Public Relations Specialists Salary
The median pay for a public relations specialists in Arizona is $66,710/year ($32.07/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $45K at the entry level to $111K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 96.41), that's roughly $69,194 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,437/month, about 32.2% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Arizona. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $67K get you in Arizona?
About public relations specialists
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What this looks like in Arizona
Pay for public relations specialists in Arizona runs about 11% below the U.S. median of $75K. Rent runs $1,437/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 32.1% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 96.41) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Arizona
Entry-level public relations specialists (10th percentile) start around $45K. Mid-career wages sit at $67K. Top earners bring in $111K or more, a $66K spread from bottom to top.
Public Relations Specialists salary by metro in Arizona
7 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sierra Vista-Douglas | $71K | +7% | 50 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler | $70K | +6% | 3,860 |
| Prescott Valley-Prescott | $67K | +1% | 100 |
| Flagstaff | $63K | -5% | 120 |
| Yuma | $62K | -7% | 70 |
| Tucson | $62K | -8% | 800 |
| Lake Havasu City-Kingman | $53K | -21% | 70 |
Compare to other states
Track public relations specialists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Arizona numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a public relations specialist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Arizona?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $67K, rent takes 32.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,437/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,300/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for public relations specialists in Arizona?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new public relations specialists typically earn — is $45K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,705/month. At HUD’s $1,437/month FMR, rent would take 53% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is public relations specialist a high-paying job in Arizona?
Local pay runs 11% below the national median — $67K here vs. $75K nationally.
How does Arizona compare to the national average for public relations specialists?
Arizona pays $67K median vs. the U.S. average of $75K — that’s -11%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 96.41), the purchasing-power equivalent is $69K — below the national median.
How much do public relations specialists make in Arizona?
The median is $66,710 a year, that works out to about $32 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $45,080, and experienced public relations specialists can clear $111,220. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $67K enough to live in Arizona?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,471/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,437/month, which eats 32.1% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a public relations specialists salary go in Arizona?
Arizona has a Regional Price Parity of 96.41 (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 specialists salary is worth about $69,194 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do public relations specialists 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.