Public Relations Managers Salary
The median pay for a public relations managers in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH is $176,390/year ($84.8/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $98K at the entry level to $320K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 108.27), so that salary is closer to $162,917 in real purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $2,941/month, or 27.5% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $176K get you in Boston-Cambridge-Newton?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Boston-Cambridge-Newton’s Regional Price Parity (108.27). 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 public relations managers
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What this looks like in Boston-Cambridge-Newton
Boston-Cambridge-Newton sits well above the national pay line for public relations managers, local pay runs about 20% higher than the U.S. median of $147K. Rent runs $2,941/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 28.8% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost-of-living overall is 8% above the national average (BEA RPP 108.27), so groceries and services cost more too. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for public relations managers in metros near Boston-Cambridge-Newton, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Worcester | $157K | $153K |
| Springfield | $129K | $134K |
| Amherst Town-Northampton | $133K | $133K |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City | $192K | $171K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH
Entry-level public relations managers (10th percentile) start around $98K. Mid-career wages sit at $176K. Top earners bring in $320K or more, a $222K spread from bottom to top.
Public Relations Managers pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Public Relations Managers salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $198K | +35% | 7,410 |
| New York | $181K | +23% | 7,710 |
| Virginia | $176K | +20% | 2,610 |
| New Jersey | $175K | +19% | 2,420 |
| Massachusetts | $172K | +17% | 2,170 |
| California | $168K | +14% | 9,400 |
| Maine | $167K | +14% | N/A |
| Colorado | $163K | +11% | N/A |
| Washington | $159K | +9% | 1,610 |
| Rhode Island | $156K | +6% | 210 |
| Connecticut | $154K | +5% | 890 |
| Delaware | $153K | +4% | 170 |
| Maryland | $149K | +2% | 1,530 |
| Minnesota | $139K | -5% | 1,230 |
| Georgia | $135K | -8% | 1,540 |
| Utah | $133K | -10% | 580 |
| New Hampshire | $133K | -10% | 330 |
| North Carolina | $132K | -10% | 1,510 |
| Illinois | $132K | -10% | 2,770 |
| Oregon | $131K | -11% | 1,410 |
| Kansas | $130K | -12% | 300 |
| Florida | $128K | -13% | 2,990 |
| Tennessee | $127K | -13% | 700 |
| Texas | $127K | -14% | 8,190 |
| Alaska | $121K | -18% | 380 |
| Iowa | $121K | -18% | 630 |
| Ohio | $119K | -19% | 1,400 |
| Pennsylvania | $118K | -20% | 2,210 |
| Michigan | $118K | -20% | 1,720 |
| New Mexico | $115K | -22% | 250 |
| Indiana | $115K | -22% | 600 |
| Missouri | $115K | -22% | 760 |
| Arizona | $114K | -22% | 1,170 |
| Nevada | $114K | -22% | 450 |
| North Dakota | $114K | -22% | 130 |
| Wisconsin | $114K | -22% | 1,010 |
| Kentucky | $112K | -24% | 510 |
| Hawaii | $105K | -29% | 390 |
| South Carolina | $105K | -29% | 650 |
| Nebraska | $104K | -29% | 330 |
| Arkansas | $104K | -29% | 340 |
| Montana | $100K | -32% | 180 |
| Alabama | $98K | -33% | 540 |
| Idaho | $98K | -33% | N/A |
| Mississippi | $97K | -34% | 170 |
| Oklahoma | $96K | -35% | 490 |
| Louisiana | $94K | -36% | 320 |
| West Virginia | $82K | -44% | 70 |
Showing 1–10 of 48 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track public relations managers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Boston-Cambridge-Newton numbers change.
Related careers in Management
Frequently asked questions
Can a public relations manager afford a 2BR apartment alone in Boston-Cambridge-Newton?
Yes — at the median salary of $176K, rent takes 28.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,941/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for public relations managers in Boston-Cambridge-Newton?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new public relations managers typically earn — is $98K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,890/month. At HUD’s $2,941/month FMR, rent would take 50% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is public relations manager a high-paying job in Boston-Cambridge-Newton?
Local pay is 20% above the national median — $176K here vs. $147K nationally. Keep in mind cost of living here is 8% above the national average, which offsets some of that premium.
How does Boston-Cambridge-Newton compare to the national average for public relations managers?
Boston-Cambridge-Newton pays $176K median vs. the U.S. average of $147K — that’s +20%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 108.27), the purchasing-power equivalent is $163K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do public relations managers make in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH?
The median is $176,390 a year, that works out to about $85 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $98,170, and experienced public relations managers can clear $320,050. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $176K enough to live in Boston-Cambridge-Newton?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $10,209/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,941/month, which eats 28.8% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a public relations managers salary go in Boston-Cambridge-Newton?
Boston-Cambridge-Newton has a Regional Price Parity of 108.27 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median public relations managers salary is worth about $162,917 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do public relations managers 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.