Public Relations Specialists pay range in Olympia
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $62,880 a year or less, while the top 10% make $110,060 or more. The middle half of public relations specialists in Olympia earn between $72,910 and $97,400.
- $63K10th
- $73K25th
- $84KMedian
- $97K75th
- $110K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $87,170 | $7,264 | $41.91 |
| Median | $84,470 | $7,039 | $40.61 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $72,910 | $6,076 | $35.05 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $97,400 | $8,117 | $46.83 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Public Relations Specialists pay in Olympia vs. Washington and the U.S.
Public relations specialists in Olympia earn 8% less than the Washington average ($95,030) and 4% more than the U.S. average ($84,120). At the median the gap is +13% against the U.S. median of $74,750.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Olympia | $87,170 | $84,470 | $62,880 | $110,060 | 630 |
| Washington | $95,030 | $87,470 | $60,760 | $136,020 | 6,430 |
| 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 Olympia
On the average salary of $87,170, a single filer in Olympia takes home about $70,154 a year, or $5,846 a month and $2,698 every two weeks. Taxes take 20% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax. Washington's WA Cares (0.58%) and Paid Family and Medical Leave payroll premiums are not included.
Is Olympia a good place for public relations specialists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Olympia area are 4% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 103.7), so the average $87,170 buys what about $84,084 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.4 times the median wage of all jobs in Olympia ($61,960). A typical home costs $533,918, or 6.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Public Relations Specialists salary in other Washington cities
Olympia ranks 5th of 10 Washington metro areas for this job; Kennewick pays the most ($102,230).
- Kennewick$102,230
- Seattle$100,940
- Bremerton$89,480
- Mount Vernon$87,260
- Olympia$87,170
- Spokane$82,630
- Wenatchee$81,110
- Walla Walla$81,010
- Bellingham$80,130
- Yakima$78,840
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 Olympia: questions
How much do public relations specialists make an hour in Olympia?
$41.91 an hour on average, and $40.61 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level public relations specialists salary in Olympia?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $62,880 a year and the 25th percentile is $72,910, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the public relations specialists take-home pay in Olympia?
About $70,154 a year ($5,846 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $87,170. Washington has no state income tax; Washington's WA Cares (0.58%) and Paid Family and Medical Leave payroll premiums are not included.
Do public relations specialists earn more in Olympia than elsewhere?
The average here is 4% more than 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 Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA (36500). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.9%.
- 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 no state income tax. Washington's WA Cares (0.58%) and Paid Family and Medical Leave payroll premiums are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 2.66, this job is 2.7 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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