Public Relations Specialists pay range in Charleston
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $40,830 a year or less, while the top 10% make $149,760 or more. The middle half of public relations specialists in Charleston earn between $50,200 and $94,190.
- $41K10th
- $50K25th
- $64KMedian
- $94K75th
- $150K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $85,230 | $7,102 | $40.98 |
| Median | $63,780 | $5,315 | $30.66 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $50,200 | $4,183 | $24.13 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $94,190 | $7,849 | $45.28 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Public Relations Specialists pay in Charleston vs. South Carolina and the U.S.
Public relations specialists in Charleston earn 7% more than the South Carolina average ($80,010) and about the same as the U.S. average ($84,120). At the median the gap is -15% against the U.S. median of $74,750.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston | $85,230 | $63,780 | $40,830 | $149,760 | 570 |
| South Carolina | $80,010 | $62,730 | $38,920 | $143,940 | 2,950 |
| 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 Charleston
On the average salary of $85,230, a single filer in Charleston takes home about $65,454 a year, or $5,454 a month and $2,517 every two weeks. Taxes take 23% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Charleston a good place for public relations specialists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Charleston area are in line with the U.S. average (BEA price parity 101.0), so the average $85,230 buys what about $84,418 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.3 times the median wage of all jobs in Charleston ($49,150). A typical home costs $435,877, or 5.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Public Relations Specialists salary in other South Carolina cities
Charleston ranks 1st of 6 South Carolina metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Charleston$85,230
- Myrtle Beach$79,350
- Spartanburg$78,950
- Greenville$78,880
- Columbia$78,740
- Florence$62,050
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 Charleston: questions
How much do public relations specialists make an hour in Charleston?
$40.97 an hour on average, and $30.66 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level public relations specialists salary in Charleston?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $40,830 a year and the 25th percentile is $50,200, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the public relations specialists take-home pay in Charleston?
About $65,454 a year ($5,454 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $85,230.
Do public relations specialists earn more in Charleston 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 Charleston-North Charleston, SC (16700). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 14.0%.
- 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 (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.79, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.79).
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