Public Relations Specialist salary in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
Public Relations Specialists in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area earn a median of $101,680 a year ($48.88 an hour), based on BLS data for 22,810 workers.
Pay ranges from $61,520 for the lowest-paid 10% to $195,990 for the top 10%. That is 36% higher than the national median of $74,750. Pay here is 1% lower than the District of Columbia statewide median of $102,740. There are 7.3 public relations specialists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 4.0× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $116,930, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for public relations specialists in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $61,520 | $29.58 |
| 25th percentile | $77,120 | $37.08 |
| Median | $101,680 | $48.88 |
| 75th percentile | $144,170 | $69.31 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $195,990 | $94.23 |
| Average (mean) | $116,930 | $56.21 |
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 | $8,473.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,236.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,910.77 |
| Weekly | $1,955.38 |
| Hourly | $48.88 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $101,680 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 Specialist salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Lexington Park, MD | $99,960 | 60 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $77,570 | 1,880 |
| Charlottesville, VA | $76,580 | 380 |
| Richmond, VA | $75,730 | 1,760 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $73,890 | 1,140 |
| Salisbury, MD | $71,490 | 40 |
| Winchester, VA-WV | $67,300 | 80 |
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | $65,170 | 190 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $64,550 | 5,220 |
| Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | $62,220 | 60 |
| Roanoke, VA | $62,130 | 250 |
| Lynchburg, VA | $60,990 | 170 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $59,960 | 90 |
| Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA | $59,900 | 60 |
| Harrisonburg, VA | $59,580 | 100 |
| Charleston, WV | $54,790 | 90 |
| Morgantown, WV | $54,710 | 60 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $52,000 | 80 |
| Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH | $45,140 | 40 |
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 District of Columbia statewide figures.
Related jobs in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Editor | $84,800 | $40.77 |
| News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists | $101,020 | $48.57 |
| Technical Writer | $99,910 | $48.03 |
| Writers and Authors | $108,460 | $52.14 |
| Interpreters and Translators | $94,510 | $45.44 |
| Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys | $75,710 | $36.40 |
| Media and Communication Workers, All Other | $59,070 | $28.40 |
| Court Reporters and Simultaneous Captioners | $51,880 | $24.94 |
| Graphic Designer | $85,420 | $41.07 |
| Coaches and Scouts | $50,680 | — |
| Producers and Directors | $100,270 | $48.21 |
| Audio and Video Technicians | $74,380 | $35.76 |
| Interior Designer | $79,590 | $38.27 |
| Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers | $45,320 | $21.79 |
More: Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media 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 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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
The median salary for public relations specialists in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area is $101,680 a year, or $48.88 an hour. Pay ranges from $61,520 for the lowest-paid 10% to $195,990 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid public relations specialists make in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
The top 10% of public relations specialists in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area earn at least $195,990 a year. The top 25% earn $144,170 or more.
What is the starting pay for public relations specialists in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $61,520 a year, and a quarter of public relations specialists earn $77,120 or less.
How many public relations specialists work in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
About 22,810 public relations specialists are employed in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area, not counting the self-employed.