SOC 11-2032

Public Relations Managers Salary in Raleigh-Cary, NC (2026)

Data updated · Sources: BLS OEWS May 2025, HUD FY 2027 Fair Market Rents, EPI 2026 Family Budget, 2026 tax tables · Methodology

Tax Tables: 2026 Fed + NC
COL Index: 136.24 (+36.2% vs US)
Net Compensation Yield 69.0% Realized
$90,516 / net annual direct deposit
Gross Adjusted $131,150 $63.05/hr
Effective Tax Drag 24.98% Combined Jurisdictions
Marginal Top Bracket 24% Federal Statutory
Total Withheld -$32,765 $1,260.18/check
Category 1 of 6

Wage Benchmarking & After-Tax Paycheck Engine

Dynamic statutory tax calculations based on IRS Publication 15-T and state statutory schedules.

$
2,080 annual statutory base hours $63.05 / hour
0 hrs/wk (+$0/yr)
0 hrs (Standard) 10 hrs OT 20 hrs OT 25 hrs Max
6% (-$7,869/yr)
0% Tax Shield: ~$1,889/yr 15% (IRS limit: $24,500)
Itemized Statutory Withholdings Ledger
Federal Income Tax (IRS)
Progressive 10%–37%
-$18,321
Social Security (FICA OASDI)
Statutory 6.20% (Cap $184,500)
-$8,131
Medicare Hospital Insurance
Statutory 1.45%
-$1,902
North Carolina Individual Income Tax
State Marginal Bracket
-$4,410
Net Take-Home Annual Realized
$90,516 ($3,481.40 / check)
Category 2 of 6

Raleigh-Cary, NC Public Relations Managers Wage Distribution

Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) Percentiles & Career Ladders

Your Salary: $131,150
MIDDLE 50% (IQR RANGE) 10th $89.9k 25th $107k Median: $131,150 50th (Median) $131k 75th $171k 90th $223k You: $131,150
10th (Entry) $89,940 $43.24/hr
25th (Junior) $107,380 $51.63/hr
50th (Median) $131,150 $63.05/hr
75th (Senior) $170,710 $82.07/hr
90th (Lead/Master) $222,800 $107.12/hr
Career Progression & Licensing Milestones for Public Relations Managers in Raleigh-Cary, NC
1
PR CoordinatorBachelor's degree (most common O*NET requirement); entry into the field
$73,560$35.37/hr · 0-2 Years
2
PR SpecialistDemonstrated results in role; works independently on core responsibilities
$95,164$45.75/hr · 2-5 Years
3
PR ManagerFull professional competence; leads projects or a small team
$131,141$63.05/hr · 5-9 Years
4
Senior PR ManagerOwns budget, hiring and outcomes for a department or large program
$182,562$87.77/hr · 9-14 Years
5
Director / VP of CommunicationsExecutive or principal scope; sets strategy across the organization or profession
$254,426$122.32/hr · 14+ Years
Adjacent Career Pivots & National Pay Differences
Public Relations Specialists-$72,160/yr
National median: $74,750
Skill overlap: 97%
Management Analysts-$45,050/yr
National median: $101,860
Skill overlap: 92%View Salary
Advertising and Promotions Managers-$13,250/yr
National median: $133,660
Skill overlap: 91%View Salary
Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists-$68,150/yr
National median: $78,760
Skill overlap: 87%
Category 3 of 6

HUD Fair Market Rent & EPI Living Wage Affordability Index

Evaluating housing affordability vs. net take-home pay in Raleigh-Cary, NC under the HUD 30% housing cost guideline.

Rent-to-Take-Home Ratio (HUD 30% Standard)
21% of Net Income
✓ Passes 30% Housing Affordability Standard
HUD Fair Market Rent (1-Bedroom) $1,552/month Requires minimum annual gross of $62,080
HUD Fair Market Rent (2-Bedroom) $1,689/month Requires minimum annual gross of $67,560
Hourly Living Wage Benchmark (EPI model)
1 Adult Earner: $30.13/hr
Per adult, 2 working adults + 1 child: $24.42/hr
Category 4 of 6

Hourly Wage to Annual & Overtime Matrix

Translating base hourly pay and 1.5× overtime into net take-home pay based on 2,080 annual work hours in Raleigh-Cary, NC.

Swipe horizontally to inspect full pay schedule
Schedule Total Hours/Wk Gross Annual Est. Taxes Net Take-Home Bi-Weekly Check
Standard (40 hrs)40 hrs$131,150-$32,765$90,516$3,481.40
+5h Overtime/Wk45 hrs$155,741-$41,116$105,280$4,049.25
+10h Overtime/Wk50 hrs$180,331-$49,467$120,045$4,617.10
+15h Overtime/Wk55 hrs$204,922-$56,596$136,030$5,231.94
+20h Overtime/Wk60 hrs$229,513-$63,644$152,098$5,849.92
Category 5 of 6

Interstate MSA Relocation & State Tax Migration Comparator

Calculate required compensation, cost-of-living differences, and annual state/local tax savings between two metropolitan areas.

