Public Relations Managers Salary in Chicago, IL-IN

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN

Median annual salary $125,360 -9.5% vs national
Median hourly $60.27
10th percentile $73,370
90th percentile $213,290
Employed locally 2,250
National median $138,520

Compare Public Relations Managers salary & buying power

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Public Relations Managers
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Chicago, IL-IN
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $73,370
    25th
    $90,730
    50th (median)
    $125,360
    75th
    $166,660
    90th
    $213,290

    Chicago economic context

    Unemployment rate 5.10% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $88,850 2023 • Census ACS
    Public Relations Managers salary vs area income 141% Median Public Relations Managers salary is 41% above the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Public Relations Managers

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $218,460
    District of Columbia $185,810
    Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $185,760
    New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $184,080
    Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR $183,590
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $178,850

    Nearby metros — Public Relations Managers salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR $183,590
    Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT $146,880
    Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA $145,950
    Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA $139,920
    Charlottesville, VA $134,880
    Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD $134,610

    Related occupations in Chicago, IL-IN

    OccupationMedian salary
    General and Operations Managers $105,310
    Financial Managers $164,470
    Sales Managers $147,940
    Computer and Information Systems Managers $168,230
    Marketing Managers $158,800
    Medical and Health Services Managers $124,350

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Public Relations Managers make per hour in Chicago?

    The median hourly wage for Public Relations Managers in Chicago, IL-IN is $60.27, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $106.46 or more per hour.

    Is Chicago above or below average for Public Relations Managers salaries?

    The median Public Relations Managers salary in Chicago, IL-IN is 9.5% below the national median of $138,520. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Public Relations Managers in Chicago?

    Entry-level Public Relations Managers (10th percentile) earn around $73,370 per year in Chicago, IL-IN. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $90,730.