Public Relations Specialists pay range in Columbia
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $38,760 a year or less, while the top 10% make $140,910 or more. The middle half of public relations specialists in Columbia earn between $49,340 and $88,870.
- $39K10th
- $49K25th
- $62KMedian
- $89K75th
- $141K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $78,740 | $6,562 | $37.86 |
| Median | $61,610 | $5,134 | $29.62 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $49,340 | $4,112 | $23.72 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $88,870 | $7,406 | $42.73 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Public Relations Specialists pay in Columbia vs. South Carolina and the U.S.
Public relations specialists in Columbia earn about the same as the South Carolina average ($80,010) and 6% less than the U.S. average ($84,120). At the median the gap is -18% against the U.S. median of $74,750.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia | $78,740 | $61,610 | $38,760 | $140,910 | 810 |
| 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 Columbia
On the average salary of $78,740, a single filer in Columbia takes home about $61,319 a year, or $5,110 a month and $2,358 every two weeks. Taxes take 22% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Columbia a good place for public relations specialists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Columbia area are 6% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 93.7), so the average $78,740 buys what about $84,068 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.3 times the median wage of all jobs in Columbia ($46,430). A typical home costs $256,154, or 3.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Public Relations Specialists salary in other South Carolina cities
Columbia ranks 5th of 6 South Carolina metro areas for this job; Charleston pays the most ($85,230).
- 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 Columbia: questions
How much do public relations specialists make an hour in Columbia?
$37.86 an hour on average, and $29.62 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level public relations specialists salary in Columbia?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $38,760 a year and the 25th percentile is $49,340, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the public relations specialists take-home pay in Columbia?
About $61,319 a year ($5,110 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $78,740.
Do public relations specialists earn more in Columbia than elsewhere?
The average here is 6% 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 Columbia, SC (17900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 5.1%.
- 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 1.13, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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