How much does a public relations specialist make in California?
$85,030a year
Median yearly pay for public relations specialists in California. That is $40.88 an hour or $7,086 a month.
- Hourly
- $40.88
- Vs. national median
- +14%
- Rank among states
- 3 of 51
- Jobs in the state
- 32,710
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $49,550Median: $85,030Highest 10%: $160,500
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $49,550 | $23.82 | |
| 25th | $64,460 | $30.99 | |
| Median | $85,030 | $40.88 | |
| 75th | $121,200 | $58.26 | |
| 90th | $160,500 | $77.17 |
Cities in California
Metro areas, median yearly pay.
| San Jose, CA | $117,600 |
| San Francisco, CA | $102,500 |
| Napa, CA | $98,190 |
| El Centro, CA | $93,100 |
| Sacramento, CA | $89,640 |
| Santa Cruz, CA | $83,180 |
| Yuba City, CA | $81,650 |
| San Diego, CA | $81,240 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $80,700 |
| Oxnard, CA | $80,610 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $79,860 |
| Vallejo, CA | $79,590 |
| Salinas, CA | $78,960 |
| Santa Maria, CA | $78,450 |
| Stockton, CA | $77,710 |
| Merced, CA | $77,380 |
| Riverside, CA | $77,010 |
| Modesto, CA | $76,610 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $76,580 |
| Visalia, CA | $74,780 |
| Redding, CA | $73,920 |
| Chico, CA | $73,890 |
| Fresno, CA | $72,870 |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | $71,190 |
Nearby in the ranking
States with similar pay for public relations specialists.
| 1. District of Columbia | $102,700 |
| 2. Washington | $87,470 |
| 3. California | $85,030 |
| 4. Connecticut | $84,990 |
| 5. New York | $81,250 |
| 6. Colorado | $80,680 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a public relations specialist make an hour in California?
The median hourly pay in California is $40.88 ($85,030 a year).
Do public relations specialists make more in California than the national average?
Yes: $85,030 against $74,750 nationally, 14% more.
Where does California rank for public relations specialist pay?
California ranks 3 of 51 states.
Which city in California pays public relations specialists the most?
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA, with a median of $117,600 a year.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.