Public Relations Manager salary in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Public Relations Managers in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median of $133,210 a year ($64.04 an hour), based on BLS data for 2,190 workers.
Pay ranges from $77,680 for the lowest-paid 10% to $221,440 for the top 10%. That is 9% lower than the national median of $146,910. Pay here is 1% higher than the Illinois statewide median of $131,990. There are 0.48 public relations managers per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $145,570, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for public relations managers in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $77,680 | $37.34 |
| 25th percentile | $100,210 | $48.18 |
| Median | $133,210 | $64.04 |
| 75th percentile | $170,470 | $81.96 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $221,440 | $106.46 |
| Average (mean) | $145,570 | $69.99 |
Half of public relations managers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $11,100.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,550.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $5,123.46 |
| Weekly | $2,561.73 |
| Hourly | $64.04 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $133,210 salary, see how much house you can afford in Illinois at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Public Relations Manager salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $132,600 | 70 |
| Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | $131,280 | 40 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $130,280 | 450 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $129,710 | 340 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | $121,780 | 40 |
| Peoria, IL | $119,550 | 50 |
| Springfield, IL | $119,110 | 50 |
| Bloomington, IL | $115,970 | 40 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $115,000 | 220 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $113,290 | 320 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $108,130 | 90 |
Highest-paying states for public relations managers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $197,600 |
| New York | $180,880 |
| Virginia | $176,340 |
| New Jersey | $174,980 |
| Massachusetts | $171,740 |
| California | $167,980 |
| Maine | $166,940 |
| Colorado | $162,870 |
| Washington | $159,440 |
| Rhode Island | $156,080 |
See Public Relations Manager pay in every state or the Illinois statewide figures.
Related jobs in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Sales Manager | $158,690 | $76.29 |
| Marketing Manager | $165,340 | $79.49 |
| Fundraising Manager | $109,720 | $52.75 |
| Advertising and Promotions Managers | $166,390 | $80.00 |
| General and Operations Managers | $109,390 | $52.59 |
| Financial Manager | $168,810 | $81.16 |
| Managers, All Other | $145,370 | $69.89 |
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | $173,760 | $83.54 |
| Medical and Health Services Managers | $123,090 | $59.18 |
| Construction Manager | $117,280 | $56.39 |
| Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary | $128,780 | — |
| Human Resources Manager | $156,770 | $75.37 |
| Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers | $77,980 | $37.49 |
| Industrial Production Manager | $129,840 | $62.43 |
More: Management Occupations · all salaries in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 11-2032. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a public relations manager make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The median salary for public relations managers in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $133,210 a year, or $64.04 an hour. Pay ranges from $77,680 for the lowest-paid 10% to $221,440 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid public relations managers make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The top 10% of public relations managers in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn at least $221,440 a year. The top 25% earn $170,470 or more.
What is the starting pay for public relations managers in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $77,680 a year, and a quarter of public relations managers earn $100,210 or less.
How many public relations managers work in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
About 2,190 public relations managers are employed in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, not counting the self-employed.