Public Relations Managers Salary
The median pay for a public relations managers in Iowa is $120,730/year ($58.04/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $74K at the entry level to $195K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.86), which stretches that salary to about $135,865 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,064/month, or 14.5% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Iowa. Jump to a metro for precise data:
Where the paycheck goes
What $121K actually covers in Iowa, month by month
About public relations managers
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What this looks like in Iowa
Pay for public relations managers in Iowa runs about 18% below the U.S. median of $147K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,064/month, 14.7% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.86 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, Iowa can be a reasonable trade-off for public relations managers who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Iowa
Entry-level public relations managers (10th percentile) start around $74K. Mid-career wages sit at $121K. Top earners bring in $195K or more, a $121K spread from bottom to top.
Public Relations Managers salary by metro in Iowa
4 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island | $133K | +10% | 70 |
| Iowa City | $128K | +6% | 70 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines | $127K | +5% | 270 |
| Cedar Rapids | $121K | +0% | 50 |
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BLS updates this data annually. We'll email you when Iowa numbers change.
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Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a public relations manager afford a 2BR apartment alone in Iowa?
Yes — at the median salary of $121K, rent takes 14.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,064/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for public relations managers in Iowa?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new public relations managers typically earn — is $74K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,723/month. At HUD’s $1,064/month FMR, rent would take 23% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is public relations manager a high-paying job in Iowa?
Local pay runs 18% below the national median — $121K here vs. $147K nationally. Cost of living is 11% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Iowa compare to the national average for public relations managers?
Iowa pays $121K median vs. the U.S. average of $147K — that’s -18%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.86), the purchasing-power equivalent is $136K — below the national median.
How much do public relations managers make in Iowa?
The median is $120,730 a year, that works out to about $58 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $74,040, and experienced public relations managers can clear $194,860. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $121K enough to live in Iowa?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,235/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,064/month, which eats 14.7% 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 Iowa?
Iowa has a Regional Price Parity of 88.86 (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 $135,865 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.