North Carolina Median
$67,230
per year
Hourly Rate
$32.32
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
-10% vs US median
US median $74,750
State Rank
#24 of 51
9,910 employed here
How much does a Public Relations Specialist make in North Carolina?
Public Relations Specialists in North Carolina take home a median of $67,230 annually — roughly $32.32 an hour — which runs 10% below the national median of $74,750.
Within North Carolina, entry-level pay starts around $39,840 while the top 10% make $136,450 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $51,530 and $89,990 a year.
Public Relations Specialist salary range in North Carolina
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $39,840 | $19.15 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $51,530 | $24.77 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $67,230 | $32.32 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $89,990 | $43.26 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $136,450 | $65.60 |
|
How North Carolina compares
North Carolina ranks 24th 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 $77,540Illinois $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 $67,240Arizona $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 North Carolina
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 North Carolina pay ($67,230) 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 North Carolina?
The median Public Relations Specialist salary in North Carolina is $67,230 per year, or about $32.32 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $39,840 at the entry level to $136,450 for the top 10% of earners.
How does North Carolina pay compare to the national average?
North Carolina pays Public Relations Specialists about 10% less than the national median of $74,750. North Carolina ranks 24th out of 51 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is North Carolina a good state for Public Relations Specialists?
Pay runs below the national median here, at $67,230 a year. About 9,910 Public Relations Specialists are employed in North Carolina. A lower cost of living can offset the smaller paycheck, so compare take-home value, not just salary.
What are the highest-paying jobs in North Carolina?
The highest-paying occupations in North Carolina include Surgeon, All Other ($398,410), Dermatologist ($367,350), Emergency Medicine Physician ($339,350), 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.