Public Relations Specialists Salary in Wilmington, NC
The median pay for a public relations specialists in Wilmington, NC is $52,700/year ($25.34/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $27K at the entry level to $90K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 96.42), that's roughly $54,657 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,426/month — about 40.4% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $53K get you in Wilmington?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Wilmington’s Regional Price Parity (96.42). 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
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Wilmington, NC
Entry-level public relations specialists (10th percentile) start around $27K. Mid-career wages sit at $53K. Top earners bring in $90K or more, a $62K spread from bottom to top.
Public Relations Specialists pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $98K | +40% | 18,110 |
| Washington | $86K | +23% | 6,650 |
| Connecticut | $84K | +20% | 1,990 |
| California | $81K | +17% | 31,070 |
| New York | $79K | +13% | 25,780 |
| Virginia | $78K | +11% | 9,580 |
| Utah | $76K | +8% | 2,620 |
| New Jersey | $76K | +8% | 5,820 |
| Delaware | $76K | +8% | 860 |
| Massachusetts | $75K | +8% | 8,080 |
| Georgia | $73K | +4% | 6,130 |
| Rhode Island | $73K | +4% | 1,370 |
| Maryland | $73K | +4% | 4,760 |
| New Hampshire | $71K | +1% | 1,200 |
| Wyoming | $70K | -0% | 330 |
| Alaska | $69K | -1% | 730 |
| North Dakota | $67K | -4% | 590 |
| New Mexico | $66K | -6% | 1,180 |
| Nevada | $65K | -6% | 1,090 |
| South Dakota | $65K | -7% | 240 |
| Arizona | $65K | -7% | 5,960 |
| Oregon | $65K | -7% | 4,750 |
| Arkansas | $65K | -8% | 1,060 |
| Wisconsin | $64K | -8% | 4,530 |
| Minnesota | $64K | -8% | 6,970 |
| Illinois | $64K | -9% | 6,360 |
| Hawaii | $64K | -9% | 1,570 |
| North Carolina | $63K | -9% | 9,290 |
| Ohio | $63K | -10% | 6,580 |
| Missouri | $62K | -11% | 5,790 |
| Kansas | $62K | -11% | 2,430 |
| Alabama | $61K | -12% | 2,240 |
| Louisiana | $61K | -12% | 1,360 |
| Indiana | $61K | -12% | 4,080 |
| Texas | $61K | -12% | 25,270 |
| Michigan | $61K | -12% | 8,610 |
| South Carolina | $61K | -13% | 2,820 |
| Florida | $60K | -14% | 18,500 |
| Oklahoma | $60K | -14% | 2,230 |
| Iowa | $59K | -15% | 2,980 |
| Pennsylvania | $59K | -15% | 9,260 |
| Montana | $59K | -16% | 1,450 |
| Kentucky | $58K | -17% | 2,260 |
| Maine | $58K | -17% | 1,200 |
| Idaho | $58K | -17% | 1,120 |
| Vermont | $57K | -19% | 1,110 |
| Nebraska | $56K | -19% | 1,570 |
| Tennessee | $56K | -19% | 3,000 |
| Mississippi | $55K | -21% | 880 |
| West Virginia | $52K | -25% | 350 |
Showing 1–10 of 50 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track public relations specialists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Wilmington numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do public relations specialists make in Wilmington, NC?
The median is $52,700 a year, that works out to about $25 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $27,440, and experienced public relations specialists can clear $89,610. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $53K enough to live in Wilmington?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,501/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,426/month, which eats 40.7% 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 Wilmington?
Wilmington has a Regional Price Parity of 96.42 (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 $54,657 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.