Public Relations Specialists pay range in Portland
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $39,580 a year or less, while the top 10% make $99,990 or more. The middle half of public relations specialists in Portland earn between $52,340 and $81,240.
- $40K10th
- $52K25th
- $68KMedian
- $81K75th
- $100K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $70,520 | $5,877 | $33.90 |
| Median | $68,330 | $5,694 | $32.85 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $52,340 | $4,362 | $25.16 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $81,240 | $6,770 | $39.06 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Public Relations Specialists pay in Portland vs. Maine and the U.S.
Public relations specialists in Portland earn 5% more than the Maine average ($67,260) and 16% less than the U.S. average ($84,120). At the median the gap is -9% against the U.S. median of $74,750.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portland | $70,520 | $68,330 | $39,580 | $99,990 | 560 |
| Maine | $67,260 | $62,450 | $38,890 | $100,770 | 1,400 |
| 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 Portland
On the average salary of $70,520, a single filer in Portland takes home about $55,359 a year, or $4,613 a month and $2,129 every two weeks. Taxes take 21% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Maine's standard deduction phase-out above $102,250 of income is not modelled.
Is Portland a good place for public relations specialists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Portland area are 2% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 101.9), so the average $70,520 buys what about $69,234 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Portland ($56,960). A typical home costs $542,063, or 7.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Public Relations Specialists salary in other Maine cities
Portland ranks 1st of 2 Maine metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Portland$70,520
- Bangor$62,620
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 Portland: questions
How much do public relations specialists make an hour in Portland?
$33.91 an hour on average, and $32.85 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level public relations specialists salary in Portland?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $39,580 a year and the 25th percentile is $52,340, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the public relations specialists take-home pay in Portland?
About $55,359 a year ($4,613 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $70,520. Maine's standard deduction phase-out above $102,250 of income is not modelled.
Do public relations specialists earn more in Portland than elsewhere?
The average here is 16% less 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 Portland-South Portland, ME (38860). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 5.5%.
- 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 (2026 rules). Maine's standard deduction phase-out above $102,250 of income is not modelled.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.07, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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