Public Relations Specialist salary in Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA
Public Relations Specialists in the Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA metro area earn a median of $70,510 a year ($33.90 an hour), based on BLS data for 920 workers.
Pay ranges from $40,090 for the lowest-paid 10% to $119,580 for the top 10%. That is 6% lower than the national median of $74,750. Pay here is 23% higher than the Pennsylvania statewide median of $57,460. There are 2.7 public relations specialists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.5× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $76,810, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for public relations specialists in Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $40,090 | $19.27 |
| 25th percentile | $52,040 | $25.02 |
| Median | $70,510 | $33.90 |
| 75th percentile | $90,720 | $43.61 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $119,580 | $57.49 |
| Average (mean) | $76,810 | $36.93 |
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 | $5,875.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,937.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,711.92 |
| Weekly | $1,355.96 |
| Hourly | $33.90 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $70,510 salary, see how much house you can afford in Pennsylvania 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $64,550 | 5,220 |
| State College, PA | $63,580 | 160 |
| Lebanon, PA | $62,720 | 60 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $55,910 | 1,970 |
| Williamsport, PA | $55,660 | 70 |
| York-Hanover, PA | $55,660 | 220 |
| Altoona, PA | $54,860 | 50 |
| Erie, PA | $53,060 | 180 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $52,500 | 600 |
| Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA | $51,730 | 290 |
| Lancaster, PA | $51,230 | 380 |
| Reading, PA | $51,180 | 240 |
| Johnstown, PA | $49,350 | 70 |
| Gettysburg, PA | $49,240 | 50 |
| Chambersburg, PA | $49,020 | 90 |
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 Pennsylvania statewide figures.
Related jobs in Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Editor | $62,930 | $30.26 |
| Media and Communication Workers, All Other | $70,000 | $33.66 |
| Interpreters and Translators | $54,390 | $26.15 |
| Writers and Authors | $77,740 | $37.37 |
| Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys | $41,690 | $20.04 |
| Technical Writer | $80,610 | $38.76 |
| Court Reporters and Simultaneous Captioners | $63,970 | $30.75 |
| Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers | $39,930 | $19.20 |
| Coaches and Scouts | $40,570 | — |
| Graphic Designer | $58,150 | $27.96 |
| Producers and Directors | $73,280 | $35.23 |
| Audio and Video Technicians | $57,970 | $27.87 |
| Floral Designer | $35,080 | $16.86 |
| Interior Designer | $65,140 | $31.32 |
More: Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations · all salaries in Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA
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 Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA?
The median salary for public relations specialists in the Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA metro area is $70,510 a year, or $33.90 an hour. Pay ranges from $40,090 for the lowest-paid 10% to $119,580 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid public relations specialists make in Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA?
The top 10% of public relations specialists in the Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA metro area earn at least $119,580 a year. The top 25% earn $90,720 or more.
What is the starting pay for public relations specialists in Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $40,090 a year, and a quarter of public relations specialists earn $52,040 or less.
How many public relations specialists work in Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA?
About 920 public relations specialists are employed in the Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA metro area, not counting the self-employed.