Public Relations Specialists · Virginia

Public Relations Specialists Salary in Virginia

Public Relations Specialists in Virginia earn a median annual wage of $80,380 —7.5% above the national median of $74,750. That ranks VA #7 of 51 covered states and territories for this occupation.

Median annual
$80,380
Median hourly
$38.65
Entry level (P10)
$46,840
10th percentile
Top 10% (P90)
$162,050
90th percentile
Employment
9,990
2.4 per 1,000 jobs
vs U.S. median
+7.5%
U.S. $74,750

Wage distribution

How earnings are spread across workers in this occupation, from the 10th to the 90th percentile.

10th percentile90th percentile
$46,840
$60,610
$80,380
$111,600
$46,840$80,380$162,050
Annual wage distribution. Highlighted segment contains the median of $80,380.

Employment is 1.33× as concentrated as the national average, making Virginia a strong market for this occupation.

Highest-paying states for public relations specialists

All 51 states ranked by median annual wage. Virginia is highlighted.

#StateMedian annual Median hourlyEmploymentLocation quotient
1District of Columbia$102,740$49.4016,72013.07
2Washington$87,470$42.056,4300.99
3California$85,030$40.8832,7100.99
4Connecticut$84,990$40.861,9100.62
5New York$81,250$39.0628,2501.60
6Colorado$80,680$38.797,4101.41
7Virginia$80,380$38.659,9901.33
8New Jersey$80,130$38.524,9800.64
9Massachusetts$79,660$38.306,7601.02
10Maryland$79,560$38.254,1900.83

Related occupations in Virginia

Occupations in the same job family, compared within Virginia.

OccupationVirginia medianU.S. median
Coaches and Scouts$46,290$47,320
Graphic Designers$72,310$62,960
Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers$37,750$39,390
Producers and Directors$65,900$90,360
Editors$80,590$77,920
Interior Designers$62,560$67,190

Frequently asked questions

How much do public relations specialists make in Virginia?

The median annual wage for public relations specialists in Virginia is $80,380, or $38.65 per hour. That is 7.5% above the national median of $74,750.

What is the entry-level public relations specialists salary in Virginia?

Workers at the 10th percentile earn $46,840 per year ($22.52/hour). The 25th percentile is $60,610.

How many people work as public relations specialists in Virginia?

About 9,990 people work in this occupation in Virginia, or 2.4 per 1,000 jobs statewide.

Is Virginia a good state for public relations specialists?

Virginia ranks #7 of 51 states by median wage for this occupation. Employment is 1.33x as concentrated as the national average, making Virginia a strong market for this occupation.

Which state pays public relations specialists the most?

District of Columbia has the highest median wage at $102,740 per year, followed by Washington ($87,470) and California ($85,030).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, cross-industry estimates. Retrieved 2026-10-26. Figures are rounded by BLS to the nearest dollar (annual) and cent (hourly). Percentile wages describe the distribution of workers, not the pay range for a single job posting. bls.gov/oes