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Public relations associate salary
Average public relations associate salary
$48,953
Understanding Public Relations Associate Salaries
The average salary for a public relations associate is approximately $48,953 per year. This figure, which translates to about $24 per hour, can vary significantly based on several factors including geographic location, industry, and years of experience. For instance, regions with a higher cost of living often offer better compensation.
Salary by State
States such as California and New York frequently provide the highest salaries for public relations associates. Conversely, areas with a lower demand for public relations roles might offer lower compensation. To maximize earning potential, it's crucial to target high-demand locations and industries.
Industry Insights
Public relations associates can find better-paying opportunities within sectors such as technology, healthcare, and finance. Companies in these fields often recognize the value of strong public relations strategies and are willing to invest in talent.
Career Advancement
Gaining experience and furthering education can lead to higher salaries and more advanced positions in public relations. Networking and staying updated with industry trends are also vital for career growth.
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Where can a Public Relations Associate earn more?
Public relations associate salary estimates from across the web
Average public relations associate salary by state
The highest-paying states for public relations associates are Washington, Oregon, and Connecticut. The lowest average public relations associate salary states are Louisiana, New Mexico, and Georgia.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for public relations associates
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oregon | $61,351 | $29.50 |
| 2 | Alaska | $60,249 | $28.97 |
| 3 | Connecticut | $60,292 | $28.99 |
| 4 | Idaho | $54,301 | $26.11 |
| 5 | District of Columbia | $59,040 | $28.38 |
| 6 | Rhode Island | $53,304 | $25.63 |
| 7 | New York | $56,739 | $27.28 |
| 8 | Washington | $68,803 | $33.08 |
| 9 | North Dakota | $52,673 | $25.32 |
| 10 | Maryland | $58,083 | $27.92 |
| 11 | New Jersey | $58,187 | $27.97 |
| 12 | Minnesota | $55,806 | $26.83 |
| 13 | Virginia | $53,573 | $25.76 |
| 14 | Delaware | $49,821 | $23.95 |
| 15 | California | $55,449 | $26.66 |
| 16 | Michigan | $52,134 | $25.06 |
| 17 | Wyoming | $46,386 | $22.30 |
| 18 | Arkansas | $50,403 | $24.23 |
| 19 | Massachusetts | $50,593 | $24.32 |
| 20 | New Hampshire | $49,391 | $23.75 |
| 21 | Utah | $47,155 | $22.67 |
| 22 | West Virginia | $48,356 | $23.25 |
| 23 | Colorado | $51,421 | $24.72 |
| 24 | Texas | $50,123 | $24.10 |
| 25 | South Dakota | $44,153 | $21.23 |
| 26 | Nevada | $46,184 | $22.20 |
| 27 | Ohio | $48,665 | $23.40 |
| 28 | Pennsylvania | $48,672 | $23.40 |
| 29 | Vermont | $44,039 | $21.17 |
| 30 | Kentucky | $47,366 | $22.77 |
| 31 | Tennessee | $46,731 | $22.47 |
| 32 | Nebraska | $45,414 | $21.83 |
| 33 | Illinois | $45,977 | $22.10 |
| 34 | Hawaii | $44,110 | $21.21 |
| 35 | Montana | $42,671 | $20.51 |
| 36 | Arizona | $44,160 | $21.23 |
| 37 | North Carolina | $43,748 | $21.03 |
| 38 | Indiana | $44,266 | $21.28 |
| 39 | South Carolina | $42,889 | $20.62 |
| 40 | Iowa | $43,169 | $20.75 |
| 41 | Wisconsin | $43,366 | $20.85 |
| 42 | Maine | $36,604 | $17.60 |
| 43 | Oklahoma | $40,262 | $19.36 |
| 44 | Georgia | $38,968 | $18.73 |
| 45 | Louisiana | $39,655 | $19.06 |
| 46 | Missouri | $41,574 | $19.99 |
| 47 | New Mexico | $39,240 | $18.87 |
| 48 | Alabama | $39,913 | $19.19 |
| 49 | Kansas | $39,743 | $19.11 |
| 50 | Florida | $34,375 | $16.53 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $36,221 | $17.41 |
Highest paying cities for public relations associates
The highest-paying cities for public relations associates are Seattle, WA, San Francisco, CA, and Washington, DC.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $69,388 | $33.36 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $60,885 | $29.27 |
| 3 | Washington, DC | $59,075 | $28.40 |
| 4 | Jersey City, NJ | $58,167 | $27.96 |
| 5 | Gaithersburg, MD | $57,868 | $27.82 |
| 6 | New York, NY | $56,918 | $27.36 |
| 7 | Minneapolis, MN | $55,833 | $26.84 |
| 8 | Arlington, VA | $55,008 | $26.45 |
| 9 | Denver, CO | $51,435 | $24.73 |
| 10 | Milton, MA | $50,650 | $24.35 |
| 11 | Austin, TX | $49,984 | $24.03 |
| 12 | Philadelphia, PA | $48,986 | $23.55 |
| 13 | Salt Lake City, UT | $47,218 | $22.70 |
| 14 | Brentwood, TN | $46,775 | $22.49 |
| 15 | Hoffman Estates, IL | $46,191 | $22.21 |
| 16 | Omaha, NE | $45,472 | $21.86 |
| 17 | Florence, SC | $43,420 | $20.88 |
| 18 | Charlotte, NC | $42,999 | $20.67 |
| 19 | West Des Moines, IA | $42,928 | $20.64 |
| 20 | Florence, AL | $40,417 | $19.43 |
Public relations associate salary details
A public relations associate's salary ranges from $34,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $68,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a public relations associate's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $68,000 | $5,667 | $33 |
| 75th Percentile | $58,000 | $4,833 | $28 |
| Average | $48,953 | $4,079 | $24 |
| 25th Percentile | $41,000 | $3,417 | $20 |
| 10th Percentile | $34,000 | $2,833 | $16 |
Highest paying public relations associate jobs
The highest paying types of public relations associates are public relations manager, public affairs specialist, and marketing communications specialist.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Campaign Coordinator | $41,865 | $3,489 | $20.13 | 24,801 |
| Media Coordinator | $47,471 | $3,956 | $22.82 | 35,285 |
| Publicist | $50,679 | $4,223 | $24.36 | 7,343 |
| Communications Coordinator | $47,075 | $3,923 | $22.63 | 39,790 |
| Community Relations Coordinator | $45,632 | $3,803 | $21.94 | 46,318 |
| Publications Coordinator | $48,593 | $4,049 | $23.36 | 27,541 |
How would you rate the starting salaries for public relations associates, as well as the prospects for salary advancement?
