Public Relations Specialists Salary
The median pay for a public relations specialists in Hattiesburg, MS is $65,120/year ($31.31/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $37K at the entry level to $83K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 87.63), which stretches that salary to about $74,312 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,047/month, or 24.5% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $65K get you in Hattiesburg?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Hattiesburg’s Regional Price Parity (87.63). 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 specialists
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Hattiesburg
Pay for public relations specialists in Hattiesburg runs about 13% below the U.S. median of $75K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,047/month, 24.6% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 87.63 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 12% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, Hattiesburg can be a reasonable trade-off for public relations specialistss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for public relations specialists in metros near Hattiesburg, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Jackson | $60K | $68K |
| Gulfport-Biloxi | $65K | $72K |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin | $63K | $65K |
| Birmingham | $65K | $71K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Hattiesburg, MS
Entry-level public relations specialists (10th percentile) start around $37K. Mid-career wages sit at $65K. Top earners bring in $83K or more, a $46K spread from bottom to top.
Public Relations Specialists pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Public Relations Specialists salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $103K | +37% | 16,720 |
| Washington | $87K | +17% | 6,430 |
| California | $85K | +14% | 32,710 |
| Connecticut | $85K | +14% | 1,910 |
| New York | $81K | +9% | 28,250 |
| Colorado | $81K | +8% | 7,410 |
| Virginia | $80K | +8% | 9,990 |
| New Jersey | $80K | +7% | 4,980 |
| Massachusetts | $80K | +7% | 6,760 |
| Maryland | $80K | +6% | 4,190 |
| Rhode Island | $78K | +4% | 1,140 |
| Illinois | $76K | +2% | 6,200 |
| Delaware | $76K | +2% | 930 |
| Oregon | $75K | +0% | 4,510 |
| Nevada | $74K | -1% | 1,600 |
| New Hampshire | $73K | -2% | 1,140 |
| Georgia | $73K | -2% | 6,860 |
| North Dakota | $70K | -6% | 640 |
| Alaska | $70K | -6% | 640 |
| New Mexico | $69K | -8% | 1,130 |
| Minnesota | $69K | -8% | 8,260 |
| Wyoming | $67K | -10% | 480 |
| Wisconsin | $67K | -10% | 4,410 |
| North Carolina | $67K | -10% | 9,910 |
| Arizona | $67K | -11% | 5,350 |
| Vermont | $66K | -12% | 1,260 |
| Michigan | $65K | -13% | 7,510 |
| Texas | $65K | -13% | 25,220 |
| Arkansas | $65K | -13% | 980 |
| Oklahoma | $65K | -13% | 2,280 |
| Indiana | $65K | -13% | 3,750 |
| Kansas | $65K | -13% | 2,340 |
| Ohio | $65K | -13% | 6,670 |
| South Dakota | $65K | -14% | 210 |
| Hawaii | $64K | -15% | 1,800 |
| Montana | $64K | -15% | 1,760 |
| Florida | $64K | -15% | 17,820 |
| Iowa | $63K | -16% | 2,890 |
| South Carolina | $63K | -16% | 2,950 |
| Utah | $63K | -16% | 1,800 |
| Maine | $62K | -16% | 1,400 |
| Nebraska | $62K | -17% | 1,590 |
| Alabama | $62K | -17% | 2,410 |
| Missouri | $61K | -18% | 4,820 |
| Idaho | $61K | -18% | 1,220 |
| Tennessee | $61K | -19% | 3,380 |
| Louisiana | $60K | -19% | 1,710 |
| Kentucky | $60K | -20% | 2,580 |
| Mississippi | $60K | -20% | 950 |
| Pennsylvania | $57K | -23% | 11,180 |
| West Virginia | $57K | -24% | 350 |
Showing 1–10 of 51 (all 50 states + DC)
Track public relations specialists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Hattiesburg numbers change.
Related careers in Arts & Media
Frequently asked questions
Can a public relations specialist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Hattiesburg?
Yes — at the median salary of $65K, rent takes 24.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,047/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for public relations specialists in Hattiesburg?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new public relations specialists typically earn — is $37K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,215/month. At HUD’s $1,047/month FMR, rent would take 47% 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 Hattiesburg?
Local pay runs 13% below the national median — $65K here vs. $75K nationally. Cost of living is 12% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Hattiesburg compare to the national average for public relations specialists?
Hattiesburg pays $65K median vs. the U.S. average of $75K — that’s -13%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 87.63), the purchasing-power equivalent is $74K — below the national median.
How much do public relations specialists make in Hattiesburg, MS?
The median is $65,120 a year, that works out to about $31 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $36,910, and experienced public relations specialists can clear $83,350. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $65K enough to live in Hattiesburg?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,262/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,047/month, which eats 24.6% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a public relations specialists salary go in Hattiesburg?
Hattiesburg has a Regional Price Parity of 87.63 (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 $74,312 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.