaware | $105,377 | $50.66 |
| 3 | New Jersey | $105,060 | $50.51 |
| 4 | Nevada | $109,849 | $52.81 |
| 5 | Connecticut | $103,330 | $49.68 |
| 6 | District of Columbia | $105,082 | $50.52 |
| 7 | New York | $101,166 | $48.64 |
| 8 | Massachusetts | $97,526 | $46.89 |
| 9 | Michigan | $100,923 | $48.52 |
| 10 | Oregon | $95,896 | $46.10 |
| 11 | Georgia | $91,620 | $44.05 |
| 12 | New Mexico | $102,712 | $49.38 |
| 13 | Texas | $90,806 | $43.66 |
| 14 | Utah | $87,507 | $42.07 |
| 15 | Kansas | $93,752 | $45.07 |
| 16 | Rhode Island | $84,921 | $40.83 |
| 17 | Arkansas | $91,810 | $44.14 |
| 18 | Vermont | $90,805 | $43.66 |
| 19 | South Dakota | $94,302 | $45.34 |
| 20 | Virginia | $86,450 | $41.56 |
| 21 | North Dakota | $93,777 | $45.09 |
| 22 | Indiana | $85,744 | $41.22 |
| 23 | Washington | $85,653 | $41.18 |
| 24 | Wisconsin | $84,412 | $40.58 |
| 25 | Iowa | $83,568 | $40.18 |
| 26 | North Carolina | $79,862 | $38.40 |
| 27 | Maryland | $81,575 | $39.22 |
| 28 | Alaska | $84,788 | $40.76 |
| 29 | Arizona | $80,304 | $38.61 |
| 30 | Montana | $79,392 | $38.17 |
| 31 | Colorado | $80,925 | $38.91 |
| 32 | Pennsylvania | $77,783 | $37.40 |
| 33 | Louisiana | $83,413 | $40.10 |
| 34 | Idaho | $84,297 | $40.53 |
| 35 | Tennessee | $78,082 | $37.54 |
| 36 | Illinois | $76,216 | $36.64 |
| 37 | Ohio | $75,845 | $36.46 |
| 38 | West Virginia | $77,828 | $37.42 |
| 39 | Oklahoma | $77,316 | $37.17 |
| 40 | Minnesota | $75,201 | $36.15 |
| 41 | Kentucky | $77,164 | $37.10 |
| 42 | Nebraska | $78,663 | $37.82 |
| 43 | Wyoming | $75,334 | $36.22 |
| 44 | Hawaii | $74,967 | $36.04 |
| 45 | Alabama | $72,789 | $34.99 |
| 46 | New Hampshire | $74,327 | $35.73 |
| 47 | Missouri | $74,776 | $35.95 |
| 48 | South Carolina | $70,252 | $33.77 |
| 49 | Florida | $65,269 | $31.38 |
| 50 | Maine | $70,590 | $33.94 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $68,526 | $32.95 |
Highest paying cities for public affairs managers
The highest-paying cities for public affairs managers are San Francisco, CA, Las Vegas, NV, and Washington, DC.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $123,555 | $59.40 |
| 2 | Las Vegas, NV | $109,424 | $52.61 |
| 3 | Washington, DC | $105,137 | $50.55 |
| 4 | Parsippany-Troy Hills, NJ | $104,777 | $50.37 |
| 5 | New York, NY | $101,588 | $48.84 |
| 6 | Boston, MA | $97,364 | $46.81 |
| 7 | Eugene, OR | $97,175 | $46.72 |
| 8 | Austin, TX | $91,173 | $43.83 |
| 9 | Arlington, VA | $86,878 | $41.77 |
| 10 | Olympia, WA | $86,853 | $41.76 |
| 11 | Juneau, AK | $84,928 | $40.83 |
| 12 | Madison, WI | $84,474 | $40.61 |
| 13 | Raleigh, NC | $81,200 | $39.04 |
| 14 | Denver, CO | $80,900 | $38.89 |
| 15 | Harrisburg, PA | $77,806 | $37.41 |
| 16 | Cleveland, OH | $75,962 | $36.52 |
| 17 | Rochester, MN | $75,841 | $36.46 |
| 18 | Springfield, IL | $74,675 | $35.90 |
| 19 | Concord, NH | $73,661 | $35.41 |
| 20 | Boca Raton, FL | $64,453 | $30.99 |
Public affairs manager salary details
A public affairs manager's salary ranges from $55,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $129,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a public affairs manager's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $129,000 | $10,750 | $62 |
| 75th Percentile | $105,000 | $8,750 | $50 |
| Average | $84,758 | $7,063 | $41 |
| 25th Percentile | $67,000 | $5,583 | $32 |
| 10th Percentile | $55,000 | $4,583 | $26 |
Highest paying public affairs manager jobs
The highest paying types of public affairs managers are vice president of communication, vice president of public 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 |
| Vice President Of Communication | $156,662 | $13,055 | $75.32 | 43,726 |
| Development Director | $107,044 | $8,920 | $51.46 | 63,008 |
| Manager Of Special Events | $56,716 | $4,726 | $27.27 | 15,818 |
| Community Relations Director | $96,788 | $8,066 | $46.53 | 33,569 |
| Media Director | $112,564 | $9,380 | $54.12 | 22,511 |
Top companies hiring public affairs managers now:
Which companies pay public affairs managers the most?
