Public Relations Specialists in California. BLS OES + DOL OFLC + reader-reported submissions. How this is built →
Salary distribution
Where California public relations specialists fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $64,460 and $121,180, with a median of $85,030.
Public Relations Specialists in California: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 158 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $69,840. Every figure below is an actual offered salary an employer attested to under federal law.
By DOL wage level
DOL classifies every offer into one of four wage levels based on the role's experience and skill requirements.
| Level | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|
| Level I — entry | 72 | $59,259 |
| Level II — qualified | 47 | $70,000 |
| Level III — experienced | 16 | $90,000 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 23 | $142,000 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Public Relations Specialists in California. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| More Than Vision | Public Relations Specialists | 3 | $58,698 |
| The University of Southern California | Communications Associate | 3 | $59,259 |
| BYTEDANCE INC. | Product Manager | 2 | $210,165 |
| Confirmed, LLC | Coordinator of Sales Network | 2 | $80,000 |
| Gen Digital Inc. | Public Relations Specialist (GTM, Community & Social) | 2 | $120,000 |
| Golden State Warriors LLC | Manager, Social Media | 2 | $70,523 |
| Gotion, Inc. | Public Relations Specialist | 2 | $75,000 |
| MA LABORATORIES, INC. | Customer Relations Specialist | 2 | $70,856 |
| Make It Home | Communications Specialist | 2 | $58,698 |
| MAYIL LLC | PUBLIC RELATIONS SPECIALIST - HOSPITALITY | 2 | $79,789 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- US Creator & Partnership BD at Skyline Interactive Inc.$144,000Los AngelesWage Level IVDecided Mar 19, 2026I-200-26071-699006
- Public Relations Specialist at LUXSHARE-ICT, Inc.$188,364MilpitasWage Level IVDecided Mar 16, 2026I-200-26068-690076
- Public Relations Specialist (GTM, Community & Social) at Gen Digital Inc.$120,000Mountain ViewWage Level IIIDecided Mar 6, 2026I-200-26058-670813
- Customer Relations Specialist at MA LABORATORIES, INC.$78,750San JoseWage Level IDecided Feb 26, 2026I-200-26050-651918
- Communications Associate at The University of Southern California$59,134Los AngelesWage Level IDecided Feb 26, 2026I-200-26051-653238
- Public Relations Specialist at Kovai Restaurants LLC$70,000Santa ClaraWage Level IDecided Feb 17, 2026I-200-26041-629526
- Social Media Content Specialist at Joicom Corporation$53,352IrvineWage Level IDecided Feb 17, 2026I-200-26040-629234
- Public Relations Specialist at Gigacloud Technology (USA) Inc.$76,500El MonteWage Level IIDecided Feb 10, 2026I-200-26034-617423
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Foreign Labor Certification. Disclosed wages reflect what employers attested to pay; actual paid wages may differ. Only certified filings are shown — denied and withdrawn cases are excluded.
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Public Relations Specialists pay by experience level in California
Each band reflects DOL Wage Levels I-IV mapped onto a four-step ladder. Click a level to see the disclosed-wage range for that segment.
