What is the best state to be a public relations specialists?

By the Gera US Real Pay Index, District of Columbia is the best state for a public relations specialists: a BLS median of $102,740 is worth $88,154 after the 2025 state income tax ($5,858) and the 2024 BEA cost-of-living adjustment (RPP 109.9), an index of 127.6 where the average state is 100.

Does the highest-paying state also leave you best off?

Not necessarily. District of Columbia has the highest headline BLS median for a public relations specialists at $102,740, but after state tax and cost of living it ranks #1 of 51 on real pay (index 127.6). That gap is exactly what the Gera US Real Pay Index reveals.

Where does a public relations specialists salary go least far?

Hawaii ranks last of 51 states for a public relations specialists: a $63,880 BLS median is worth only $55,075 after tax and cost of living (index 79.7). Higher local prices and/or income tax less far than the national average erode the headline pay.

GeraJobs / US Real Pay Index / Public Relations Specialists

Best States to Be a Public Relations Specialists

After 2025 state income tax and 2024 cost of living, a public relations specialists salary goes furthest in District of Columbia — a $102,740 BLS median worth $88,154 in real terms (Gera US Real Pay Index 127.6).

Which US states are best for a public relations specialists after cost of living and tax?

For a public relations specialists, the Gera US Real Pay Index ranks District of Columbia #1: a $102,740 BLS median becomes $88,154 in cost-of-living-and-tax-adjusted terms (index 127.6). Hawaii ranks last ($55,075, index 79.7). Real BLS OEWS May 2025 across 51 states; re-dated annually.

Source:U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)·As of May 2025 state estimates · updated annually · last refreshed 19 June 2026

Gera US Real Pay Index

District of Columbia ranks #1 of 51 states for a public relations specialists. Index 100 = the average state; 127.6 means pay goes 27.6% further after tax and cost of living.

How this is calculated

127.6

Public Relations Specialists — real pay by state (best first)

#	State	BLS median	State tax	Cost (RPP)	Real pay	Index
1	District of Columbia	$102,740	$5,858	109.9	$88,154	127.6
2	Washington	$87,470	—	107.0	$81,738	118.4
3	Connecticut	$84,990	$3,099	103.6	$79,037	114.4
4	North Dakota	$70,280	$133	89.0	$78,854	114.2
5	Virginia	$80,380	$3,822	101.1	$75,722	109.6
6	Colorado	$80,680	$2,890	103.1	$75,486	109.3
7	Nevada	$73,840	—	100.0	$73,856	106.9
8	Rhode Island	$77,540	$2,308	102.3	$73,555	106.5
9	California	$85,030	$3,786	110.7	$73,378	106.3
10	South Dakota	$64,520	—	88.6	$72,833	105.5
11	Wyoming	$67,490	—	92.7	$72,812	105.4
12	Illinois	$76,380	$3,640	100.0	$72,771	105.4
13	Georgia	$73,200	$3,299	96.3	$72,592	105.1
14	Delaware	$76,120	$3,683	99.8	$72,576	105.1
15	Maryland	$79,560	$3,446	105.0	$72,518	105.0
16	New Mexico	$68,700	$2,115	92.2	$72,209	104.6
17	Arkansas	$65,000	$2,327	86.9	$72,091	104.4
18	Massachusetts	$79,660	$3,763	105.8	$71,765	103.9
19	New York	$81,250	$3,864	107.9	$71,706	103.8
20	Oklahoma	$64,920	$2,546	87.8	$71,006	102.8
21	New Jersey	$80,130	$2,914	108.8	$70,967	102.8
22	New Hampshire	$73,280	—	104.2	$70,350	101.9
23	Iowa	$62,970	$2,353	87.8	$69,070	100.0
24	Wisconsin	$67,240	$2,411	94.1	$68,897	99.8
25	Kansas	$64,860	$2,820	90.1	$68,882	99.7
26	North Carolina	$67,230	$2,315	94.3	$68,819	99.7
27	Ohio	$64,840	$1,001	92.8	$68,812	99.6
28	Alaska	$70,050	—	102.4	$68,436	99.1
29	Indiana	$64,900	$1,917	93.3	$67,485	97.7
30	Texas	$65,160	—	97.1	$67,136	97.2
31	Louisiana	$60,470	$1,439	88.2	$66,923	96.9
32	Oregon	$74,900	$5,750	103.4	$66,902	96.9
33	Mississippi	$59,810	$1,826	87.0	$66,684	96.6
34	Minnesota	$68,620	$3,177	98.6	$66,358	96.1
35	Alabama	$61,710	$2,821	88.8	$66,300	96.0
36	Tennessee	$60,900	—	91.9	$66,289	96.0
37	Nebraska	$61,780	$2,116	90.1	$66,217	95.9
38	Vermont	$66,060	$1,978	98.0	$65,418	94.7
39	Michigan	$65,300	$2,529	96.2	$65,239	94.5
40	Missouri	$61,130	$1,992	90.8	$65,118	94.3
41	Arizona	$66,710	$1,193	100.7	$65,077	94.2
42	Montana	$63,780	$2,625	94.6	$64,615	93.6
43	South Carolina	$62,730	$2,282	93.7	$64,479	93.4
44	Kentucky	$60,150	$2,275	90.2	$64,192	93.0
45	Maine	$62,450	$2,601	97.0	$61,669	89.3
46	Florida	$63,660	—	103.4	$61,558	89.1
47	Idaho	$61,110	$2,360	95.5	$61,522	89.1
48	West Virginia	$56,730	$1,820	89.5	$61,355	88.8
49	Utah	$62,670	$2,851	98.9	$60,506	87.6
50	Pennsylvania	$57,460	$1,764	97.6	$57,082	82.7
51	Hawaii	$63,880	$3,325	110.0	$55,075	79.7

