Public Relations Managers pay range in Santa Cruz
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $77,180 a year or less, while the top 10% make $214,720 or more. The middle half of public relations managers in Santa Cruz earn between $94,940 and $195,470.
- $77K10th
- $95K25th
- $128KMedian
- $195K75th
- $215K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $141,920 | $11,827 | $68.23 |
| Median | $128,280 | $10,690 | $61.67 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $94,940 | $7,912 | $45.64 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $195,470 | $16,289 | $93.98 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Public Relations Managers pay in Santa Cruz vs. California and the U.S.
Public relations managers in Santa Cruz earn 23% less than the California average ($185,180) and 14% less than the U.S. average ($164,760). At the median the gap is -13% against the U.S. median of $146,910.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Cruz | $141,920 | $128,280 | $77,180 | $214,720 | 40 |
| California | $185,180 | $167,980 | $97,800 | $300,800 | 9,400 |
| United States | $164,760 | $146,910 | $82,410 | $284,990 | 74,850 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Public Relations Managers salary after taxes in Santa Cruz
On the average salary of $141,920, a single filer in Santa Cruz takes home about $99,162 a year, or $8,263 a month and $3,814 every two weeks. Taxes take 30% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is Santa Cruz a good place for public relations managers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Santa Cruz area are 10% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 109.9), so the average $141,920 buys what about $129,140 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.3 times the median wage of all jobs in Santa Cruz ($54,730). A typical home costs $1,157,157, or 8.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Public Relations Managers salary in other California cities
Santa Cruz ranks 12th of 15 California metro areas for this job; San Jose pays the most ($229,420).
- San Jose$229,420
- San Francisco$207,600
- Los Angeles$178,520
- Sacramento$173,160
- Santa Maria$167,650
- San Diego$167,580
- Oxnard$159,570
- Riverside$156,350
- Santa Rosa$155,740
- Santa Cruz$141,920
Highest-paying cities for public relations managers
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($229,420).
- San Jose, CA$229,420
- Washington, DC$214,670
- New York, NY$208,800
- San Francisco, CA$207,600
- Boston, MA$187,740
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Public Relations Managers salary in Santa Cruz: questions
How much do public relations managers make an hour in Santa Cruz?
$68.23 an hour on average, and $61.67 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level public relations managers salary in Santa Cruz?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $77,180 a year and the 25th percentile is $94,940, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the public relations managers take-home pay in Santa Cruz?
About $99,162 a year ($8,263 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $141,920. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do public relations managers earn more in Santa Cruz than elsewhere?
The average here is 14% less than the U.S. average for this job ($164,760).
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 11-2032; area Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA (42100). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 6.9%.
- 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 state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.86, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.