RateOrchard
DATA PROFILE · 2024

Public Relations Specialists salary in Washington

Activemarket
+300%offers
-24.5%wages
heat70/100

Median, range, employment, and 10-year outlook from BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, with skills and task data from O*NET. Cost-of-living adjustment from BEA Regional Price Parities.

Adrian Serafin, founder and editor of RateOrchardBy Adrian SerafinFounderUpdated April 27, 2026
Median annual$85,500
Mean annual$94,470
Range (10th to 90th)$58,360 to $137,530
Washington employment6,650
State vs national+20.9% vs national

Salary distribution

Where Washington public relations specialists fall on the wage curve.

Annual wage distribution

Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)

10TH$58,36025TH$67,480MEDIAN$85,50075TH$111,10090TH$137,530

The middle 50% of workers earn between $67,480 and $111,100, with a median of $85,500.

Real disclosed salaries

Public Relations Specialists in Washington: actual employer-disclosed pay

Public records from 15 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $80,000. 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.

LevelFilingsMedian offer
Level I — entry7$60,320
Level II — qualified4$86,353
Level III — experienced2$101,000
Level IV — fully competent2$140,006

Top employers filing for this role

Companies with the most certified filings for Public Relations Specialists in Washington. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.

EmployerMost-filed titleFilingsMedian
Amazon.com Services LLCPrincipal Public Policy3$115,211
Tripalink CorpPublic Relations Specialist2$85,780
Pacific Sports, Inc.Advertisting/Marketing Communications Specialist1$60,029
Chinese Radio Seattle Inc.Media Specialist1$60,029
EGT Consulting IncPublic Relations Specialist1$60,029
Bon Appetit Bakery LLCPublic Relations Specialists1$60,320
Washington Manufacturing ServicesMarketing Outreach Coordinator1$80,000
Washington State Office of Superintendent of Public InstructionCommunications Consultant1$61,000
Digital Ladder LLCPublic Relations Specialist1$94,000
Beacon Hill Merchants AssociationMedia Manager1$83,200

Recent sample filings

A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.

  • Public Relations Specialist at Tripalink Corp
    $105,000
    SeattleWage Level IIIDecided Sep 10, 2025I-200-25246-283875
  • Advertisting/Marketing Communications Specialist at Pacific Sports, Inc.
    $60,029
    RedmondWage Level IDecided Jun 23, 2025I-200-25164-092797
  • Media Specialist at Chinese Radio Seattle Inc.
    $60,029
    BellevueWage Level IDecided Jun 3, 2025I-200-25148-022431
  • Public Relations Specialist at EGT Consulting Inc
    $60,029
    SeattleWage Level IDecided May 9, 2025I-200-25122-933144
  • Public Relations Specialists at Bon Appetit Bakery LLC
    $60,320
    RentonWage Level IDecided May 8, 2025I-200-25121-928656
  • Marketing Outreach Coordinator at Washington Manufacturing Services
    $80,000
    BothellWage Level IIDecided Apr 24, 2025I-200-25108-878785
  • Communications Consultant at Washington State Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction
    $61,000
    OlympiaWage Level IDecided Apr 22, 2025I-200-25105-866022
  • Principal Public Policy at Amazon.com Services LLC
    $115,211
    SeattleWage Level IVDecided Apr 18, 2025I-200-25102-858720

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.

By seniority

Public Relations Specialists pay by experience level in Washington

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.

Pay by industry

Public Relations Specialists in Washington, by industry

Median offered wage across 15 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Retail and wholesale leads with a median of $102,358.

IndustryLargest employerFilingsMedian offer
Retail and wholesaleAmazon.com Services LLC4$102,358
Real estateTripalink Corp2$85,780
Professional servicesWashington Manufacturing Services2$87,000
Government and public sectorWashington State Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction2$79,000
Media and entertainmentPacific Sports, Inc.1$60,029
Technology and softwareChinese Radio Seattle Inc.1$60,029
ManufacturingBon Appetit Bakery LLC1$60,320
Nonprofit and civicBeacon Hill Merchants Association1$83,200
EducationSeattle Pacific University1$61,110

Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.

Wage trend

Median annual wage in Washington over the past 2 BLS OES releases. Real values are CPI-adjusted to 2024 dollars.

Median annual wage, Washington2023 to 2024
$82,6502023$85,5002024

Typical entry

  • Education

    Bachelor's degree

  • Experience

    None

  • On-the-job training

    None

Top skills (O*NET)

  • Communications and Media

    Knowledge

    4.9 / 5
  • English Language

    Knowledge

    4.7 / 5
  • Oral Comprehension

    Ability

    4.3 / 5
  • Active Listening

    Basic skill

    4.1 / 5
  • Speaking

    Basic skill

    4.1 / 5
  • Oral Expression

    Ability

    4.1 / 5
  • Reading Comprehension

    Basic skill

    4.0 / 5
  • Social Perceptiveness

    Technical

    4.0 / 5

Common tasks (O*NET)

  1. 01

    Respond to requests for information from the media or designate an appropriate spokesperson or information source.

  2. 02

    Post and update content on the company's Web site and social media outlets.

  3. 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.

  4. 04

    Write press releases or other media communications to promote clients.

  5. 05

    Establish or maintain cooperative relationships with representatives of community, consumer, employee, or public interest groups.

  6. 06

    Confer with other managers to identify trends or key group interests or concerns or to provide advice on business decisions.

  7. 07

    Coach client representatives in effective communication with the public or with employees.

  8. 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, 20242034 cycle.

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Top metros in Washington

Metro-level salary data for public relations specialists in major Washington metropolitan areas.

Compare Public Relations Specialists pay across nearby states

Frequently asked questions

What is the median salary for Public Relations Specialists in Washington?
According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Public Relations Specialists in Washington is $85,500.
How does Washington compare to the national median for Public Relations Specialists?
The Washington median is +20.9% versus the BLS national figure of $70,692.
What is the salary range for Public Relations Specialists in Washington?
BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $58,360 and the 90th-percentile at $137,530, 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.
Disclaimer

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.