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Public affairs officer salary
Average public affairs officer salary
$66,001
Average Public Affairs Officer Salary
The average salary for a Public Affairs Officer is currently $66,001 per year. This figure reflects a broad range of salaries depending on various factors including geographic location, years of experience, and specific job responsibilities. For instance, positions in metropolitan areas typically offer higher salaries due to increased demand and cost of living.
Salary by State
In terms of regional variations, states such as California and New York often report higher average salaries for public affairs officers, sometimes exceeding $80,000 annually. In contrast, salaries in states with lower living costs may be considerably lower, averaging around $50,000.
Career Growth
As professionals gain experience, they may see their salaries increase significantly. Entry-level positions may start around $45,000, but with several years of experience, public affairs officers can advance to senior roles, which command higher compensation. Researching salary trends can provide valuable insights for job seekers aiming to negotiate their pay effectively.
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Where can a Public Affairs Officer earn more?
Public affairs officer salary estimates from across the web
Average public affairs officer salary by state
The highest-paying states for public affairs officers are New York, Connecticut, and New Jersey. The lowest average public affairs officer salary states are Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Alabama.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for public affairs officers
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $91,954 | $44.21 |
| 2 | Virginia | $86,810 | $41.74 |
| 3 | Rhode Island | $79,664 | $38.30 |
| 4 | New Jersey | $88,103 | $42.36 |
| 5 | Minnesota | $78,274 | $37.63 |
| 6 | Idaho | $72,425 | $34.82 |
| 7 | Connecticut | $89,269 | $42.92 |
| 8 | District of Columbia | $110,306 | $53.03 |
| 9 | Pennsylvania | $73,291 | $35.24 |
| 10 | Washington | $83,276 | $40.04 |
| 11 | Massachusetts | $73,432 | $35.30 |
| 12 | North Dakota | $70,396 | $33.84 |
| 13 | New Hampshire | $74,073 | $35.61 |
| 14 | Michigan | $72,575 | $34.89 |
| 15 | California | $67,267 | $32.34 |
| 16 | Illinois | $65,866 | $31.67 |
| 17 | Oregon | $71,062 | $34.16 |
| 18 | Ohio | $68,562 | $32.96 |
| 19 | West Virginia | $68,849 | $33.10 |
| 20 | Nevada | $60,306 | $28.99 |
| 21 | Vermont | $64,343 | $30.93 |
| 22 | Maryland | $65,723 | $31.60 |
| 23 | Georgia | $62,496 | $30.05 |
| 24 | Delaware | $71,601 | $34.42 |
| 25 | Colorado | $63,697 | $30.62 |
| 26 | Alaska | $71,509 | $34.38 |
| 27 | Kentucky | $63,571 | $30.56 |
| 28 | North Carolina | $59,648 | $28.68 |
| 29 | Arkansas | $61,942 | $29.78 |
| 30 | Tennessee | $57,451 | $27.62 |
| 31 | Indiana | $60,755 | $29.21 |
| 32 | Nebraska | $58,230 | $28.00 |
| 33 | South Dakota | $57,378 | $27.59 |
| 34 | New Mexico | $58,678 | $28.21 |
| 35 | Wisconsin | $57,850 | $27.81 |
| 36 | Iowa | $57,379 | $27.59 |
| 37 | Wyoming | $59,343 | $28.53 |
| 38 | Maine | $54,602 | $26.25 |
| 39 | Florida | $49,934 | $24.01 |
| 40 | South Carolina | $55,132 | $26.51 |
| 41 | Utah | $56,099 | $26.97 |
| 42 | Arizona | $48,034 | $23.09 |
| 43 | Montana | $55,707 | $26.78 |
| 44 | Oklahoma | $49,450 | $23.77 |
| 45 | Missouri | $53,590 | $25.76 |
| 46 | Mississippi | $43,941 | $21.13 |
| 47 | Alabama | $48,922 | $23.52 |
| 48 | Texas | $51,364 | $24.69 |
| 49 | Louisiana | $49,518 | $23.81 |
| 50 | Kansas | $50,074 | $24.07 |
| 51 | Hawaii | $37,152 | $17.86 |
Highest paying cities for public affairs officers
The highest-paying cities for public affairs officers are Washington, DC, New York, NY, and New Haven, CT.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington, DC | $110,960 | $53.35 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $92,114 | $44.29 |
| 3 | New Haven, CT | $89,395 | $42.98 |
| 4 | Seattle, WA | $84,382 | $40.57 |
| 5 | San Francisco, CA | $77,745 | $37.38 |
| 6 | Boston, MA | $73,396 | $35.29 |
| 7 | Wilmington, DE | $71,910 | $34.57 |