Equivalent Salary in Austin, TX $83,505 Cost of Living Ratio: 69.6%
Annual State & Local Tax Delta +$8,331/yr Tax savings in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX
Annual Rent Difference (1BR) -$17,676/yr Based on HUD Fair Market Rents
Net Discretionary Cash Flow Impact

Combining state tax savings and annual rent variance when relocating from San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA to Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX.

+$26,007/year
Category 6 of 6 · Executive Economic Briefing
2026 Fiscal Intelligence

Public Relations Managers in Raleigh-Cary, NC: Compensation & Purchasing Power Briefing (2026)

Estimates compiled from BLS OEWS wages, IRS 2026 withholding rules, HUD Fair Market Rents, and North Carolina tax codes.

Market Baseline
$131,150/yr
$63.05/hr · SOC 11-2032
Statutory Tax Drag
24.98% Effective
-$32,765 in Total Taxes
HUD 1BR Shelter Ratio
21% Net Pay
✓ Passes 30% HUD Rule
Monthly Discretionary
+$5,991/mo
Post-$1,552/mo 1BR Rent

Key Economic & Compensation Takeaways

Statutory Withholding Architecture

Frequently Asked Questions

Verified Government Data Sources & Statutory Attribution

Wages sourced from US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS OEWS). Rents calibrated to HUD Fair Market Rents. Tax schedules calibrated to IRS IRC Title 26, IRS Pub 15-T, and state statutory revenue codes.

BLS OEWS May 2025 HUD FY2027 FMR IRS 15-T
Metro Pay Comparison SOC 11-2032
2026 Statutory Thresholds
  • Federal Standard Deduction (Single) $16,100
  • FICA OASDI Wage Base Cap $184,500
  • Pre-Tax 401(k) Elective Deferral $24,500
  • HSA Individual Annual Limit $4,400

Public Relations Managers in Raleigh-Cary, NC: Market Snapshot

Public Relations Managers roles in Raleigh-Cary, NC report a median annual wage of $131,150, 10.7% below the national median of $146,910. The 10th to 90th percentile band runs from $89,940 to $222,800, and HUD’s $1,552 monthly one-bedroom fair market rent equals 14.2% of that median gross pay. The single-adult living wage benchmark for the area is $30.13 per hour.

Highest-paying metropolitan areas for Public Relations Managers

Metropolitan areaMedian annual wageVs this market
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$213,510+62.8%
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV$195,190+48.8%
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$192,720+46.9%
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ$192,360+46.7%
Trenton-Princeton, NJ$179,330+36.7%
Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR$177,370+35.2%
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH$176,390+34.5%
Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT$174,990+33.4%
Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO$174,260+32.9%
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$166,590+27.0%

Top-paying occupations benchmarked in Raleigh-Cary, NC

OccupationMedian annual wageMedian hourly
Chief Executives$286,050$137.52/hr
Computer and Information Systems Managers$173,960$83.63/hr
Natural Sciences Managers$173,510$83.42/hr
Architectural and Engineering Managers$169,780$81.62/hr
Marketing Managers$167,640$80.60/hr
Sales Managers$163,520$78.62/hr
Financial Manager$163,130$78.43/hr
Human Resources Managers$144,190$69.32/hr
Cybersecurity Analyst$143,640$69.06/hr
Actuary$142,180$68.36/hr

Wage data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS May 2025, 181 metropolitan areas publishing this occupation; HUD FY2027 Fair Market Rents; EPI Family Budget Calculator. Taxes use 2026 federal and state rules. Data last updated .

Regional Labor Market & Career Mobility Network

Explore adjacent occupations and neighboring metropolitan wage benchmarks for peer compensation analysis.

Public Relations Managers Salary in Raleigh-Cary, NC (2026) Overview

Public Relations Managers median pay in Raleigh-Cary, NC is $131,150 a year ($63.05/hr). See take-home pay after 2026 taxes, BLS wage percentiles, HUD rents. Official 2026 economic data for Public Relations Managers in Raleigh-Cary, NC compiled from Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS surveys, HUD Fair Market Rents, and statutory tax codes.

Quick answers
What is the median salary for a Public Relations Managers in Raleigh-Cary, NC?

The median annual wage is $131,150 ($63.05 per hour). The middle 80% of earners make between $89,940 and $222,800. Source: BLS OEWS (May 2025).

What is the take-home pay for a Public Relations Managers in Raleigh-Cary, NC after taxes?

On the median wage of $131,150, a single filer with no pre-tax deductions takes home about $96,183 a year ($8,015 a month) after $34,967 in federal, FICA, state and local taxes, an effective rate of 26.66%, using 2026 tax rules.