Public Relations Manager salary
From 124 certified H-1B filings (FY2025–FY2026). Base salary only.
- Occupation code 11-2032: Public Relations Managers
At a glance
- Mostly Level II (mid-level). 33% of Public Relations Manager filings are Level II, compared with 42% across all H-1B filings.
- Median up 32% since FY2020. From $125,000 in FY2020 to $165,000 in FY2026 (Q1–Q3). Nominal, not adjusted for inflation.
Public Relations Manager H-1B salary overview
Employers filed 124 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications for Public Relations Manager jobs in FY2025–FY2026 (occupation code 11-2032, Public Relations Managers). The median base salary is $157,508, 28% above the median for all H-1B filings ($122,699), and half of the filings fall between $115,000 and $213,084. The most common wage level is Level II (mid-level), at 33% of filings.
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Percentiles from certified H-1B filings, base salary only. Metro areas with at least 10 filings.
Pay by level
Entry-level · 28% of filings
Mid-level · 33% of filings
Senior · 13% of filings
Expert · 27% of filings
Show the table
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Level I · Entry | $116,022 | 31 |
| Level II · Qualified | $130,000 | 37 |
| Level III · Experienced | $224,357 | 14 |
| Level IV · Fully competent | $233,291 | 30 |
Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.
Public Relations Manager pay by city
Median base salary in each metro area. Rent: HUD Fair Market Rent, FY2027.
Show all 3 metro areas
| Metro area | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| New York, NY | $191,000 | 30 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $131,000 | 16 |
| San Francisco, CA | $175,726 | 10 |
Metro areas with at least 10 filings for this occupation.
What a Public Relations Manager does
Plan, direct, or coordinate activities designed to create or maintain a favorable public image or raise issue awareness for their organization or client.
Typical tasks
- Establish and maintain effective working relationships with clients, government officials, and media representatives and use these relationships to develop new business opportunities.
- Assign, supervise, and review the activities of public relations staff.
- Identify main client groups and audiences, determine the best way to communicate publicity information to them, and develop and implement a communication plan.
- Develop, implement, or maintain crisis communication plans.
- Write interesting and effective press releases, prepare information for media kits, and develop and maintain company internet or intranet web pages.
- Manage communications budgets.
Preparation
Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed. Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
O*NET occupation: Public Relations Managers (11-2032.00). This section includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
H-1B pay vs. all U.S. workers
Across all U.S. workers in this occupation (Public Relations Managers), the median annual wage was $146,910 in May 2025, with 74,850 people employed. The median H-1B base salary in FY2025–FY2026 is $157,508, 7% higher.
| H-1B filings | All U.S. workers (BLS, May 2025) | |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $88,175 | $82,410 |
| 25th percentile | $115,000 | $106,580 |
| Median | $157,508 | $146,910 |
| 75th percentile | $213,084 | $204,520 |
| 90th percentile | $249,925 | $239,200+ |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). BLS wages cover all wage and salary workers and include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are the base salary offered on certified LCAs. The two sources cover different periods. BLS reports wages of $239,200 or more as a single top value.
Salary details
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $88,175 |
| 25th | $115,000 |
| 50th (median) | $157,508 |
| 75th | $213,084 |
| 90th | $249,925 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $125,000 | $95,000 | $174,866 | 65 |
| FY2021 | $138,101 | $104,500 | $180,000 | 67 |
| FY2022 | $133,000 | $101,343 | $178,277 | 62 |
| FY2023 | $133,500 | $108,160 | $196,775 | 64 |
| FY2024 | $144,012 | $103,761 | $184,000 | 67 |
| FY2025 | $151,000 | $110,000 | $208,852 | 77 |
| FY2026 | $165,000 | $129,532 | $213,936 | 47 |
Questions
How much does an H-1B Public Relations Manager make?
The median base salary in certified H-1B filings for Public Relations Manager jobs is $157,508 (124 filings, FY2025–FY2026). Half of the filings are between $115,000 and $213,084.
What does an entry-level Public Relations Manager earn on an H-1B?
Level I (entry-level) filings have a median of $116,022. Level I accounts for 28% of Public Relations Manager filings.
Do H-1B Public Relations Managers earn more than other U.S. workers in the same job?
The H-1B median base salary ($157,508) is 7% higher than the median wage of all U.S. workers in this occupation ($146,910, BLS May 2025). The sources measure pay differently, so treat this as a rough comparison.