Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The salary for a Public Affairs Specialist typically averages around $66,383 annually. This figure can change significantly depending on various factors, including geographic location and years of experience. For example, specialists in metropolitan areas often earn more due to higher living costs and demand for skilled professionals.
Public Affairs Specialists in California and New York tend to receive the highest salaries, often exceeding $75,000 annually. In contrast, those in less populated states may earn closer to $50,000. It’s essential to consider these regional differences when evaluating job opportunities.
Gaining additional experience, certifications, or advanced degrees can further enhance earning potential. Many Public Affairs Specialists find that transitioning to higher-level roles such as Communications Director or Policy Advisor can lead to substantial salary increases.
Let Zippi find your next public affairs specialist job
Let Zippi find your next public affairs specialist job
The highest-paying states for public affairs specialists are Virginia, Connecticut, and Washington. The lowest average public affairs specialist salary states are Alabama, Kansas, and Arizona.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | $98,254 | $47.24 |
| 2 | Virginia | $92,207 | $44.33 |
| 3 | Rhode Island | $77,634 | $37.32 |
| 4 | Connecticut | $86,760 | $41.71 |
| 5 | New Jersey | $82,899 | $39.86 |
| 6 | Maryland | $82,437 | $39.63 |
| 7 | Washington | $83,061 | $39.93 |
| 8 | Delaware | $70,536 | $33.91 |
| 9 | New York | $75,980 | $36.53 |
| 10 | Massachusetts | $71,842 | $34.54 |
| 11 | California | $74,529 | $35.83 |
| 12 | Pennsylvania | $70,204 | $33.75 |
| 13 | West Virginia | $68,615 | $32.99 |
| 14 | Alaska | $68,551 | $32.96 |
| 15 | Georgia | $65,102 | $31.30 |
| 16 | New Hampshire | $72,930 | $35.06 |
| 17 | Oregon | $67,271 | $32.34 |
| 18 | Idaho | $69,458 | $33.39 |
| 19 | Vermont | $64,483 | $31.00 |
| 20 | North Dakota | $67,680 | $32.54 |
| 21 | Arkansas | $64,902 | $31.20 |
| 22 | Utah | $61,366 | $29.50 |
| 23 | Wyoming | $59,100 | $28.41 |
| 24 | North Carolina | $61,082 | $29.37 |
| 25 | Colorado | $66,506 | $31.97 |
| 26 | Illinois | $63,612 | $30.58 |
| 27 | Kentucky | $64,327 | $30.93 |
| 28 | Nevada | $61,422 | $29.53 |
| 29 | Tennessee | $61,497 | $29.57 |
| 30 | Texas | $61,667 | $29.65 |
| 31 | Ohio | $62,521 | $30.06 |
| 32 | Indiana | $60,701 | $29.18 |
| 33 | Michigan | $59,307 | $28.51 |
| 34 | Minnesota | $60,588 | $29.13 |
| 35 | Iowa | $56,896 | $27.35 |
| 36 | Hawaii | $52,684 | $25.33 |
| 37 | Wisconsin | $59,044 | $28.39 |
| 38 | Nebraska | $57,923 | $27.85 |
| 39 | New Mexico | $60,877 | $29.27 |
| 40 | South Dakota | $56,392 | $27.11 |
| 41 | Missouri | $58,778 | $28.26 |
| 42 | Montana | $53,464 | $25.70 |
| 43 | Arizona | $50,841 | $24.44 |
| 44 | Florida | $43,347 | $20.84 |
| 45 | South Carolina | $56,773 | $27.29 |
| 46 | Maine | $54,790 | $26.34 |
| 47 | Oklahoma | $51,472 | $24.75 |
| 48 | Louisiana | $50,758 | $24.40 |
| 49 | Alabama | $51,233 | $24.63 |
| 50 | Kansas | $50,852 | $24.45 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $46,239 | $22.23 |
The highest-paying cities for public affairs specialists are Washington, DC, Arlington, VA, and Seattle, WA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington, DC | $98,298 | $47.26 |
| 2 | Arlington, VA | $93,926 | $45.16 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $84,025 | $40.40 |
| 4 | Rockville, MD | $82,300 | $39.57 |
| 5 | San Francisco, CA | $82,231 | $39.53 |
| 6 | New York, NY | $76,119 | $36.60 |
| 7 | Manchester, NH | $72,986 | $35.09 |
| 8 | Boston, MA | $71,863 | $34.55 |
| 9 | Philadelphia, PA | $70,523 | $33.91 |
| 10 | Salem, OR | $67,524 | $32.46 |
| 11 | Lakewood, CO | $66,594 | $32.02 |
| 12 | Atlanta, GA | $65,574 | $31.53 |
| 13 | Little Rock, AR | $64,704 | $31.11 |
| 14 | Cleveland, OH | $64,483 | $31.00 |
| 15 | Dallas, TX | $62,037 | $29.83 |
| 16 | Salt Lake City, UT | $61,282 | $29.46 |
| 17 | Saint Paul, MN | $60,633 | $29.15 |
| 18 | Indianapolis, IN | $60,368 | $29.02 |
| 19 | Memphis, TN | $60,152 | $28.92 |
| 20 | Jefferson City, MO | $58,665 | $28.20 |
A public affairs specialist's salary ranges from $43,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $102,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $102,000 | $8,500 | $49 |
| 75th Percentile | $83,000 | $6,917 | $40 |
| Average | $66,383 | $5,532 | $32 |
| 25th Percentile | $52,000 | $4,333 | $25 |
| 10th Percentile | $43,000 | $3,583 | $21 |
The highest paying types of public affairs specialists are communications consultant, public affairs officer, and specialist.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Community Relations Coordinator | $45,632 | $3,803 | $21.94 | 46,318 |
| Communications Consultant | $91,455 | $7,621 | $43.97 | 29,942 |
| Communications Coordinator | $47,075 | $3,923 | $22.63 | 39,790 |
| Public Relations Internship | $30,868 | $2,572 | $14.84 | 65,163 |
| Public Relations | $48,383 | $4,032 | $23.26 | 22,721 |
| Public Relations Coordinator | $46,225 | $3,852 | $22.22 | 35,324 |
How would you rate the starting salaries for public affairs specialists, as well as the prospects for salary advancement?
