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Public information officer salary
Average public information officer salary
$56,725
Public Information Officer Salary Overview
As of October 2025, the average salary for a Public Information Officer stands at $56,725 per year, which translates to approximately $27 per hour. This position is crucial for organizations as it involves developing and maintaining public relations and communication strategies.
Salary by State
Geographic location plays a significant role in determining salary levels. For example, Public Information Officers in states with higher living costs, such as California or New York, often earn above the national average. In contrast, states with lower living costs may offer salaries that align more closely with the national average.
Experience and Industry Impact
Experience significantly influences salary potential. Those with several years in the field or specialized expertise can command higher salaries. Additionally, industries like healthcare, government, and non-profit organizations may offer varying compensation packages depending on their funding and mission.
Job Opportunities
Public Information Officers can find opportunities in diverse settings, including government agencies, non-profit organizations, and corporations. Career advancement often comes with increased responsibilities, leading to further salary increases.
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Where can a Public Information Officer earn more?
Public information officer salary estimates from across the web
Average public information officer salary by state
The average public information officer salary in Delaware, Maryland, and New Jersey are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average public information officer salary states are Tennessee, Oklahoma, and Alabama.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for public information officers
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Jersey | $76,524 | $36.79 |
| 2 | North Dakota | $68,109 | $32.74 |
| 3 | Washington | $72,905 | $35.05 |
| 4 | New Hampshire | $70,948 | $34.11 |
| 5 | New York | $71,065 | $34.17 |
| 6 | Arizona | $65,737 | $31.60 |
| 7 | South Dakota | $67,006 | $32.21 |
| 8 | Massachusetts | $67,983 | $32.68 |
| 9 | Vermont | $66,997 | $32.21 |
| 10 | Delaware | $77,941 | $37.47 |
| 11 | Maryland | $77,503 | $37.26 |
| 12 | Iowa | $67,861 | $32.63 |
| 13 | Illinois | $66,105 | $31.78 |
| 14 | New Mexico | $64,999 | $31.25 |
| 15 | Rhode Island | $63,129 | $30.35 |
| 16 | Ohio | $67,673 | $32.54 |
| 17 | Nevada | $62,155 | $29.88 |
| 18 | District of Columbia | $77,506 | $37.26 |
| 19 | Wisconsin | $62,224 | $29.92 |
| 20 | California | $71,394 | $34.32 |
| 21 | Pennsylvania | $60,232 | $28.96 |
| 22 | Idaho | $58,481 | $28.12 |
| 23 | Kansas | $62,772 | $30.18 |
| 24 | Colorado | $61,543 | $29.59 |
| 25 | Arkansas | $61,007 | $29.33 |
| 26 | Virginia | $65,342 | $31.41 |
| 27 | Minnesota | $59,086 | $28.41 |
| 28 | Connecticut | $62,731 | $30.16 |
| 29 | Louisiana | $62,452 | $30.02 |
| 30 | West Virginia | $56,816 | $27.32 |
| 31 | Missouri | $59,663 | $28.68 |
| 32 | Indiana | $56,459 | $27.14 |
| 33 | Oregon | $56,466 | $27.15 |
| 34 | Michigan | $56,386 | $27.11 |
| 35 | Texas | $55,937 | $26.89 |
| 36 | North Carolina | $52,407 | $25.20 |
| 37 | Georgia | $53,626 | $25.78 |
| 38 | Alaska | $57,309 | $27.55 |
| 39 | Tennessee | $51,635 | $24.82 |
| 40 | Kentucky | $54,724 | $26.31 |
| 41 | Oklahoma | $50,582 | $24.32 |
| 42 | Maine | $51,810 | $24.91 |
| 43 | Montana | $54,978 | $26.43 |
| 44 | Wyoming | $52,137 | $25.07 |
| 45 | Nebraska | $48,071 | $23.11 |
| 46 | Mississippi | $45,619 | $21.93 |
| 47 | Utah | $53,029 | $25.49 |
| 48 | Alabama | $49,002 | $23.56 |
| 49 | Hawaii | $52,597 | $25.29 |
| 50 | Florida | $53,291 | $25.62 |
| 51 | South Carolina | $47,960 | $23.06 |
Highest paying cities for public information officers
The highest-paying cities for public information officers are Fairfield, CA, Washington, DC, and Rockville, MD.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fairfield, CA | $80,610 | $38.75 |
| 2 | Washington, DC | $77,588 | $37.30 |
| 3 | Rockville, MD | $77,406 | $37.21 |
| 4 | New York, NY | $71,307 | $34.28 |
| 5 | Carson City, NV | $68,579 | $32.97 |
| 6 | Somerville, MA | $67,769 | $32.58 |
| 7 | Columbus, OH | $67,573 | $32.49 |
| 8 | Des Moines, IA | $67,065 | $32.24 |
| 9 | Chicago, IL | $66,732 | $32.08 |
| 10 | Tucson, AZ | $65,120 | $31.31 |
| 11 | Manhattan, KS | $63,330 | $30.45 |
| 12 | Lake Charles, LA | $63,096 | $30.33 |
| 13 | Denver, CO | $61,637 | $29.63 |
| 14 | Little Rock, AR | $60,935 | $29.30 |
| 15 | Pittsburgh, PA | $59,770 | $28.74 |
| 16 | Saint Paul, MN | $59,176 | $28.45 |
| 17 | Anchorage, AK | $57,099 | $27.45 |