Michael Riecke
Assistant Professor, State University of New York at Oswego
They may not openly admit it, but many employers see the first job as a test of who has the stamina, talent, and passion for succeeding. If a new employee puts in the effort, doesn't balk at long hours, and gets the job done well without a sizeable financial reward, it's generally interpreted by the employer as a sign of commitment. That display of commitment typically gets rewarded.
Top companies hiring public relations associates now:
Which companies pay public relations associates the most?
Public relations associate salaries at AstraZeneca and JPMorgan Chase & Co. are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average public relations associate salary at companies like BlackRock and Grant Thornton are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | AstraZeneca | $84,713 | $40.73 |
| 2 | JPMorgan Chase & Co. | $77,178 | $37.10 |
| 3 | BlackRock | $71,913 | $34.57 |
| 4 | Grant Thornton | $71,830 | $34.53 |
| 5 | YouthBuild USA | $69,990 | $33.65 |
| 6 | General Electric | $66,937 | $32.18 |
| 7 | Goodwin | $66,205 | $31.83 |
| 8 | Capgemini | $65,115 | $31.31 |
| 9 | Ralph Lauren | $64,029 | $30.78 |
| 10 | SmithBucklin | $63,522 | $30.54 |
| 11 | Loyola Marymount University | $63,358 | $30.46 |
| 12 | Curry College | $59,799 | $28.75 |
| 13 | Industrial and Commercial Bank of China | $57,753 | $27.77 |
| 14 | Mattel | $56,649 | $27.24 |
| 15 | Memorial Healthcare | $55,886 | $26.87 |
| 16 | Olson | $53,769 | $25.85 |
| 17 | American Enterprise Institute | $53,667 | $25.80 |
| 18 | Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center | $53,175 | $25.56 |
| 19 | Teachers Insurance & Annuity Association of America | $52,364 | $25.18 |
| 20 | Chico's FAS | $51,362 | $24.69 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Public Relations Associate salary by industry
The average public relations associate salary varies across industries:
- The average public relations associate salary in the finance industry is $55,755, the highest of any industry.
- The average public relations associate salary in the finance industry is $52,292.
- Public relations associates in the non profits industry earn an average salary of $44,988, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for public relations associates
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Finance | $55,755 | $26.81 |
| 2 | Professional | $52,292 | $25.14 |
| 3 | Real Estate | $50,530 | $24.29 |
| 4 | Hospitality | $49,809 | $23.95 |
| 5 | Health Care | $48,412 | $23.27 |
| 6 | Manufacturing | $45,875 | $22.06 |
| 7 | Non Profits | $44,988 | $21.63 |
High paying public relations associate jobs
Public relations associate salary trends
The average public relations associate salary has risen by $7,497 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average public relations associate earned $41,456 annually, but today, they earn $48,953 a year. That works out to a 8% change in pay for public relations associates over the last decade.
Compare public relations associate salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average public relations associate salary over time
Compare public relations associate salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Public relations associate salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $49,000 | $23.54 | +2.6% |
| 2024 | $47,700 | $22.91 | +1.9% |
| 2023 | $46,800 | $22.48 | +1.2% |
| 2022 | $46,200 | $22.22 | +2.2% |
| 2021 | $45,200 | $21.74 | +2.2% |
Recently added public relations associate salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ideaboxpro | Public Relations Associate | San Antonio, TX | 06/29/2025 | $39,653 |
| Milton Gottesman Jewish Day School | External Relations Associate | Washington, DC | 06/26/2025 | $47,000 |
| See's Candies, Inc. | Public Relations, Communications and Events Associate | San Francisco, CA | 06/25/2025 | $80,000 |
| Sees | Public Relations, Communications and Events Associate | San Francisco, CA | 06/20/2025 | $80,000 |
| Chicago Bulls | Public Relations & Communications Associate | Hoffman Estates, IL | 06/20/2025 | $35,479 |
| Ascend: Public Charter Schools In Brooklyn, New York | Publications Associate | New York, NY | 06/20/2025 | $60,000 |
| State of Illinois | Home of Relative Certification Compliance Associate | Springfield, IL | 06/18/2025 | $48,048 |
| Ideaboxpro | Public Relations Associate | Los Angeles, CA | 06/14/2025 | $25,000 |
| Goldman Sachs | GBM-Private Dept-New York-Associate-Alumni Relations | New York, NY | 06/13/2025 | $100,000 |
| Akin | Early Relational Health Associate/Clinician | Auburn, WA | 06/12/2025 | $50,380 |
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