Entry-level Public Relations Specialist salary in Washington, DC
Based on 22 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level I 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 | $57,289 |
| 25th | $58,571 |
| 50th (median) | $64,218 |
| 75th | $72,100 |
| 90th | $74,960 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $52,208 | $51,996 | $53,428 | 12 |
| FY2021 | $54,205 | $54,205 | $68,500 | 15 |
| FY2022 | $56,000 | $55,370 | $60,000 | 19 |
| FY2023 | $57,215 | $54,890 | $63,000 | 17 |
| FY2024 | $63,000 | $61,398 | $65,000 | 15 |
| FY2025 | $64,218 | $58,094 | $73,398 | 16 |
| FY2026 | – | – | – | 6 |
Cost of living
Washington's median entry-level Public Relations Specialist salary of $64,218 is worth about $59,000 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 $64,218, 37% lower.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS metropolitan area estimates. BLS wages include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are base salary.
Employers filing at this level
| Employer | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| 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.