Public Relations Specialists in District of Columbia. BLS OES + DOL OFLC + reader-reported submissions. How this is built →
Salary distribution
Where District of Columbia 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 $78,200 and $149,120, with a median of $102,740.
Public Relations Specialists in District of Columbia: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 29 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $81,000. 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 | 11 | $65,000 |
| Level II — qualified | 8 | $83,650 |
| Level III — experienced | 8 | $117,750 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 1 | $194,917 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Public Relations Specialists in District of Columbia. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hunt Alternatives, LLC | President of Hunt Alternatives & Deputy to AMB. Swanee Hunt | 3 | $150,000 |
| DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PUBLIC SCHOOLS | School Based Public Relations Specialist | 2 | $65,000 |
| Formosan Association for Public Affairs | Policy Fellow | 2 | $58,094 |
| Pew Research Center | Communications Manager | 2 | $94,444 |
| Americas Society, Inc. | Associate, Public Policy Programs | 1 | $68,848 |
| Armenian National Committee of America | Policy Director | 1 | $73,343 |
| Capitol67 Strategies, LLC | Government Affairs Specialist | 1 | $58,094 |
| DDC Advocacy LLC | Senior Account Executive | 1 | $84,000 |
| DGA Group Government Relations LLC | Senior Associate | 1 | $70,000 |
| Dua Dua, LLC | Corporate Communications Specialist | 1 | $72,800 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- SENIOR DIRECTOR, PUBLICITY at NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC PARTNERS, LLC$194,917WASHINGTONWage Level IVDecided Mar 17, 2026I-203-26069-693936
- Assistant Vice President of Strategic Communications at National Immigration Forum Inc.$109,134WashingtonDecided Feb 27, 2026I-200-26051-655539
- School Based Public Relations Specialist at DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PUBLIC SCHOOLS$65,000WASHINGTONWage Level IDecided Jan 21, 2026I-200-26013-555521
- Director of Operations and Strategic Partnerships at Syrian American Council$100,000WashingtonWage Level IIDecided Nov 21, 2025I-200-25318-408923
- Communications Manager at Pew Research Center$96,069WashingtonWage Level IIIDecided Nov 14, 2025I-202-25307-360012
- Policy Director at Armenian National Committee of America$73,343WashingtonWage Level IDecided Sep 3, 2025I-203-25238-268904
- Staff Associate at The Rendon Group$80,000WashingtonWage Level IDecided Aug 14, 2025I-200-25219-228700
- Program Manager at Formosan Association for Public Affairs$58,094WashingtonWage Level IDecided Jun 23, 2025I-200-25165-093275
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.
Where do you stand?
Get an instant percentile reading. Anonymous, no signup.
Aggregate unlocks once 5 readers have shared a salary for this role and state.
Public Relations Specialists pay by experience level in District of Columbia
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 District of Columbia
Real specialty titles employers file for, clustered from 6 certified offers. The most common variant is Assistant Director, Communications, DFRLab at a median of $120,000.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assistant Director, Communications, DFRLab | NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC PARTNERS, LLC | 3 | $120,000 |
| President of Hunt Alternatives & Deputy to AMB. Swanee Hunt | Hunt Alternatives, LLC | 3 | $150,000 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Public Relations Specialists in District of Columbia, by industry
Median offered wage across 29 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Professional services leads with a median of $85,000.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professional services | Hunt Alternatives, LLC | 13 | $85,000 |
| Nonprofit and civic | Formosan Association for Public Affairs | 9 | $73,343 |
| Education | DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PUBLIC SCHOOLS | 3 | $65,000 |
| Government and public sector | Americas Society, Inc. | 2 | $88,991 |
| Manufacturing | Dua Dua, LLC | 1 | $72,800 |
| Media and entertainment | NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC PARTNERS, LLC | 1 | $194,917 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in District of Columbia 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.
Sponsored
Build the skills employers list for Public Relations Specialists
Online courses from licensed providers. We may earn a commission when you enroll. The commission does not influence our rankings or wage data.
Explore coursesTop metros in District of Columbia
Metro-level salary data for public relations specialists in major District of Columbia metropolitan areas.
- Washington, D.C.$101,680
Compare Public Relations Specialists pay across nearby states
Considering a move? Compare District of Columbia with another state
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Public Relations Specialists in District of Columbia?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Public Relations Specialists in District of Columbia is $102,740.
- How does District of Columbia compare to the national median for Public Relations Specialists?
- The District of Columbia median is +39.0% versus the BLS national figure of $73,929.
- What is the salary range for Public Relations Specialists in District of Columbia?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $64,260 and the 90th-percentile at $202,170, 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.