| 8 | Chicago, IL | $66,303 | $31.88 |
| 9 | Baltimore, MD | $65,921 | $31.69 |
| 10 | Atlanta, GA | $62,907 | $30.24 |
| 11 | Raleigh, NC | $61,569 | $29.60 |
| 12 | Des Moines, IA | $56,654 | $27.24 |
| 13 | Big Spring, TX | $52,998 | $25.48 |
| 14 | Montgomery, AL | $48,359 | $23.25 |
| 15 | Phoenix, AZ | $48,205 | $23.18 |
Public affairs officer salary details
A public affairs officer's salary ranges from $39,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $109,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a public affairs officer's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $109,000 | $9,083 | $52 |
| 75th Percentile | $86,000 | $7,167 | $41 |
| Average | $66,001 | $5,500 | $32 |
| 25th Percentile | $50,000 | $4,167 | $24 |
| 10th Percentile | $39,000 | $3,250 | $19 |
Highest paying public affairs officer jobs
The highest paying types of public affairs officers are communications consultant, public affairs specialist, and media consultant.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Media Consultant | $53,443 | $4,454 | $25.69 | 28,768 |
| Account Coordinator | $39,973 | $3,331 | $19.22 | 93,480 |
| Media Coordinator | $47,471 | $3,956 | $22.82 | 35,285 |
| Digital Media Internship | $32,033 | $2,669 | $15.40 | 72,449 |
| Social Media Internship | $31,145 | $2,595 | $14.97 | 79,411 |
| Communications Consultant | $91,455 | $7,621 | $43.97 | 29,942 |
Top companies hiring public affairs officers now:
Which companies pay public affairs officers the most?
Public affairs officer salaries at Earthjustice and University of California, Berkeley are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average public affairs officer salary at companies like New York University and Yale University are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Earthjustice | $116,825 | $56.17 |
| 2 | University of California-Berkeley | $91,091 | $43.79 |
| 3 | New York University | $85,489 | $41.10 |
| 4 | Yale University | $81,208 | $39.04 |
| 5 | UCI Health | $77,770 | $37.39 |
| 6 | Seattle Indian Health Board | $71,250 | $34.25 |
| 7 | Wells Fargo | $70,105 | $33.70 |
| 8 | City of Houston | $68,283 | $32.83 |
| 9 | Minnesota State Fair | $57,750 | $27.76 |
| 10 | Upstream USA | $55,607 | $26.73 |
| 11 | Houston Airport System | $48,849 | $23.49 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Public affairs officer salary trends
The average public affairs officer salary has risen by $10,109 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average public affairs officer earned $55,892 annually, but today, they earn $66,001 a year. That works out to a 8% change in pay for public affairs officers over the last decade.
Compare public affairs officer salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average public affairs officer salary over time
Compare public affairs officer salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Public affairs officer salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $66,000 | $31.73 | +2.6% |
| 2024 | $64,300 | $30.89 | +1.9% |
| 2023 | $63,000 | $30.31 | +1.2% |
| 2022 | $62,300 | $29.96 | +2.2% |
| 2021 | $61,000 | $29.31 | +2.2% |
Recently added public affairs officer salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Precise Systems | Senior Public Affairs Officer (PAO) | Maryland | 05/04/2025 | $84,707 |
| Sanofi | Global Public Affairs | Cambridge, MA | 05/03/2025 | $172,500 |
| Goldbelt Incorporated | Inter-Agency and Multilateral Affairs Officer | Washington, DC | 04/05/2025 | $145,000 |
| RSC2 | Public Affairs Officer | Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD | 03/26/2025 | $60,000 |
| Securitas Security Services USA, Inc. | Public Transit Officer Bonus | Hillsboro, OR | 02/25/2025 | $48,001 |
| Emwd | Public Affairs Officer I/II | Perris, CA | 02/19/2025 | $96,138 |
| Usmccca | Public Affairs Officer Wanted | Indian Head, MD | 02/17/2025 | $85,508 |
| Flaglerlive | Public Affairs Officer | Noma, FL | 02/17/2025 | $61,199 |
| Judicial Branch | Legislative Affairs Officer | Washington, DC | 02/08/2025 | $219,321 |
| Caci International | Public Affairs Officer | Chantilly, VA | 01/26/2025 | $77,200 |
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