Public Relations Manager salary in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
Public Relations Managers in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area earn a median of $195,190 a year ($93.84 an hour), based on BLS data for 9,470 workers.
Pay ranges from $117,350 for the lowest-paid 10% to $340,440 for the top 10%. That is 33% higher than the national median of $146,910. Pay here is 1% lower than the District of Columbia statewide median of $197,600. There are 3.0 public relations managers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 6.3× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $214,670, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for public relations managers in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $117,350 | $56.42 |
| 25th percentile | $141,530 | $68.04 |
| Median | $195,190 | $93.84 |
| 75th percentile | $292,740 | $140.74 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $340,440 | $163.67 |
| Average (mean) | $214,670 | $103.21 |
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 | $16,265.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $8,132.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $7,507.31 |
| Weekly | $3,753.65 |
| Hourly | $93.84 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $195,190 salary, see how much house you can afford in District of Columbia 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Richmond, VA | $160,540 | 380 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $152,990 | 200 |
| Charlottesville, VA | $140,170 | 140 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $138,650 | 770 |
| Roanoke, VA | $134,320 | 40 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $129,280 | 1,310 |
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | $106,880 | 60 |
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 District of Columbia statewide figures.
Related jobs in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Marketing Manager | $181,260 | $87.14 |
| Sales Manager | $175,820 | $84.53 |
| Fundraising Manager | $141,720 | $68.14 |
| Advertising and Promotions Managers | $143,040 | $68.77 |
| General and Operations Managers | $156,460 | $75.22 |
| Managers, All Other | $170,980 | $82.20 |
| Financial Manager | $185,270 | $89.07 |
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | $195,190 | $93.84 |
| Medical and Health Services Managers | $140,670 | $67.63 |
| Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary | $134,490 | — |
| Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers | $92,750 | $44.59 |
| Construction Manager | $129,650 | $62.33 |
| Human Resources Manager | $177,960 | $85.56 |
| Natural Sciences Manager | $169,060 | $81.28 |
More: Management Occupations · all salaries in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
The median salary for public relations managers in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area is $195,190 a year, or $93.84 an hour. Pay ranges from $117,350 for the lowest-paid 10% to $340,440 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid public relations managers make in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
The top 10% of public relations managers in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area earn at least $340,440 a year. The top 25% earn $292,740 or more.
What is the starting pay for public relations managers in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $117,350 a year, and a quarter of public relations managers earn $141,530 or less.
How many public relations managers work in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
About 9,470 public relations managers are employed in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area, not counting the self-employed.