Public Relations Specialist salary in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX
Public Relations Specialists in the Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX metro area earn a median of $69,470 a year ($33.40 an hour), based on BLS data for 4,170 workers.
Pay ranges from $44,320 for the lowest-paid 10% to $113,270 for the top 10%. That is 7% lower than the national median of $74,750. Pay here is 7% higher than the Texas statewide median of $65,160. There are 3.2 public relations specialists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.8× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $75,960, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for public relations specialists in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $44,320 | $21.31 |
| 25th percentile | $53,790 | $25.86 |
| Median | $69,470 | $33.40 |
| 75th percentile | $86,090 | $41.39 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $113,270 | $54.46 |
| Average (mean) | $75,960 | $36.52 |
Half of public relations specialists 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 | $5,789.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,894.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,671.92 |
| Weekly | $1,335.96 |
| Hourly | $33.40 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $69,470 salary, see how much house you can afford in Texas at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Public Relations Specialist salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $69,280 | 7,300 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $68,320 | 5,160 |
| Killeen-Temple, TX | $65,170 | 190 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $64,690 | 1,870 |
| Midland, TX | $64,400 | 130 |
| Sherman-Denison, TX | $61,760 | 70 |
| Odessa, TX | $60,350 | 70 |
| College Station-Bryan, TX | $59,990 | 260 |
| Tyler, TX | $59,500 | 140 |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | $59,450 | 170 |
| Longview, TX | $58,290 | 140 |
| Amarillo, TX | $57,920 | 170 |
| Wichita Falls, TX | $57,910 | 80 |
| El Paso, TX | $57,810 | 420 |
| Abilene, TX | $56,830 | 130 |
| Waco, TX | $56,440 | 290 |
| Victoria, TX | $54,690 | 90 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | $54,570 | 320 |
| Lubbock, TX | $52,740 | 300 |
| Texarkana, TX-AR | $52,570 | 70 |
| Laredo, TX | $51,100 | 120 |
| Brownsville-Harlingen, TX | $49,360 | 170 |
| McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | $48,980 | 440 |
| San Angelo, TX | $48,860 | 70 |
Highest-paying states for public relations specialists
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $102,740 |
| Washington | $87,470 |
| California | $85,030 |
| Connecticut | $84,990 |
| New York | $81,250 |
| Colorado | $80,680 |
| Virginia | $80,380 |
| New Jersey | $80,130 |
| Massachusetts | $79,660 |
| Maryland | $79,560 |
See Public Relations Specialist pay in every state or the Texas statewide figures.
Related jobs in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Editor | $52,600 | $25.29 |
| Technical Writer | $88,360 | $42.48 |
| Interpreters and Translators | $62,900 | $30.24 |
| Writers and Authors | $75,380 | $36.24 |
| News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists | $63,940 | $30.74 |
| Court Reporters and Simultaneous Captioners | $130,730 | $62.85 |
| Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys | $83,680 | $40.23 |
| Media and Communication Workers, All Other | $64,270 | $30.90 |
| Graphic Designer | $65,060 | $31.28 |
| Coaches and Scouts | $37,190 | — |
| Producers and Directors | $78,050 | $37.52 |
| Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers | $38,670 | $18.59 |
| Interior Designer | $78,390 | $37.69 |
| Audio and Video Technicians | $56,210 | $27.03 |
More: Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations · all salaries in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 27-3031. 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 specialist make in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX?
The median salary for public relations specialists in the Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX metro area is $69,470 a year, or $33.40 an hour. Pay ranges from $44,320 for the lowest-paid 10% to $113,270 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid public relations specialists make in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX?
The top 10% of public relations specialists in the Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX metro area earn at least $113,270 a year. The top 25% earn $86,090 or more.
What is the starting pay for public relations specialists in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $44,320 a year, and a quarter of public relations specialists earn $53,790 or less.
How many public relations specialists work in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX?
About 4,170 public relations specialists are employed in the Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX metro area, not counting the self-employed.