Public Relations Specialists Salary
The median pay for a public relations specialists in Kennewick-Richland, WA is $103,030/year ($49.54/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $60K at the entry level to $160K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 100.08), that's roughly $102,948 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,538/month, or 22.3% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $103K get you in Kennewick-Richland?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Kennewick-Richland’s Regional Price Parity (100.08). 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 Kennewick-Richland
Kennewick-Richland sits well above the national pay line for public relations specialists, local pay runs about 38% higher than the U.S. median of $75K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,538/month, 22.8% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 100.08) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Combined with manageable housing costs, Kennewick-Richland offers a genuinely strong financial position for public relations specialistss at the median.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for public relations specialists in metros near Kennewick-Richland, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue | $96K | $86K |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater | $84K | $81K |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley | $75K | $74K |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard | $83K | $79K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Kennewick-Richland, WA
Entry-level public relations specialists (10th percentile) start around $60K. Mid-career wages sit at $103K. Top earners bring in $160K or more, a $100K 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 Kennewick-Richland numbers change.
Related careers in Arts & Media
Frequently asked questions
Can a public relations specialist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Kennewick-Richland?
Yes — at the median salary of $103K, rent takes 22.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,538/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for public relations specialists in Kennewick-Richland?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new public relations specialists typically earn — is $60K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,622/month. At HUD’s $1,538/month FMR, rent would take 42% 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 Kennewick-Richland?
Local pay is 38% above the national median — $103K here vs. $75K nationally.
How does Kennewick-Richland compare to the national average for public relations specialists?
Kennewick-Richland pays $103K median vs. the U.S. average of $75K — that’s +38%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 100.08), the purchasing-power equivalent is $103K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do public relations specialists make in Kennewick-Richland, WA?
The median is $103,030 a year, that works out to about $50 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $60,360, and experienced public relations specialists can clear $159,900. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $103K enough to live in Kennewick-Richland?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,739/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,538/month, which eats 22.8% 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 Kennewick-Richland?
Kennewick-Richland has a Regional Price Parity of 100.08 (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 $102,948 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.