Public affairs manager salaries at Meta and Google are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average public affairs manager salary at companies like Microsoft and Amazon are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Meta | $180,200 | $86.63 |
| 2 | $171,661 | $82.53 | |
| 3 | Microsoft | $151,156 | $72.67 |
| 4 | Amazon | $139,654 | $67.14 |
| 5 | Intuit | $133,106 | $63.99 |
| 6 | Koch Industries | $124,417 | $59.82 |
| 7 | Hoffmann-LA Roche Inc | $117,198 | $56.35 |
| 8 | SAGE Publishing | $116,315 | $55.92 |
| 9 | Mayo Clinic | $112,815 | $54.24 |
| 10 | Sanofi US | $108,890 | $52.35 |
| 11 | Luminex | $108,281 | $52.06 |
| 12 | Clear Channel Airport | $107,716 | $51.79 |
| 13 | Alere | $103,180 | $49.61 |
| 14 | Colgate-Palmolive | $102,302 | $49.18 |
| 15 | Caterpillar | $102,020 | $49.05 |
| 16 | Florida Power and Light | $101,560 | $48.83 |
| 17 | Abbott | $99,344 | $47.76 |
| 18 | Volkswagen Group of America | $97,380 | $46.82 |
| 19 | UPS | $93,925 | $45.16 |
| 20 | Wolters Kluwer | $91,589 | $44.03 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Public affairs manager salary trends
The average public affairs manager salary has risen by $19,909 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average public affairs manager earned $64,849 annually, but today, they earn $84,758 a year. That works out to a 14% change in pay for public affairs managers over the last decade.
Compare public affairs manager salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average public affairs manager salary over time
Compare public affairs manager salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Public affairs manager salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $84,800 | $40.75 | +3.9% |
| 2024 | $81,400 | $39.15 | +2.0% |
| 2023 | $79,800 | $38.36 | +3.1% |
| 2022 | $77,300 | $37.18 | +3.6% |
| 2021 | $74,600 | $35.86 | +3.0% |
Recently added public affairs manager salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unitedhealth Group | Manager of Public Policy and Regulatory Affairs-Remote | Tampa, FL | 06/28/2025 | $89,900 |
| New Mexico State Investment Council | Communications, Public Affairs, & Marketing Manager | Albuquerque, NM | 06/27/2025 | $90,000 |
| Feeding America | Manager, Legislative Affairs (Washington Dc/Hybrid) | Washington, DC | 06/26/2025 | $99,000 |
| Axogen | Scientific Affairs Manager | Alachua, FL | 06/09/2025 | $110,585 |
| Velux America | Regulatory and Public Affairs Manager | Fort Mill, SC | 06/09/2025 | $116,148 |
| Frink-Hamlett Legal Solutions | External Affairs Manager | Chandler, AZ | 06/09/2025 | $125,220 |
| Meta | Public Affairs Manager, Youth and Well-Being | New York, NY | 06/03/2025 | $274,709 |
| Velux America | Regulatory and Public Affairs Manager | Fort Mill, SC | 05/25/2025 | $116,148 |
| Marathon Petroleum Corporation | State Government Affairs Manager-Northern Great Plains | Saint Paul Park, MN | 05/22/2025 | $137,900 |
| Stride | Public Affairs Program Manager | Enon, VA | 05/22/2025 | $64,946 |
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