How much do Public Relations Specialists make in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA?

Percentile spread

For Public Relations Specialists, the published 10th percentile is $43,850 and the 90th percentile is $118,340. The difference is $74,490, which is 105.4% of the median. Ten percent of measured wages fall below the 10th percentile and ten percent fall above the 90th. How to read a percentile.

The middle half of the distribution, from the 25th percentile at $54,730 to the 75th at $89,970, covers $35,240.

The mean annual wage is $76,050, which sits above the median of $70,660. Median and mean measure different points in the same distribution.

National and state comparison

The Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA median is 5.5% lower than the national median of $74,750 for Public Relations Specialists. In 2024 national prices the local median is $77,055, which is 3.1% higher than that same national median. The national figure is already in national prices because the United States parity is 100.

It is 12.2% higher than the Iowa median of $62,970.

Price-adjusted pay

The 2024 all-items regional price parity for Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA is 91.701, with the United States at 100. The Bureau of Economic Analysis released those parities on February 19, 2026. Dividing the May 2025 median of $70,660 by that parity and multiplying by 100 puts Public Relations Specialists at $77,055 in national prices. The wage year and the price year are different. Compare this wage after prices.

Nearby metros

15 other metropolitan areas within 200 miles publish a annual median for Public Relations Specialists. Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA ranks 2nd of 16 on that median, counting itself. Distance is the great-circle mileage between Census Bureau internal points (U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Gazetteer Files, Core Based Statistical Areas, internal points (INTPTLAT, INTPTLONG).).

• Ames, IA is 32 miles away, with a median of $62,970 and employment of 250. That median is 10.9% lower than the median here. In 2024 national prices it is $70,888, against $77,055 here.
• Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA is 94 miles away, with a median of $61,810 and employment of 130. That median is 12.5% lower than the median here. In 2024 national prices it is $70,999, against $77,055 here.
• Iowa City, IA is 109 miles away, with a median of $64,170 and employment of 200. That median is 9.2% lower than the median here. In 2024 national prices it is $70,124, against $77,055 here.

Employment share

Public Relations Specialists accounts for 0.26% of wage-and-salary employment in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA (1,050 of 404,130). Nationally the occupation is 0.18% of employment (283,380 of 155,495,730). The local share is 1.43 times the national share. That ratio is the location quotient computed from these May 2025 employment counts. It is not copied from the location-quotient column in the BLS bulk file.