Public Relations Managers Salary
The median pay for a public relations managers in Raleigh-Cary, NC is $131,150/year ($63.06/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $90K at the entry level to $223K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 98.16), that's roughly $133,608 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,750/month, or 21.5% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $131K get you in Raleigh-Cary?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Raleigh-Cary’s Regional Price Parity (98.16). 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 Raleigh-Cary
Pay for public relations managers in Raleigh-Cary runs about 11% below the U.S. median of $147K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,750/month, 22.2% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 98.16) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Lower pay, lower costs, Raleigh-Cary can be a reasonable trade-off for public relations managerss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for public relations managers in metros near Raleigh-Cary, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia | $135K | $139K |
| Durham-Chapel Hill | $138K | $141K |
| Winston-Salem | $141K | $153K |
| Greensboro-High Point | $136K | $147K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Raleigh-Cary, NC
Entry-level public relations managers (10th percentile) start around $90K. Mid-career wages sit at $131K. Top earners bring in $223K or more, a $133K 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 Raleigh-Cary numbers change.
Related careers in Management
Frequently asked questions
Can a public relations manager afford a 2BR apartment alone in Raleigh-Cary?
Yes — at the median salary of $131K, rent takes 22.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,750/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for public relations managers in Raleigh-Cary?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new public relations managers typically earn — is $90K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,396/month. At HUD’s $1,750/month FMR, rent would take 32% 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 Raleigh-Cary?
Local pay runs 11% below the national median — $131K here vs. $147K nationally.
How does Raleigh-Cary compare to the national average for public relations managers?
Raleigh-Cary pays $131K median vs. the U.S. average of $147K — that’s -11%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 98.16), the purchasing-power equivalent is $134K — below the national median.
How much do public relations managers make in Raleigh-Cary, NC?
The median is $131,150 a year, that works out to about $63 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $89,940, and experienced public relations managers can clear $222,800. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $131K enough to live in Raleigh-Cary?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,874/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,750/month, which eats 22.2% 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 Raleigh-Cary?
Raleigh-Cary has a Regional Price Parity of 98.16 (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 $133,608 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.