Public Relations Specialists Salary
The median pay for a public relations specialists in Kentucky is $60,150/year ($28.92/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $37K at the entry level to $104K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 90.23), which stretches that salary to about $66,663 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,110/month, or 28.1% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Kentucky. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $60K get you in Kentucky?
About public relations specialists
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What this looks like in Kentucky
Pay for public relations specialists in Kentucky runs about 20% below the U.S. median of $75K. Rent runs $1,110/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 27.8% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 90.23 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Kentucky
Entry-level public relations specialists (10th percentile) start around $37K. Mid-career wages sit at $60K. Top earners bring in $104K or more, a $66K spread from bottom to top.
Public Relations Specialists salary by metro in Kentucky
6 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Owensboro | $69K | +15% | 40 |
| Elizabethtown | $67K | +12% | 90 |
| Lexington-Fayette | $62K | +4% | 520 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County | $62K | +2% | 820 |
| Bowling Green | $53K | -13% | 100 |
| Paducah | $51K | -16% | 50 |
Compare to other states
Track public relations specialists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Kentucky numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a public relations specialist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Kentucky?
Yes — at the median salary of $60K, rent takes 27.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,110/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for public relations specialists in Kentucky?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new public relations specialists typically earn — is $37K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,231/month. At HUD’s $1,110/month FMR, rent would take 50% 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 Kentucky?
Local pay runs 20% below the national median — $60K here vs. $75K nationally. Cost of living is 10% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Kentucky compare to the national average for public relations specialists?
Kentucky pays $60K median vs. the U.S. average of $75K — that’s -20%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 90.23), the purchasing-power equivalent is $67K — below the national median.
How much do public relations specialists make in Kentucky?
The median is $60,150 a year, that works out to about $29 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $37,190, and experienced public relations specialists can clear $103,530. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $60K enough to live in Kentucky?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,997/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,110/month, which eats 27.8% 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 Kentucky?
Kentucky has a Regional Price Parity of 90.23 (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 $66,663 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.