Public Relations Managers Salary
The median pay for a public relations managers in Illinois is $131,990/year ($63.46/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $76K at the entry level to $221K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.85), which stretches that salary to about $140,639 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,407/month, or 17.6% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Illinois. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $132K get you in Illinois?
About public relations managers
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What this looks like in Illinois
Public relations managers pay in Illinois tracks closely to the national median, $132K locally vs. $147K nationwide, a 10% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,407/month, 17.9% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.85 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Illinois
Entry-level public relations managers (10th percentile) start around $76K. Mid-career wages sit at $132K. Top earners bring in $221K or more, a $146K spread from bottom to top.
Public Relations Managers salary by metro in Illinois
5 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin | $133K | +1% | 2,190 |
| Peoria | $120K | -9% | 50 |
| Springfield | $119K | -10% | 50 |
| Bloomington | $116K | -12% | 40 |
| Champaign-Urbana | $108K | -18% | 90 |
Compare to other states
Track public relations managers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Illinois numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a public relations manager afford a 2BR apartment alone in Illinois?
Yes — at the median salary of $132K, rent takes 17.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,407/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for public relations managers in Illinois?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new public relations managers typically earn — is $76K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,544/month. At HUD’s $1,407/month FMR, rent would take 31% 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 Illinois?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $132K locally vs. $147K nationally, a 10% difference.
How does Illinois compare to the national average for public relations managers?
Illinois pays $132K median vs. the U.S. average of $147K — that’s -10%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.85), the purchasing-power equivalent is $141K — below the national median.
How much do public relations managers make in Illinois?
The median is $131,990 a year, that works out to about $63 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $75,730, and experienced public relations managers can clear $221,440. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $132K enough to live in Illinois?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,870/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,407/month, which eats 17.9% 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 Illinois?
Illinois has a Regional Price Parity of 93.85 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median public relations managers salary is worth about $140,639 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.