Public Relations Managers Salary
The median pay for a public relations managers in New York is $180,880/year ($86.96/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $108K at the entry level to $323K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 98.21), that's roughly $184,177 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,917/month, or 18.7% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across New York. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $181K get you in New York?
About public relations managers
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in New York
New York sits well above the national pay line for public relations managers, local pay runs about 23% higher than the U.S. median of $147K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,917/month, 18.4% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 98.21) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Combined with manageable housing costs, New York offers a genuinely strong financial position for public relations managerss at the median.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, New York
Entry-level public relations managers (10th percentile) start around $108K. Mid-career wages sit at $181K. Top earners bring in $323K or more, a $215K spread from bottom to top.
Public Relations Managers salary by metro in New York
7 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City | $192K | +6% | 7,940 |
| Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh | $158K | -13% | 60 |
| Rochester | $148K | -18% | 190 |
| Syracuse | $144K | -20% | 90 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga | $134K | -26% | 150 |
| Ithaca | $128K | -29% | 30 |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy | $117K | -35% | 410 |
Compare to other states
Track public relations managers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when New York numbers change.
Related careers in Management
Frequently asked questions
Can a public relations manager afford a 2BR apartment alone in New York?
Yes — at the median salary of $181K, rent takes 18.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,917/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for public relations managers in New York?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new public relations managers typically earn — is $108K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $6,491/month. At HUD’s $1,917/month FMR, rent would take 30% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is public relations manager a high-paying job in New York?
Local pay is 23% above the national median — $181K here vs. $147K nationally.
How does New York compare to the national average for public relations managers?
New York pays $181K median vs. the U.S. average of $147K — that’s +23%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 98.21), the purchasing-power equivalent is $184K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do public relations managers make in New York?
The median is $180,880 a year, that works out to about $87 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $108,180, and experienced public relations managers can clear $323,190. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $181K enough to live in New York?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $10,406/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,917/month, which eats 18.4% 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 New York?
New York has a Regional Price Parity of 98.21 (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 $184,177 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.