California Median
$85,030
per year
Hourly Rate
$40.88
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
+14% vs US median
US median $74,750
State Rank
#3 of 51
32,710 employed here
How much does a Public Relations Specialist make in California?
Public Relations Specialists in California take home a median of $85,030 annually — roughly $40.88 an hour — which runs 14% above the national median of $74,750.
Within California, entry-level pay starts around $49,550 while the top 10% make $160,520 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $64,460 and $121,180 a year.
Public Relations Specialist salary range in California
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $49,550 | $23.82 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $64,460 | $30.99 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $85,030 | $40.88 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $121,180 | $58.26 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $160,520 | $77.17 |
|
How California compares
California ranks 3rd out of 51 states and territories for Public Relations Specialist pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Public Relations Specialist salary in other states
District of Columbia $102,740Washington $87,470Connecticut $84,990New York $81,250Colorado $80,680Virginia $80,380New Jersey $80,130Massachusetts $79,660Maryland $79,560Rhode Island $77,540Illinois $76,380Delaware $76,120Oregon $74,900Nevada $73,840New Hampshire $73,280Georgia $73,200North Dakota $70,280Alaska $70,050New Mexico $68,700Minnesota $68,620Wyoming $67,490Wisconsin $67,240North Carolina $67,230Arizona $66,710Vermont $66,060Michigan $65,300Texas $65,160Arkansas $65,000Oklahoma $64,920Indiana $64,900Kansas $64,860Ohio $64,840South Dakota $64,520Hawaii $63,880Montana $63,780Florida $63,660Iowa $62,970South Carolina $62,730Utah $62,670Maine $62,450Nebraska $61,780Alabama $61,710Missouri $61,130Idaho $61,110Tennessee $60,900Louisiana $60,470Kentucky $60,150Mississippi $59,810Pennsylvania $57,460West Virginia $56,730
Working as a Public Relations Specialist in California
Nationally, about 283,000 people work as Public Relations Specialists in the United States. A bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement.
Considering a move? Compare California pay ($85,030) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Public Relations Specialist make in California?
The median Public Relations Specialist salary in California is $85,030 per year, or about $40.88 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $49,550 at the entry level to $160,520 for the top 10% of earners.
How does California pay compare to the national average?
California pays Public Relations Specialists about 14% more than the national median of $74,750. California ranks 3rd out of 51 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is California a good state for Public Relations Specialists?
Yes on pay — California pays above the national median for this occupation, at $85,030 a year. About 32,710 Public Relations Specialists are employed in California. Weigh that against local housing and living costs before moving.
What are the highest-paying jobs in California?
The highest-paying occupations in California include Ophthalmologist, Except Pediatric ($400,150), Neurologist ($357,080), Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ($353,900), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Public Relations Specialist salary report
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.