Public Relations Specialist salary in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
Public Relations Specialists in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area earn a median of $75,190 a year ($36.15 an hour), based on BLS data for 2,470 workers.
Pay ranges from $43,920 for the lowest-paid 10% to $149,990 for the top 10%. That is 1% higher than the national median of $74,750. Pay here is 12% higher than the North Carolina statewide median of $67,230. There are 1.8 public relations specialists per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $86,370, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for public relations specialists in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $43,920 | $21.12 |
| 25th percentile | $55,170 | $26.52 |
| Median | $75,190 | $36.15 |
| 75th percentile | $102,200 | $49.13 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $149,990 | $72.11 |
| Average (mean) | $86,370 | $41.52 |
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 | $6,265.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,132.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,891.92 |
| Weekly | $1,445.96 |
| Hourly | $36.15 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $75,190 salary, see how much house you can afford in North Carolina 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Fayetteville, NC | $77,500 | 170 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $76,970 | 1,090 |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $74,660 | 230 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $73,890 | 1,140 |
| Greenville, NC | $68,960 | 130 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $68,790 | 2,330 |
| Spartanburg, SC | $65,870 | 120 |
| Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC | $64,090 | 60 |
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $63,780 | 570 |
| Wilmington, NC | $63,620 | 340 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $63,310 | 470 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $62,580 | 490 |
| Columbia, SC | $61,610 | 810 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $61,580 | 430 |
| Jacksonville, NC | $61,050 | 80 |
| Rocky Mount, NC | $61,030 | 50 |
| Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC | $61,020 | 120 |
| Goldsboro, NC | $60,270 | 40 |
| Burlington, NC | $59,150 | 90 |
| Asheville, NC | $58,970 | 400 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $58,270 | 180 |
| Florence, SC | $49,820 | 100 |
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 North Carolina statewide figures.
Related jobs in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Technical Writer | $82,610 | $39.72 |
| Editor | $77,730 | $37.37 |
| Writers and Authors | $63,720 | $30.64 |
| Interpreters and Translators | $52,640 | $25.31 |
| News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists | $61,360 | $29.50 |
| Media and Communication Workers, All Other | $46,190 | $22.21 |
| Court Reporters and Simultaneous Captioners | $63,840 | $30.69 |
| Coaches and Scouts | $46,440 | — |
| Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers | $39,760 | $19.11 |
| Graphic Designer | $59,810 | $28.75 |
| Producers and Directors | $74,850 | $35.99 |
| Interior Designer | $64,370 | $30.95 |
| Photographer | $36,810 | $17.70 |
| Audio and Video Technicians | $48,490 | $23.31 |
More: Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations · all salaries in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
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 Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC?
The median salary for public relations specialists in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area is $75,190 a year, or $36.15 an hour. Pay ranges from $43,920 for the lowest-paid 10% to $149,990 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid public relations specialists make in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC?
The top 10% of public relations specialists in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area earn at least $149,990 a year. The top 25% earn $102,200 or more.
What is the starting pay for public relations specialists in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $43,920 a year, and a quarter of public relations specialists earn $55,170 or less.
How many public relations specialists work in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC?
About 2,470 public relations specialists are employed in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area, not counting the self-employed.