Public Relations Specialist salary
From 875 certified H-1B filings (FY2025–FY2026). Base salary only.
- Occupation code 27-3031: Public Relations Specialists
- Also filed as: Public Relations Specialists
At a glance
- Mostly Level I (entry-level). 43% of Public Relations Specialist filings are Level I, compared with 19% across all H-1B filings.
- Median up 28% since FY2020. From $58,864 in FY2020 to $75,254 in FY2026 (Q1–Q3). Nominal, not adjusted for inflation.
Public Relations Specialist H-1B salary overview
Employers filed 875 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications for Public Relations Specialist jobs in FY2025–FY2026 (occupation code 27-3031, Public Relations Specialists). The median base salary is $70,000, 43% below the median for all H-1B filings ($122,699), and half of the filings fall between $56,080 and $84,477. The most common wage level is Level I (entry-level), at 43% 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 · 43% of filings
Mid-level · 35% of filings
Senior · 12% of filings
Expert · 10% of filings
Show the table
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Level I · Entry | $55,200 | 367 |
| Level II · Qualified | $72,901 | 304 |
| Level III · Experienced | $95,534 | 99 |
| Level IV · Fully competent | $124,000 | 89 |
Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.
Public Relations Specialist pay by city
Median base salary in each metro area. Rent: HUD Fair Market Rent, FY2027.
Show all 13 metro areas
| Metro area | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| New York, NY | $75,254 | 304 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $69,368 | 121 |
| Washington, DC | $74,602 | 45 |
| Boston, MA | $70,470 | 38 |
| San Francisco, CA | $79,789 | 36 |
| San Jose, CA | $84,672 | 34 |
| Chicago, IL | $60,000 | 29 |
| Atlanta, GA | $60,000 | 25 |
| Miami, FL | $60,000 | 21 |
| Seattle, WA | $80,000 | 21 |
| Houston, TX | $62,850 | 19 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $60,320 | 12 |
| Dallas, TX | $61,005 | 10 |
Metro areas with at least 10 filings for this occupation.
What a Public Relations Specialist does
Promote or create an intended public image for individuals, groups, or organizations. May write or select material for release to various communications media. May specialize in using social media.
Typical tasks
- Respond to requests for information from the media or designate an appropriate spokesperson or information source.
- Plan or direct development or communication of programs to maintain favorable public or stockholder perceptions of an organization's accomplishments, agenda, or environmental responsibility.
- Post and update content on the company's Web site and social media outlets.
- Write press releases or other media communications to promote clients.
- Establish or maintain cooperative relationships with representatives of community, consumer, employee, or public interest groups.
- Confer with other managers to identify trends or key group interests or concerns or to provide advice on business decisions.
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 Specialists (27-3031.00). 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 Specialists), the median annual wage was $74,750 in May 2025, with 283,380 people employed. The median H-1B base salary in FY2025–FY2026 is $70,000, 6% lower.
| H-1B filings | All U.S. workers (BLS, May 2025) | |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $50,648 | $44,110 |
| 25th percentile | $56,080 | $56,260 |
| Median | $70,000 | $74,750 |
| 75th percentile | $84,477 | $100,370 |
| 90th percentile | $115,440 | $135,150 |
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 | $50,648 |
| 25th | $56,080 |
| 50th (median) | $70,000 |
| 75th | $84,477 |
| 90th | $115,440 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $58,864 | $46,010 | $70,000 | 458 |
| FY2021 | $63,482 | $53,560 | $80,041 | 392 |
| FY2022 | $62,512 | $50,461 | $75,000 | 446 |
| FY2023 | $63,482 | $52,000 | $77,713 | 427 |
| FY2024 | $63,000 | $52,000 | $79,388 | 432 |
| FY2025 | $64,000 | $52,707 | $79,997 | 509 |
| FY2026 | $75,254 | $62,001 | $95,534 | 366 |
Questions
How much does an H-1B Public Relations Specialist make?
The median base salary in certified H-1B filings for Public Relations Specialist jobs is $70,000 (875 filings, FY2025–FY2026). Half of the filings are between $56,080 and $84,477.
What does an entry-level Public Relations Specialist earn on an H-1B?
Level I (entry-level) filings have a median of $55,200. Level I accounts for 43% of Public Relations Specialist filings.
Which city pays H-1B Public Relations Specialists the most?
Among metro areas with at least 100 filings, New York, NY has the highest median base salary for Public Relations Specialist jobs: $75,254 (304 filings).
Do H-1B Public Relations Specialists earn more than other U.S. workers in the same job?
The H-1B median base salary ($70,000) is 6% lower than the median wage of all U.S. workers in this occupation ($74,750, BLS May 2025). The sources measure pay differently, so treat this as a rough comparison.