"Real pay" = BLS median − 2025 state income tax, divided by the state's 2024 BEA cost of living (US = 100). Only the 51 states for which BLS publishes a median for this occupation are ranked; suppressed cells are excluded, never set to zero.

Where does your salary go furthest?

Enter a salary and a state. We adjust for 2025 state income tax and the 2024 BEA cost of living to show your real, purchasing-power-equivalent pay — then rank every state.

Gross annual salary (USD)Compare against state

In District of Columbia, a $102,740 salary is worth about $83,435 in cost-of-living-and-tax-adjusted terms.

State income tax $11,045 (≈ top marginal 10.75% (upper bound)) · take-home $91,695 · BEA cost of living 109.9 (US = 100).

The same salary goes furthest in South Dakota — worth $115,978, a $32,543 gain over District of Columbia.

#	State	Real value	Cost (RPP)
1	South Dakota	$115,978	88.6
2	Arkansas	$113,569	86.9
3	Louisiana	$112,982	88.2
4	Mississippi	$112,957	87.0
5	Iowa	$112,618	87.8
6	North Dakota	$112,604	89.0
7	Tennessee	$111,832	91.9
8	Oklahoma	$111,403	87.8
9	Wyoming	$110,841	92.7
10	Alabama	$109,885	88.8
11	Kentucky	$109,396	90.2
12	West Virginia	$109,264	89.5

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Estimate only. State income tax is approximated from each state's 2025 flat rate (or top marginal rate as an upper bound for graduated states) and ignores federal tax, deductions and credits. The pre-published occupation and state pages use exact 2025 bracket math. Cost of living is the 2024 BEA Regional Price Parity (All Items).

Public Relations Specialists — real pay FAQ

What is the best state to be a public relations specialists?: By the Gera US Real Pay Index, District of Columbia is the best state for a public relations specialists: a BLS median of $102,740 is worth $88,154 after the 2025 state income tax ($5,858) and the 2024 BEA cost-of-living adjustment (RPP 109.9), an index of 127.6 where the average state is 100.
Does the highest-paying state also leave you best off?: Not necessarily. District of Columbia has the highest headline BLS median for a public relations specialists at $102,740, but after state tax and cost of living it ranks #1 of 51 on real pay (index 127.6). That gap is exactly what the Gera US Real Pay Index reveals.
Where does a public relations specialists salary go least far?: Hawaii ranks last of 51 states for a public relations specialists: a $63,880 BLS median is worth only $55,075 after tax and cost of living (index 79.7). Higher local prices and/or income tax less far than the national average erode the headline pay.

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Related on GeraJobs

Gera US Real Pay Index — all states ranked — and how the index is calculated.
Methodology — the exact BLS + BEA + tax computation.
Browse US jobs with salary ranges — roles hiring now.

Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) (May 2025 state estimates, US federal public domain); U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis — Regional Price Parities (All Items), by state (2024 (US = 100)); Tax Foundation — 2025 State Individual Income Tax Rates and Brackets. The Gera US Real Pay Index for a public relations specialists is computed by GeraJobs from these figures; no figure is modelled or interpolated.