Public Relations Specialists Salary
The median pay for a public relations specialists in New Mexico is $68,700/year ($33.03/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $43K at the entry level to $123K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.06), which stretches that salary to about $73,823 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,119/month, or 24.8% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across New Mexico. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $69K get you in New Mexico?
About public relations specialists
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What this looks like in New Mexico
Public relations specialists pay in New Mexico tracks closely to the national median, $69K locally vs. $75K nationwide, a 8% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,119/month, 24.7% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.06 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% 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, New Mexico
Entry-level public relations specialists (10th percentile) start around $43K. Mid-career wages sit at $69K. Top earners bring in $123K or more, a $80K spread from bottom to top.
Public Relations Specialists salary by metro in New Mexico
3 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albuquerque | $74K | +7% | 560 |
| Santa Fe | $69K | +1% | 130 |
| Las Cruces | $54K | -22% | 90 |
Compare to other states
Track public relations specialists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when New Mexico numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a public relations specialist afford a 2BR apartment alone in New Mexico?
Yes — at the median salary of $69K, rent takes 24.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,119/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for public relations specialists in New Mexico?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new public relations specialists typically earn — is $43K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,585/month. At HUD’s $1,119/month FMR, rent would take 43% 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 New Mexico?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $69K locally vs. $75K nationally, a 8% difference.
How does New Mexico compare to the national average for public relations specialists?
New Mexico pays $69K median vs. the U.S. average of $75K — that’s -8%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.06), the purchasing-power equivalent is $74K — below the national median.
How much do public relations specialists make in New Mexico?
The median is $68,700 a year, that works out to about $33 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $43,080, and experienced public relations specialists can clear $123,110. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $69K enough to live in New Mexico?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,529/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,119/month, which eats 24.7% 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 New Mexico?
New Mexico has a Regional Price Parity of 93.06 (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 $73,823 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.