Ever wondered how much PR managers actually make in 2025?
It’s a question that matters if you’re thinking about getting into the field, asking for a raise, or just curious about what PR pros earn for managing brand reputations.
Turns out, PR manager salaries are all over the map – ranging from about $70,000 to over $140,000 annually depending on where you work, how much experience you have, and what industry you’re in.
Let me break this down for you with some real numbers (and zero sugar-coating) so you can figure out if PR management is worth your time and talent.
What PR Managers Actually Earn in 2025
Let’s start with the national picture before we get into all the factors that might make your paycheck fatter or thinner.
According to ZipRecruiter, the average PR Manager in America is making about $83,626 per year (that’s around $40.20 hourly). Most salaries fall between $65,000 (25th percentile) and $97,500 (75th percentile), with top earners pulling in around $122,500 annually.
PayScale’s data backs this up with a similar average of $79,642 per year.
But here’s where it gets interesting.
Salary.com shows a much higher average of $128,675 annually, with most pros earning between $106,511 and $158,122.
Why the big difference? Salary.com is probably including more senior positions and big-market roles in their calculations.
Location, Location, Location
Where you work matters. A lot.
California PR managers average around $82,531 per year ($39.68/hour), but in Los Angeles specifically, Salary.com reports average salaries of about $142,994 per year. The sunshine tax apparently comes with some compensation!
Meanwhile, Louisiana PR managers are pulling in significantly less with an annual average of around $71,510 ($34.38/hour).
This isn’t shocking – higher cost of living areas typically pay more, and regions with concentrated media industries (like LA, NYC) have higher demand for PR talent.
Experience Pays (Literally)
Your years in the game matter almost as much as location:
- Newbies (less than 1 year): $49,000-$54,000
- Early career (1-4 years): $67,000-$70,000
- Mid-level and senior managers (5+ years): $100,000+ (sometimes way more)
This progression shows why sticking with PR can be worth it – experience is valued and rewarded in this field.
Breaking Down the Paycheck
If we use that national average of $83,626 yearly, here’s what you’re looking at:
- Hourly: $40.20
- Weekly: $1,608
- Monthly: $6,968
Not bad compared to the national average salary across all occupations of around $58,260.
What Makes Some PR Managers Earn More?
Four main factors determine where you’ll land on the salary spectrum:
Industry matters
Tech, entertainment, and large corporations typically pay more than nonprofits or government PR roles.Location is crucial
Metropolitan areas and high cost-of-living states like California, New York, and D.C. offer significantly better compensation.Experience and education
Advanced degrees, specialized certifications, and years of crisis management experience can boost your market value. According to PRSA research, managers who oversee larger teams or handle multiple high-profile accounts earn substantially more.Company size
Larger organizations generally have bigger PR budgets and better compensation packages than startups or small businesses.
How PR Manager Pay Compares to Related Roles
For context, Public Relations Specialists (the folks PR managers often supervise) earn a median of $69,780 annually.
That manager title is worth roughly a $10,000-$60,000 premium, depending on your specific situation.
Future Outlook for PR Manager Salaries
The good news? PR jobs are expected to grow faster than average – about 6% from 2023 to 2033.
In a world where reputation management is increasingly complex, companies need skilled PR pros more than ever. Social media crises, stakeholder expectations, and 24/7 news cycles have made effective PR leadership essential, not optional.
The Bottom Line
PR management can be a lucrative career path if you’re in the right location, industry, and organization. With national averages centered around $80,000-$130,000 and top earners making significantly more, it rewards those who develop specialized expertise and leadership skills.
Is it worth it? That depends on whether you enjoy the fast-paced, sometimes stressful world of reputation management. The career satisfaction ratings for PR managers suggest most find the compensation fair for the challenges they face.
Would I recommend it as a career path? If you’re good with people, enjoy strategic communication, and can handle pressure – the salary potential definitely makes it worth considering. Just don’t expect to hit those six-figure salaries right out of college. Like most good things, it takes time.
