Public Relations Managers Salary
The median pay for a public relations managers in Trenton-Princeton, NJ is $179,330/year ($86.22/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $95K at the entry level to $298K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 103.18), that's roughly $173,803 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,950/month, or 18.4% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $179K get you in Trenton-Princeton?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Trenton-Princeton’s Regional Price Parity (103.18). 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 Trenton-Princeton
Trenton-Princeton sits well above the national pay line for public relations managers, local pay runs about 22% higher than the U.S. median of $147K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,950/month, 18.8% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 103.18) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Combined with manageable housing costs, Trenton-Princeton offers a genuinely strong financial position for public relations managerss at the median.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for public relations managers in metros near Trenton-Princeton, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Atlantic City-Hammonton | $153K | $155K |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City | $192K | $171K |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington | $129K | $126K |
| Pittsburgh | $105K | $111K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Trenton-Princeton, NJ
Entry-level public relations managers (10th percentile) start around $95K. Mid-career wages sit at $179K. Top earners bring in $298K or more, a $203K 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 Trenton-Princeton numbers change.
Related careers in Management
Frequently asked questions
Can a public relations manager afford a 2BR apartment alone in Trenton-Princeton?
Yes — at the median salary of $179K, rent takes 18.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,950/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for public relations managers in Trenton-Princeton?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new public relations managers typically earn — is $95K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,725/month. At HUD’s $1,950/month FMR, rent would take 34% 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 Trenton-Princeton?
Local pay is 22% above the national median — $179K here vs. $147K nationally.
How does Trenton-Princeton compare to the national average for public relations managers?
Trenton-Princeton pays $179K median vs. the U.S. average of $147K — that’s +22%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 103.18), the purchasing-power equivalent is $174K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do public relations managers make in Trenton-Princeton, NJ?
The median is $179,330 a year, that works out to about $86 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $95,420, and experienced public relations managers can clear $298,490. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $179K enough to live in Trenton-Princeton?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $10,352/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,950/month, which eats 18.8% 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 Trenton-Princeton?
Trenton-Princeton has a Regional Price Parity of 103.18 (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 $173,803 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.