Public Relations Specialists specialties in California
Real specialty titles employers file for, clustered from 86 certified offers. The most common variant is Public Relations Specialist at a median of $67,964.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public Relations Specialist | Gotion, Inc. | 56 | $67,964 |
| Communications Specialist | Make It Home | 6 | $61,849 |
| Public Relations Specialists | More Than Vision | 6 | $62,962 |
| Communication Specialist | Artsolute Media Group | 3 | $54,000 |
| Public Relations Coordinator | Home for Refugees USA | 3 | $72,800 |
| PUBLIC RELATIONS SPECIALIST - HOSPITALITY | MAYIL LLC | 3 | $79,789 |
| Public Relation Specialist | American Education and Translation Services Corp | 3 | $48,880 |
| Associate Communications Lead, Social Media Specialist | Anthropic, PBC | 3 | $97,851 |
| MEDIA RELATIONS SPECIALIST | CA FAN TUAN INC. | 3 | $60,798 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Public Relations Specialists in California, by industry
Median offered wage across 144 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Professional services leads with a median of $69,836.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professional services | More Than Vision | 58 | $69,836 |
| Technology and software | BYTEDANCE INC. | 21 | $100,116 |
| Retail and wholesale | MA LABORATORIES, INC. | 17 | $64,854 |
| Education | The University of Southern California | 11 | $68,640 |
| Media and entertainment | Golden State Warriors LLC | 9 | $67,200 |
| Manufacturing | Amax Engineering Corporation | 8 | $114,620 |
| Transportation and logistics | ACH International Corp | 6 | $60,000 |
| Nonprofit and civic | Make It Home | 5 | $68,000 |
| Healthcare | BEAUTYWOMAN ACUPUNCTURE CLINIC, INC | 4 | $68,058 |
| Real estate | Asia-Pacific California, Inc. | 3 | $69,680 |
| Finance and insurance | Asian Business Care Insurance Services, Inc. | 2 | $79,349 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in California over the past 3 BLS OES releases. Real values are CPI-adjusted to 2025 dollars.
Typical entry
Education
Bachelor's degree
Experience
None
On-the-job training
None
Top skills (O*NET)
- 4.9 / 5
Communications and Media
Knowledge
- 4.7 / 5
English Language
Knowledge
- 4.3 / 5
Oral Comprehension
Ability
- 4.1 / 5
Active Listening
Basic skill
- 4.1 / 5
Speaking
Basic skill
- 4.1 / 5
Oral Expression
Ability
- 4.0 / 5
Reading Comprehension
Basic skill
- 4.0 / 5
Social Perceptiveness
Technical
Common tasks (O*NET)
- 01
Respond to requests for information from the media or designate an appropriate spokesperson or information source.
- 02
Post and update content on the company's Web site and social media outlets.
- 03
Plan or direct development or communication of programs to maintain favorable public or stockholder perceptions of an organization's accomplishments, agenda, or environmental responsibility.
- 04
Write press releases or other media communications to promote clients.
- 05
Establish or maintain cooperative relationships with representatives of community, consumer, employee, or public interest groups.
- 06
Confer with other managers to identify trends or key group interests or concerns or to provide advice on business decisions.
- 07
Coach client representatives in effective communication with the public or with employees.
- 08
Study the objectives, promotional policies, or needs of organizations to develop public relations strategies that will influence public opinion or promote ideas, products, or services.
10-year outlook
Growth 2024 → 2034
+4.8%
Projected annual openings
—
BLS outlook
Average growth
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034 cycle.
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Explore coursesTop metros in California
Metro-level salary data for public relations specialists in major California metropolitan areas.
- San Jose$117,620
- San Francisco$102,520
- Sacramento$89,640
- San Diego$81,240
- Los Angeles$79,860
- Riverside$77,010
Compare Public Relations Specialists pay across nearby states
Considering a move? Compare California with another state
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Public Relations Specialists in California?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Public Relations Specialists in California is $85,030.
- How does California compare to the national median for Public Relations Specialists?
- The California median is +15.0% versus the BLS national figure of $73,929.
- What is the salary range for Public Relations Specialists in California?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $49,550 and the 90th-percentile at $160,520, which captures most full-time workers in the role.
- Is Public Relations Specialists a growing field?
- BLS Employment Projections show employment growing by 4.8% over the projection cycle. See the 10-year outlook section above for details.
- What education is required for Public Relations Specialists?
- BLS lists the typical entry-level education as Bachelor's degree. Many employers also weigh prior experience and credentials.
Information on this page is for general educational purposes only. It is not career, financial, or tax advice. Wage data reflects BLS estimates for the reference year shown and may not match individual offers, employer-specific ranges, or current market conditions. Confirm with a licensed professional before making career or compensation decisions.