Peter Bicak Ph.D.
Professor of Communication, Rockhurst University
Top companies hiring public affairs specialists now:
Public affairs specialist salaries at Google and OSMRE are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average public affairs specialist salary at companies like AARP and Bonneville Power Administration are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $127,173 | $61.14 | |
| 2 | OSMRE | $104,579 | $50.28 |
| 3 | AARP | $104,487 | $50.23 |
| 4 | Bonneville Power Administration | $104,086 | $50.04 |
| 5 | Bureau of Ocean Energy Management | $94,267 | $45.32 |
| 6 | Booz Allen Hamilton | $88,802 | $42.69 |
| 7 | Federal Reserve Bank | $85,880 | $41.29 |
| 8 | Internal Revenue Service | $85,138 | $40.93 |
| 9 | Smithsonian Institution | $80,870 | $38.88 |
| 10 | Wpp Us Holdings Inc | $79,391 | $38.17 |
| 11 | AltaMed Health Services | $79,338 | $38.14 |
| 12 | Department of Homeland Security | $78,724 | $37.85 |
| 13 | ERM | $78,072 | $37.53 |
| 14 | Food and Drug Law Institute | $77,939 | $37.47 |
| 15 | Small Business Administration | $74,724 | $35.92 |
| 16 | Goldbelt Falcon | $73,431 | $35.30 |
| 17 | Federal Bureau of Investigation | $72,604 | $34.91 |
| 18 | Cherokee Nation Businesses | $72,380 | $34.80 |
| 19 | U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement | $71,261 | $34.26 |
| 20 | National Park Foundation | $71,190 | $34.23 |
The average public affairs specialist salary has risen by $10,167 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average public affairs specialist earned $56,216 annually, but today, they earn $66,383 a year. That works out to a 8% change in pay for public affairs specialists over the last decade.
Compare public affairs specialist salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare public affairs specialist salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $66,400 | $31.91 | +2.6% |
| 2024 | $64,600 | $31.07 | +1.9% |
| 2023 | $63,400 | $30.49 | +1.2% |
| 2022 | $62,700 | $30.13 | +2.2% |
| 2021 | $61,300 | $29.48 | +2.2% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perspecta | Public Affairs Specialist | Fort Meade, MD | 06/29/2025 | $86,000 |
| Systems Planning and Analysis, Inc. | Navy Recruiting Public Affairs Specialist | Denver, CO | 06/26/2025 | $60,000 |
| Department of The Air Force | Public Affairs Specialist | Grissom Air Force Base, IN | 06/24/2025 | $61,111 |
| Peraton | Public Affairs Specialist | Fort Meade, MD | 06/21/2025 | $86,000 |
| Waymo | Community & Public Affairs Specialist-Washington DC | Ione, WA | 06/21/2025 | $125,000 |
| Department of The Air Force | Public Affairs Specialist | Robins Air Force Base, GA | 06/20/2025 | $88,621 |
| Waymo | Community & Public Affairs Specialist-Washington DC | Washington, DC | 06/19/2025 | $125,000 |
| Colorado State University | Public Affairs Specialist-US Army | Fort Collins, CO | 06/13/2025 | $95,000 |
| JFF | Public Affairs Specialists | Portland, OR | 06/10/2025 | $93,543 |
| National Older Worker Career Center | Communications Specialist/Public Affairs Specialist | Saint Paul, MN | 06/05/2025 | $83,480 |
Search for public affairs specialist jobs