Public Relations Specialists Salary
The median pay for a public relations specialists in Hawaii is $63,880/year ($30.71/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $42K at the entry level to $104K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 110.17), so that salary is closer to $57,983 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,240/month, about 53.7% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Hawaii. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $64K get you in Hawaii?
About public relations specialists
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Hawaii
Pay for public relations specialists in Hawaii runs about 15% below the U.S. median of $75K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $2,240/month, which is 54.9% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost-of-living overall is 10% above the national average (BEA RPP 110.17), so groceries and services cost more too. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for public relations specialistss.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Hawaii
Entry-level public relations specialists (10th percentile) start around $42K. Mid-career wages sit at $64K. Top earners bring in $104K or more, a $62K spread from bottom to top.
Public Relations Specialists salary by metro in Hawaii
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kahului-Wailuku | $67K | +5% | 200 |
| Urban Honolulu | $64K | -0% | 1,370 |
Compare to other states
Track public relations specialists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Hawaii numbers change.
Related careers in Arts & Media
Frequently asked questions
Can a public relations specialist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Hawaii?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $64K, rent takes 54.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,240/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,200/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 Hawaii?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new public relations specialists typically earn — is $42K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,524/month. At HUD’s $2,240/month FMR, rent would take 89% 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 Hawaii?
Local pay runs 15% below the national median — $64K here vs. $75K nationally.
How does Hawaii compare to the national average for public relations specialists?
Hawaii pays $64K median vs. the U.S. average of $75K — that’s -15%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 110.17), the purchasing-power equivalent is $58K — below the national median.
How much do public relations specialists make in Hawaii?
The median is $63,880 a year, that works out to about $31 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $42,070, and experienced public relations specialists can clear $104,240. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $64K enough to live in Hawaii?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,082/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,240/month, which eats 54.9% 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 Hawaii?
Hawaii has a Regional Price Parity of 110.17 (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 specialists salary is worth about $57,983 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.