Public Relations Specialist salary in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Public Relations Specialists in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median of $77,050 a year ($37.04 an hour), based on BLS data for 4,920 workers.
Pay ranges from $49,460 for the lowest-paid 10% to $150,890 for the top 10%. That is 3% higher than the national median of $74,750. Pay here is 1% higher than the Illinois statewide median of $76,380. There are 1.1 public relations specialists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.60). The average (mean) salary is $88,860, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for public relations specialists in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $49,460 | $23.78 |
| 25th percentile | $60,610 | $29.14 |
| Median | $77,050 | $37.04 |
| 75th percentile | $107,110 | $51.49 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $150,890 | $72.55 |
| Average (mean) | $88,860 | $42.72 |
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 | $6,420.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,210.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,963.46 |
| Weekly | $1,481.73 |
| Hourly | $37.04 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $77,050 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 Specialist salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Bloomington, IL | $91,630 | 110 |
| Peoria, IL | $76,150 | 90 |
| Springfield, IL | $71,110 | 110 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | $70,410 | 310 |
| Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | $67,380 | 250 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $67,130 | 200 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $66,450 | 1,740 |
| Elkhart-Goshen, IN | $65,580 | 80 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $65,170 | 1,990 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $64,040 | 1,470 |
| Terre Haute, IN | $63,320 | 60 |
| Evansville, IN | $63,170 | 120 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $62,880 | 220 |
| Columbus, IN | $62,770 | 30 |
| Rockford, IL | $62,500 | 70 |
| Bloomington, IN | $61,870 | 90 |
| South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $61,830 | 140 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $61,640 | 820 |
| Decatur, IL | $59,840 | 30 |
| Muncie, IN | $57,340 | 40 |
| Michigan City-La Porte, IN | $54,450 | 30 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $54,210 | 30 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $50,500 | 50 |
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 Illinois statewide figures.
Related jobs in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Editor | $80,380 | $38.64 |
| Writers and Authors | $75,940 | $36.51 |
| Interpreters and Translators | $59,660 | $28.68 |
| Technical Writer | $89,960 | $43.25 |
| News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists | $70,350 | $33.82 |
| Court Reporters and Simultaneous Captioners | $76,790 | $36.92 |
| Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys | $49,470 | $23.78 |
| Media and Communication Workers, All Other | $89,620 | $43.09 |
| Coaches and Scouts | $50,350 | — |
| Graphic Designer | $66,490 | $31.97 |
| Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers | $40,250 | $19.35 |
| Producers and Directors | $85,040 | $40.89 |
| Art Director | $104,570 | $50.28 |
| Audio and Video Technicians | $63,780 | $30.66 |
More: Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media 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 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 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The median salary for public relations specialists in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $77,050 a year, or $37.04 an hour. Pay ranges from $49,460 for the lowest-paid 10% to $150,890 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid public relations specialists make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The top 10% of public relations specialists in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn at least $150,890 a year. The top 25% earn $107,110 or more.
What is the starting pay for public relations specialists in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $49,460 a year, and a quarter of public relations specialists earn $60,610 or less.
How many public relations specialists work in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
About 4,920 public relations specialists are employed in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, not counting the self-employed.