Public Relations Managers Salary
The median pay for a public relations managers in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA is $213,510/year ($102.65/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $137K at the entry level to $339K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 110.42), so that salary is closer to $193,362 in real purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $3,483/month, or 28.4% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $214K get you in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara’s Regional Price Parity (110.42). 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 San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara sits well above the national pay line for public relations managers, local pay runs about 45% higher than the U.S. median of $147K. Rent runs $3,483/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 29.3% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost-of-living overall is 10% above the national average (BEA RPP 110.42), 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 San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $164K | $144K |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $193K | $167K |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $158K | $141K |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $161K | $151K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
Entry-level public relations managers (10th percentile) start around $137K. Mid-career wages sit at $214K. Top earners bring in $339K or more, a $202K 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 San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara numbers change.
Related careers in Management
Frequently asked questions
Can a public relations manager afford a 2BR apartment alone in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara?
Yes — at the median salary of $214K, rent takes 29.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $3,483/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for public relations managers in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new public relations managers typically earn — is $137K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $8,230/month. At HUD’s $3,483/month FMR, rent would take 42% 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 San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara?
Local pay is 45% above the national median — $214K here vs. $147K nationally. Keep in mind cost of living here is 10% above the national average, which offsets some of that premium.
How does San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara compare to the national average for public relations managers?
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara pays $214K median vs. the U.S. average of $147K — that’s +45%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 110.42), the purchasing-power equivalent is $193K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do public relations managers make in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA?
The median is $213,510 a year, that works out to about $103 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $137,170, and experienced public relations managers can clear $338,830. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $214K enough to live in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $11,900/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $3,483/month, which eats 29.3% 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 San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara?
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara has a Regional Price Parity of 110.42 (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 $193,362 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.