Public Relations Specialist salary in Washington, DC
Based on 45 certified H-1B filings in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Alexandria, Fairfax, Arlington, College Park, Washington Dc.
Also listed as: Public Relations Specialists
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $58,094 |
| 25th | $65,000 |
| 50th (median) | $74,602 |
| 75th | $92,000 |
| 90th | $123,450 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $59,994 | $52,208 | $77,293 | 22 |
| FY2021 | $77,010 | $54,205 | $95,162 | 30 |
| FY2022 | $61,861 | $55,378 | $79,872 | 34 |
| FY2023 | $65,905 | $58,629 | $88,750 | 40 |
| FY2024 | $67,250 | $62,846 | $97,950 | 26 |
| FY2025 | $72,997 | $64,218 | $83,650 | 31 |
| FY2026 | $80,252 | $65,250 | $108,101 | 14 |
Cost of living
Washington's median Public Relations Specialist salary of $74,602 is worth about $68,500 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Washington = 108.9).
Compared with all workers here
All Public Relations Specialists in the Washington, DC area earned a median of $101,680 in May 2025 (22,810 employed). The H-1B median here is $74,602, 27% lower.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS metropolitan area estimates. BLS wages include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are base salary.
Top employers filing
| Employer | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Hunt Alternatives | too few | 3 |
| Nordic West Office | too few | 3 |
| District Of Columbia Public Schools | too few | 2 |
| Formosan Association for Public Affairs | too few | 2 |
| International Association of Chiefs of Police | too few | 2 |
| University of Maryland College Park | too few | 2 |
Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $64,218 | 22 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $83,283 | 13 |
| Senior · Level III | too few | 3 |
| Expert · Level IV | – | 0 |
Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.
Minimum H-1B salary by level
| Wage level | Prevailing wage (most common) | Median offered salary | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $58,094 | $64,218 | 22 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $83,283 | $83,283 | 13 |
The prevailing wage is the minimum an employer must pay for this job and area. Amounts vary by county within a metro and by wage source.