Labor Relations Specialists Salary
Labor Relations Specialists in State College, PA make a median of $103,460 a year, or about $49.74 an hour. The range runs from $63K at the entry level to $159K for experienced workers.
So what does $103K get you in State College?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by State College’s Regional Price Parity (96.8). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About labor relations specialists
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What this looks like in State College
Labor relations specialists pay in State College tracks closely to the national median, $103K locally vs. $95K nationwide, a 8% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,406/month, 21.6% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 96.8) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for labor relations specialists in metros near State College, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington | $100K | , |
| Pittsburgh | $79K | , |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle | $81K | , |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton | $116K | , |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, State College, PA
Entry-level labor relations specialists (10th percentile) start around $63K. Mid-career wages sit at $103K. Top earners bring in $159K or more, a $96K spread from bottom to top.
Labor Relations Specialists pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Labor Relations Specialists salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | $118K | +24% | 3,700 |
| District of Columbia | $116K | +21% | 160 |
| Massachusetts | $111K | +17% | 1,660 |
| California | $106K | +11% | 8,830 |
| Illinois | $104K | +9% | 3,670 |
| Washington | $104K | +9% | 2,760 |
| North Dakota | $101K | +6% | 90 |
| Minnesota | $101K | +6% | 1,710 |
| New York | $101K | +5% | 6,860 |
| Virginia | $99K | +3% | 990 |
| Delaware | $97K | +2% | 280 |
| Arizona | $97K | +2% | 790 |
| Maine | $97K | +1% | 210 |
| Wisconsin | $96K | +0% | 1,690 |
| Maryland | $94K | -1% | 890 |
| Missouri | $94K | -2% | 1,190 |
| Idaho | $93K | -2% | 190 |
| Pennsylvania | $91K | -4% | 3,470 |
| Rhode Island | $88K | -8% | 410 |
| West Virginia | $88K | -8% | 420 |
| Wyoming | $87K | -8% | 60 |
| Colorado | $87K | -9% | 470 |
| North Carolina | $86K | -10% | 690 |
| Vermont | $86K | -10% | 120 |
| New Hampshire | $85K | -11% | 150 |
| New Mexico | $84K | -12% | 120 |
| Kansas | $83K | -13% | 370 |
| Nebraska | $82K | -14% | 270 |
| Florida | $82K | -14% | 1,970 |
| Georgia | $81K | -15% | 920 |
| Oregon | $80K | -16% | 1,210 |
| Ohio | $80K | -16% | 4,100 |
| Texas | $80K | -17% | 2,590 |
| Connecticut | $80K | -17% | 1,240 |
| Mississippi | $79K | -17% | 200 |
| Iowa | $79K | -17% | 610 |
| Louisiana | $78K | -18% | 170 |
| South Carolina | $78K | -18% | 340 |
| Alaska | $78K | -18% | 380 |
| Hawaii | $77K | -19% | 510 |
| Nevada | $77K | -19% | 610 |
| Indiana | $77K | -19% | 2,600 |
| Tennessee | $77K | -19% | 560 |
| Michigan | $74K | -23% | 2,430 |
| Kentucky | $74K | -23% | 640 |
| Montana | $70K | -26% | 160 |
| Oklahoma | $62K | -35% | 250 |
| Arkansas | $62K | -35% | 180 |
| Utah | $61K | -36% | 250 |
| South Dakota | $58K | -39% | 100 |
| Alabama | $48K | -50% | 590 |
Showing 1–10 of 51 states
Track labor relations specialists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when State College numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a labor relations specialist afford a 2BR apartment alone in State College?
Yes — at the median salary of $103K, rent takes 21.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,406/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for labor relations specialists in State College?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new labor relations specialists typically earn — is $63K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,768/month. At HUD’s $1,406/month FMR, rent would take 37% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is labor relations specialist a high-paying job in State College?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $103K locally vs. $95K nationally, a 8% difference.
How does State College compare to the national average for labor relations specialists?
State College pays $103K median vs. the U.S. average of $95K — that’s +8%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 96.8), the purchasing-power equivalent is $107K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do labor relations specialists make in State College, PA?
The median is $103,460 a year, that works out to about $50 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $62,800, and experienced labor relations specialists can clear $159,240. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $103K enough to live in State College?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,500/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,406/month, which eats 21.6% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a labor relations specialists salary go in State College?
State College has a Regional Price Parity of 100 (100 is the national average). That's right at the national average. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median labor relations specialists salary is worth about $106,880 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do labor relations specialists get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.