Public Relations Specialists Salary
The median pay for a public relations specialists in Pennsylvania is $57,460/year ($27.62/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $33K at the entry level to $102K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.97), which stretches that salary to about $60,503 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,351/month, about 35.1% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Pennsylvania. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $57K get you in Pennsylvania?
About public relations specialists
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What this looks like in Pennsylvania
Pay for public relations specialists in Pennsylvania runs about 23% below the U.S. median of $75K. Rent runs $1,351/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 34.9% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.97 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 5% 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, Pennsylvania
Entry-level public relations specialists (10th percentile) start around $33K. Mid-career wages sit at $57K. Top earners bring in $102K or more, a $70K spread from bottom to top.
Public Relations Specialists salary by metro in Pennsylvania
16 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harrisburg-Carlisle | $71K | +23% | 920 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington | $65K | +12% | 5,220 |
| State College | $64K | +11% | 160 |
| Lebanon | $63K | +9% | 60 |
| Pittsburgh | $56K | -3% | 1,970 |
| York-Hanover | $56K | -3% | 220 |
| Williamsport | $56K | -3% | 70 |
| Altoona | $55K | -5% | 50 |
| Erie | $53K | -8% | 180 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton | $53K | -9% | 600 |
| Scranton--Wilkes-Barre | $52K | -10% | 290 |
| Lancaster | $51K | -11% | 380 |
| Reading | $51K | -11% | 240 |
| Johnstown | $49K | -14% | 70 |
| Gettysburg | $49K | -14% | 50 |
| Chambersburg | $49K | -15% | 90 |
Showing 1–10 of 16 metros
Compare to other states
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Pennsylvania numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a public relations specialist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Pennsylvania?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $57K, rent takes 34.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,351/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 Pennsylvania?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new public relations specialists typically earn — is $33K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,969/month. At HUD’s $1,351/month FMR, rent would take 69% 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 Pennsylvania?
Local pay runs 23% below the national median — $57K here vs. $75K nationally. Cost of living is 5% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Pennsylvania compare to the national average for public relations specialists?
Pennsylvania pays $57K median vs. the U.S. average of $75K — that’s -23%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $61K — below the national median.
How much do public relations specialists make in Pennsylvania?
The median is $57,460 a year, that works out to about $28 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $32,810, and experienced public relations specialists can clear $102,330. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $57K enough to live in Pennsylvania?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,870/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,351/month, which eats 34.9% 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 Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania has a Regional Price Parity of 94.97 (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 $60,503 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.