Public Relations Managers Salary
The median pay for a public relations managers in Virginia is $176,340/year ($84.78/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $107K at the entry level to $312K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.79), which stretches that salary to about $186,032 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,646/month, or 15.4% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Virginia. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $176K get you in Virginia?
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What this looks like in Virginia
Virginia sits well above the national pay line for public relations managers, local pay runs about 20% higher than the U.S. median of $147K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,646/month, 16.2% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.79 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 5% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Combined with manageable housing costs, Virginia offers a genuinely strong financial position for public relations managerss at the median.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Virginia
Entry-level public relations managers (10th percentile) start around $107K. Mid-career wages sit at $176K. Top earners bring in $312K or more, a $205K spread from bottom to top.
Public Relations Managers salary by metro in Virginia
5 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Richmond | $161K | -9% | 380 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk | $153K | -13% | 200 |
| Charlottesville | $140K | -21% | 140 |
| Roanoke | $134K | -24% | 40 |
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford | $107K | -39% | 60 |
Compare to other states
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Virginia numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a public relations manager afford a 2BR apartment alone in Virginia?
Yes — at the median salary of $176K, rent takes 16.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,646/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for public relations managers in Virginia?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new public relations managers typically earn — is $107K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $6,413/month. At HUD’s $1,646/month FMR, rent would take 26% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is public relations manager a high-paying job in Virginia?
Local pay is 20% above the national median — $176K here vs. $147K nationally.
How does Virginia compare to the national average for public relations managers?
Virginia pays $176K median vs. the U.S. average of $147K — that’s +20%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.79), the purchasing-power equivalent is $186K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do public relations managers make in Virginia?
The median is $176,340 a year, that works out to about $85 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $106,880, and experienced public relations managers can clear $312,040. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $176K enough to live in Virginia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $10,139/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,646/month, which eats 16.2% 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 Virginia?
Virginia has a Regional Price Parity of 94.79 (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 $186,032 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.