| 18 | San Antonio, TX | $56,361 | $27.10 |
| 19 | Indianapolis, IN | $56,288 | $27.06 |
| 20 | Portland, OR | $55,997 | $26.92 |
Public information officer salary details
A public information officer's salary ranges from $38,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $83,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a public information officer's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $83,000 | $6,917 | $40 |
| 75th Percentile | $69,000 | $5,750 | $33 |
| Average | $56,725 | $4,727 | $27 |
| 25th Percentile | $46,000 | $3,833 | $22 |
| 10th Percentile | $38,000 | $3,167 | $18 |
Highest paying public information officer jobs
The highest paying types of public information officers are vice president of communication, vice president of public relations, and director, customer relations.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Media Director | $112,564 | $9,380 | $54.12 | 22,511 |
| Community Development Director | $109,396 | $9,116 | $52.59 | 66,252 |
| Development Director | $107,044 | $8,920 | $51.46 | 63,008 |
| Manager Of Corporate Communications | $84,161 | $7,013 | $40.46 | 34,908 |
| Director Of Communications And Marketing | $87,324 | $7,277 | $41.98 | 109,600 |
| Director, Customer Relations | $134,672 | $11,223 | $64.75 | 26,470 |
Top companies hiring public information officers now:
Which companies pay public information officers the most?
Public information officer salaries at City of Fairfield and City of San Antonio are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average public information officer salary at companies like University of California, Berkeley and City of Reno are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | City of Fairfield | $95,743 | $46.03 |
| 2 | City of San Antonio | $92,858 | $44.64 |
| 3 | University of California-Berkeley | $91,788 | $44.13 |
| 4 | City of Reno | $90,235 | $43.38 |
| 5 | City of Santa Clara | $89,481 | $43.02 |
| 6 | NJ Transit | $77,224 | $37.13 |
| 7 | City of Pittsburgh | $76,896 | $36.97 |
| 8 | The Research Corporation of the University of Hawai'i | $76,884 | $36.96 |
| 9 | City of Atlanta | $70,879 | $34.08 |
| 10 | City of Georgetown | $69,966 | $33.64 |
| 11 | City of Tucson | $69,927 | $33.62 |
| 12 | CDC Foundation | $69,916 | $33.61 |
| 13 | City of Portland | $69,389 | $33.36 |
| 14 | City of Farmington | $69,236 | $33.29 |
| 15 | New York State Restaurant Association | $68,453 | $32.91 |
| 16 | PSEA | $66,347 | $31.90 |
| 17 | National Foundation for Cancer Research | $65,337 | $31.41 |
| 18 | DASNY - Dormitory Authority of the State of New York | $64,962 | $31.23 |
| 19 | Redevelopment Agency of Salt Lake City | $62,927 | $30.25 |
| 20 | City of St. Louis | $62,885 | $30.23 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Public information officer salary trends
The average public information officer salary has risen by $13,324 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average public information officer earned $43,401 annually, but today, they earn $56,725 a year. That works out to a 14% change in pay for public information officers over the last decade.
Compare public information officer salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average public information officer salary over time
Compare public information officer salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Public information officer salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $56,700 | $27.27 | +3.9% |
| 2024 | $54,500 | $26.20 | +2.0% |
| 2023 | $53,400 | $25.67 | +3.1% |
| 2022 | $51,800 | $24.88 | +3.6% |
| 2021 | $49,900 | $24.00 | +3.0% |
Recently added public information officer salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| State of Alaska | Public Information Officer (Special Assistant To The Commissioner) | Nome, AK | 06/30/2025 | $38,655 |
| State of Colorado | Public Information Officer | Boone, CO | 06/29/2025 | $95,418 |
| State of Louisiana | Public Information Officer 2 | Noble, LA | 06/27/2025 | $37,524 |
| Health Advocates Network | Public Information Officer | Albany, NY | 06/26/2025 | $114,785 |
| Staff Today | Public Information Officer | Albany, NY | 06/25/2025 | $114,785 |
| City of Dallas, Tx | Public Information Officer (Communications & Customer Experience [CCX] Dept.) (Non-Civil Service) | Marilla, NY | 06/24/2025 | $58,800 |
| City of Millbrae, Ca | Public Information Officer (20631926) | Millbrae, CA | 06/22/2025 | $116,304 |
| The Pew Charitable Trusts | Officer, Public Engagement, Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals | Washington, DC | 06/18/2025 | $110,800 |
| State of Virginia | Public Information Officer | Richmond, VA | 06/13/2025 | $75,643 |
| DHRM | Public Information Officer | Richmond, VA | 06/12/2025 | $75,643 |
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