Illinois Median
$76,380
per year
Hourly Rate
$36.72
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
+2% vs US median
US median $74,750
State Rank
#12 of 51
6,200 employed here
How much does a Public Relations Specialist make in Illinois?
Public Relations Specialists in Illinois take home a median of $76,380 annually — roughly $36.72 an hour — which runs 2% above the national median of $74,750.
Within Illinois, entry-level pay starts around $47,690 while the top 10% make $139,570 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $59,400 and $102,950 a year.
Public Relations Specialist salary range in Illinois
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $47,690 | $22.93 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $59,400 | $28.56 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $76,380 | $36.72 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $102,950 | $49.50 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $139,570 | $67.10 |
|
How Illinois compares
Illinois ranks 12th 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 $87,470California $85,030Connecticut $84,990New York $81,250Colorado $80,680Virginia $80,380New Jersey $80,130Massachusetts $79,660Maryland $79,560Rhode Island $77,540Delaware $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 Illinois
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 Illinois pay ($76,380) 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 Illinois?
The median Public Relations Specialist salary in Illinois is $76,380 per year, or about $36.72 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $47,690 at the entry level to $139,570 for the top 10% of earners.
How does Illinois pay compare to the national average?
Illinois pays Public Relations Specialists about 2% more than the national median of $74,750. Illinois ranks 12th out of 51 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is Illinois a good state for Public Relations Specialists?
Yes on pay — Illinois pays above the national median for this occupation, at $76,380 a year. About 6,200 Public Relations Specialists are employed in Illinois. Weigh that against local housing and living costs before moving.
What are the highest-paying jobs in Illinois?
The highest-paying occupations in Illinois include Cardiologist ($517,850), Surgeon, All Other ($438,010), Dermatologist ($435,750), 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.