Public relations specialists
Salary, job outlook, AI risk & career information
Public relations specialists in the United States earn a median salary of $74,750 per year — about $36 per hour, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Roughly 316K people work in this occupation nationwide, with projected employment growth of +5%.
AI & Automation Risk
The core tasks of this occupation—writing press releases, drafting speeches, creating social media content, and monitoring public sentiment—are digital-first and align perfectly with the capabilities of Large Language Models. While high-level strategy and real-time interpersonal crisis management provide some protection, the vast majority of the daily work product can be generated or significantly optimized by AI, leading to high exposure and potential workforce consolidation.
Salary by City — What You Actually Take Home
Real purchasing power = salary adjusted for cost of living. Higher = more money in your pocket.
| City | Local Salary | Cost of Living | Real Purchasing Power |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CABEST VALUE | $117,620 | Above avg (110.4) | $106,518 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | $103,030 | Average (100.1) | $102,949 |
| Lexington Park, MD | $99,960 | Average (100.8) | $99,206 |
| Bloomington, IL | $91,630 | Below avg (93.5) | $97,961 |
| El Centro, CA | $93,100 | Below avg (95.2) | $97,821 |
| Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR | $85,650 | Below avg (91.4) | $93,757 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $101,680 | Above avg (108.9) | $93,384 |
| Rapid City, SD | $81,330 | Below avg (89.2) | $91,218 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $102,520 | Above avg (115.6) | $88,675 |
| New Haven, CT | $91,530 | Above avg (104.6) | $87,539 |
| Napa, CA | $98,190 | Above avg (112.6) | $87,238 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $96,000 | Above avg (111.1) | $86,383 |
| Lawton, OK | $73,920 | Below avg (85.9) | $86,012 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $87,830 | Average (102.7) | $85,483 |
| Jackson, MI | $77,860 | Below avg (91.8) | $84,834 |