Public Relations Managers Salary
The median pay for a public relations managers in New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ is $192,360/year ($92.48/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $112K at the entry level to $323K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 112.56), so that salary is closer to $170,896 in real purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $2,910/month, or 26.6% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $192K get you in New York-Newark-Jersey City?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by New York-Newark-Jersey City’s Regional Price Parity (112.56). 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 New York-Newark-Jersey City
New York-Newark-Jersey City sits well above the national pay line for public relations managers, local pay runs about 31% higher than the U.S. median of $147K. Rent runs $2,910/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 26.3% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost-of-living overall is 13% above the national average (BEA RPP 112.56), 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 New York-Newark-Jersey City, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy | $117K | $118K |
| Rochester | $148K | $152K |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga | $134K | $140K |
| Syracuse | $144K | $150K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ
Entry-level public relations managers (10th percentile) start around $112K. Mid-career wages sit at $192K. Top earners bring in $323K or more, a $211K 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 New York-Newark-Jersey City numbers change.
Related careers in Management
Frequently asked questions
Can a public relations manager afford a 2BR apartment alone in New York-Newark-Jersey City?
Yes — at the median salary of $192K, rent takes 26.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,910/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for public relations managers in New York-Newark-Jersey City?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new public relations managers typically earn — is $112K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $6,706/month. At HUD’s $2,910/month FMR, rent would take 43% 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 New York-Newark-Jersey City?
Local pay is 31% above the national median — $192K here vs. $147K nationally. Keep in mind cost of living here is 13% above the national average, which offsets some of that premium.
How does New York-Newark-Jersey City compare to the national average for public relations managers?
New York-Newark-Jersey City pays $192K median vs. the U.S. average of $147K — that’s +31%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 112.56), the purchasing-power equivalent is $171K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do public relations managers make in New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ?
The median is $192,360 a year, that works out to about $92 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $111,770, and experienced public relations managers can clear $323,190. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $192K enough to live in New York-Newark-Jersey City?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $11,062/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,910/month, which eats 26.3% 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-Newark-Jersey City?
New York-Newark-Jersey City has a Regional Price Parity of 112.56 (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 $170,896 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.