Public Relations Managers Salary
The median pay for a public relations managers in Wilmington, NC is $124,280/year ($59.75/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $79K at the entry level to $199K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 96.42), that's roughly $128,894 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,426/month, or 18.5% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $124K get you in Wilmington?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Wilmington’s Regional Price Parity (96.42). 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 Wilmington
Pay for public relations managers in Wilmington runs about 15% below the U.S. median of $147K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,426/month, 19% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 96.42) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Lower pay, lower costs, Wilmington 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 Wilmington, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia | $135K | $139K |
| Raleigh-Cary | $131K | $134K |
| Durham-Chapel Hill | $138K | $141K |
| Winston-Salem | $141K | $153K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Wilmington, NC
Entry-level public relations managers (10th percentile) start around $79K. Mid-career wages sit at $124K. Top earners bring in $199K or more, a $120K 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
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 Wilmington numbers change.
Related careers in Management
Frequently asked questions
Can a public relations manager afford a 2BR apartment alone in Wilmington?
Yes — at the median salary of $124K, rent takes 19% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,426/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for public relations managers in Wilmington?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new public relations managers typically earn — is $79K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,759/month. At HUD’s $1,426/month FMR, rent would take 30% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is public relations manager a high-paying job in Wilmington?
Local pay runs 15% below the national median — $124K here vs. $147K nationally.
How does Wilmington compare to the national average for public relations managers?
Wilmington pays $124K median vs. the U.S. average of $147K — that’s -15%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 96.42), the purchasing-power equivalent is $129K — below the national median.
How much do public relations managers make in Wilmington, NC?
The median is $124,280 a year, that works out to about $60 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $79,320, and experienced public relations managers can clear $199,090. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $124K enough to live in Wilmington?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,509/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,426/month, which eats 19% 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 Wilmington?
Wilmington has a Regional Price Parity of 96.42 (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 $128,894 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.