Public Relations Managers Salary
The median pay for a public relations managers in Tennessee is $127,390/year ($61.24/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $58K at the entry level to $193K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.78), which stretches that salary to about $141,891 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,215/month, or 14.8% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Tennessee. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $127K get you in Tennessee?
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What this looks like in Tennessee
Pay for public relations managers in Tennessee runs about 13% below the U.S. median of $147K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,215/month, 14.9% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.78 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, Tennessee can be a reasonable trade-off for public relations managerss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Tennessee
Entry-level public relations managers (10th percentile) start around $58K. Mid-career wages sit at $127K. Top earners bring in $193K or more, a $134K spread from bottom to top.
Public Relations Managers salary by metro in Tennessee
4 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Memphis | $141K | +11% | 120 |
| Knoxville | $141K | +10% | 90 |
| Chattanooga | $114K | -11% | 40 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin | $108K | -15% | 310 |
Compare to other states
Track public relations managers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Tennessee numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a public relations manager afford a 2BR apartment alone in Tennessee?
Yes — at the median salary of $127K, rent takes 14.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,215/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for public relations managers in Tennessee?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new public relations managers typically earn — is $58K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,505/month. At HUD’s $1,215/month FMR, rent would take 35% 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 Tennessee?
Local pay runs 13% below the national median — $127K here vs. $147K nationally. Cost of living is 10% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Tennessee compare to the national average for public relations managers?
Tennessee pays $127K median vs. the U.S. average of $147K — that’s -13%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.78), the purchasing-power equivalent is $142K — below the national median.
How much do public relations managers make in Tennessee?
The median is $127,390 a year, that works out to about $61 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $58,420, and experienced public relations managers can clear $192,800. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $127K enough to live in Tennessee?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $8,152/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,215/month, which eats 14.9% 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 Tennessee?
Tennessee has a Regional Price Parity of 89.78 (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 $141,891 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.