Public Relations Specialists pay range in Portland
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $48,170 a year or less, while the top 10% make $129,400 or more. The middle half of public relations specialists in Portland earn between $59,290 and $103,990.
- $48K10th
- $59K25th
- $78KMedian
- $104K75th
- $129K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $84,460 | $7,038 | $40.61 |
| Median | $78,380 | $6,532 | $37.68 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $59,290 | $4,941 | $28.50 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $103,990 | $8,666 | $50.00 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Public Relations Specialists pay in Portland vs. Oregon and the U.S.
Public relations specialists in Portland earn 5% more than the Oregon average ($80,470) and about the same as the U.S. average ($84,120). At the median the gap is +5% against the U.S. median of $74,750.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portland | $84,460 | $78,380 | $48,170 | $129,400 | 3,050 |
| 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 Portland
On the average salary of $84,460, a single filer in Portland takes home about $62,159 a year, or $5,180 a month and $2,391 every two weeks. Taxes take 26% of gross pay.
The Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in WA | $68,248 | $5,687 |
| Working in OR | $62,159 | $5,180 |
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 Portland a good place for public relations specialists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Portland area are 5% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 105.4), so the average $84,460 buys what about $80,117 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.3 times the median wage of all jobs in Portland ($60,690). A typical home costs $552,022, or 6.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Public Relations Specialists salary in other Oregon cities
Portland ranks 2nd of 7 Oregon metro areas for this job; Salem pays the most ($85,760).
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?
$40.61 an hour on average, and $37.68 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level public relations specialists salary in Portland?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $48,170 a year and the 25th percentile is $59,290, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the public relations specialists take-home pay in Portland?
About $62,159 a year ($5,180 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $84,460. Portland-area Metro and Multnomah County taxes and the 0.1% statewide transit tax are not included.
Do public relations specialists earn more in Portland 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 Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA (38900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.0%.
- 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 1.39, this job is 1.4 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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