Public Relations Managers Salary
The median pay for a public relations managers in Memphis, TN-MS-AR is $141,340/year ($67.95/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $87K at the entry level to $259K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.18), which stretches that salary to about $153,330 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,274/month, or 14% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $141K get you in Memphis?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Memphis’s Regional Price Parity (92.18). 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 Memphis
Public relations managers pay in Memphis tracks closely to the national median, $141K locally vs. $147K nationwide, a 4% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,274/month, 14.2% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.18 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 8% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for public relations managers in metros near Memphis, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin | $108K | $113K |
| Knoxville | $141K | $152K |
| Chattanooga | $114K | $124K |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell | $136K | $136K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Memphis, TN-MS-AR
Entry-level public relations managers (10th percentile) start around $87K. Mid-career wages sit at $141K. Top earners bring in $259K or more, a $172K 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 Memphis numbers change.
Related careers in Management
Frequently asked questions
Can a public relations manager afford a 2BR apartment alone in Memphis?
Yes — at the median salary of $141K, rent takes 14.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,274/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for public relations managers in Memphis?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new public relations managers typically earn — is $87K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,243/month. At HUD’s $1,274/month FMR, rent would take 24% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is public relations manager a high-paying job in Memphis?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $141K locally vs. $147K nationally, a 4% difference.
How does Memphis compare to the national average for public relations managers?
Memphis pays $141K median vs. the U.S. average of $147K — that’s -4%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.18), the purchasing-power equivalent is $153K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do public relations managers make in Memphis, TN-MS-AR?
The median is $141,340 a year, that works out to about $68 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $87,380, and experienced public relations managers can clear $258,940. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $141K enough to live in Memphis?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $8,947/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,274/month, which eats 14.2% 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 Memphis?
Memphis has a Regional Price Parity of 92.18 (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 $153,330 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.