Public Relations Specialists Salary
The median pay for a public relations specialists in West Virginia is $56,730/year ($27.27/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $40K at the entry level to $103K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.03), which stretches that salary to about $63,720 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,008/month, or 27% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across West Virginia. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $57K get you in West Virginia?
About public relations specialists
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What this looks like in West Virginia
Pay for public relations specialists in West Virginia runs about 24% below the U.S. median of $75K. Rent runs $1,008/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 26.5% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.03 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% 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, West Virginia
Entry-level public relations specialists (10th percentile) start around $40K. Mid-career wages sit at $57K. Top earners bring in $103K or more, a $64K spread from bottom to top.
Public Relations Specialists salary by metro in West Virginia
4 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston | $55K | -3% | 90 |
| Morgantown | $55K | -4% | 60 |
| Huntington-Ashland | $52K | -8% | 80 |
| Weirton-Steubenville | $45K | -20% | 40 |
Compare to other states
Track public relations specialists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when West Virginia numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a public relations specialist afford a 2BR apartment alone in West Virginia?
Yes — at the median salary of $57K, rent takes 26.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,008/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for public relations specialists in West Virginia?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new public relations specialists typically earn — is $40K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,383/month. At HUD’s $1,008/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 West Virginia?
Local pay runs 24% below the national median — $57K here vs. $75K nationally. Cost of living is 11% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does West Virginia compare to the national average for public relations specialists?
West Virginia pays $57K median vs. the U.S. average of $75K — that’s -24%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.03), the purchasing-power equivalent is $64K — below the national median.
How much do public relations specialists make in West Virginia?
The median is $56,730 a year, that works out to about $27 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $39,720, and experienced public relations specialists can clear $103,380. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $57K enough to live in West Virginia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,799/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,008/month, which eats 26.5% 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 West Virginia?
West Virginia has a Regional Price Parity of 89.03 (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 $63,720 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.