SOC 27-3031 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Public Relations Specialists — Columbus
Columbus, IN · 10 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in Columbus, IN is $62,770 a year, trailing the national median of $74,750 by 16.0%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Columbus, IN is $62,770 a year, trailing the national median of $74,750 by 16.0%. Half of workers earn between $49,080 and $89,810. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $34,640 and the ninetieth at $92,930.
The area has 30 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 0.36 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Fort Wayne leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $70,410. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 68th of 187 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $34,640 | −53.7% |
| 25th | $49,080 | −34.3% |
| Median (50th) | $62,770 | −16.0% |
| 75th | $89,810 | +20.1% |
| 90th | $92,930 | +24.3% |
| Mean | $66,210 | −11.4% |
Other metro areas in Indiana
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fort Wayne | $70,410 | 310 | |
| 2 | Lafayette | $67,380 | 250 | |
| 3 | Indianapolis | $66,450 | 1,740 | |
| 4 | Elkhart | $65,580 | 80 | |
| 5 | Terre Haute | $63,320 | 60 | |
| 6 | Evansville | $63,170 | 120 | |
| 7 | Bloomington | $61,870 | 90 | |
| 8 | South Bend | $61,830 | 140 | |
| 9 | Muncie | $57,340 | 40 | |
| 10 | Michigan City | $54,450 | 30 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Columbus run 6.7% below the national average, so the median of $62,770 goes as far as $67,278 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 10.0% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$62,770as reported by BLSLocal price level
93.3US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$67,278US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $62,770 a year, 16.0% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $34,640 to $92,930 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 30 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Fort Wayne, at $70,410.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Public Relations Specialists in Columbus, IN?
The median annual wage is $62,770, or $30.18 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $74,750, so pay in Columbus, IN is 16.0% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Columbus, IN earns more than $92,930 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $34,640 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Fort Wayne, at $70,410 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 30 jobs in this occupation in Columbus, IN. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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