Public Relations Specialists pay range in Salem
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $45,380 a year or less, while the top 10% make $124,190 or more. The middle half of public relations specialists in Salem earn between $60,420 and $108,970.
- $45K10th
- $60K25th
- $88KMedian
- $109K75th
- $124K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $85,760 | $7,147 | $41.23 |
| Median | $87,740 | $7,312 | $42.18 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $60,420 | $5,035 | $29.05 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $108,970 | $9,081 | $52.39 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Public Relations Specialists pay in Salem vs. Oregon and the U.S.
Public relations specialists in Salem earn 7% more than the Oregon average ($80,470) and about the same as the U.S. average ($84,120). At the median the gap is +17% against the U.S. median of $74,750.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salem | $85,760 | $87,740 | $45,380 | $124,190 | 450 |
| Oregon | $80,470 | $74,900 | $45,190 | $123,880 | 4,510 |
| United States | $84,120 | $74,750 | $44,110 | $135,150 | 283,380 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Public Relations Specialists salary after taxes in Salem
On the average salary of $85,760, a single filer in Salem takes home about $62,959 a year, or $5,247 a month and $2,422 every two weeks. Taxes take 27% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Portland-area Metro and Multnomah County taxes and the 0.1% statewide transit tax are not included.
Is Salem a good place for public relations specialists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Salem area are 4% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 103.6), so the average $85,760 buys what about $82,741 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Salem ($55,310). A typical home costs $454,689, or 5.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Public Relations Specialists salary in other Oregon cities
Salem ranks 1st of 7 Oregon metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
Highest-paying cities for public relations specialists
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($126,870).
- San Jose, CA$126,870
- Washington, DC$116,930
- San Francisco, CA$114,310
- Lexington Park, MD$107,990
- Kennewick, WA$102,230
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Public Relations Specialists salary in Salem: questions
How much do public relations specialists make an hour in Salem?
$41.23 an hour on average, and $42.18 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level public relations specialists salary in Salem?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $45,380 a year and the 25th percentile is $60,420, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the public relations specialists take-home pay in Salem?
About $62,959 a year ($5,247 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $85,760. Portland-area Metro and Multnomah County taxes and the 0.1% statewide transit tax are not included.
Do public relations specialists earn more in Salem than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as the U.S. average for this job ($84,120).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 27-3031; area Salem, OR (41420). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.7%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Portland-area Metro and Multnomah County taxes and the 0.1% statewide transit tax are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.31, this job is 1.3 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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