Prevailing Wage for Public Relations Managers
Prevailing wage for Public Relations Managers is set by DOL across four experience levels, and the floor shifts significantly depending on where the job is located. Whether your offer is for a Communications Director role at a national firm or a Communications Manager position at a regional organization, the level and city both determine the minimum a sponsor must pay.
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Entry-level candidates with limited professional experience in public relations, typically recent graduates or those transitioning from adjacent fields. Work is closely supervised with a narrow scope, such as supporting media outreach or drafting routine press materials under direction.
Qualified practitioners with solid independent experience managing public relations campaigns or communications programs. Level 2 is the most common filing level for Public Relations Managers, covering roles that require judgment but not enterprise-wide strategic leadership.
Experienced professionals who lead complex communications initiatives, manage teams or agency relationships, and operate with significant autonomy. These candidates typically bring a demonstrated track record across crisis communications, executive positioning, or multi-channel campaigns.
Fully competent senior leaders such as a Public Affairs Director or Public Relations Director who set organizational communications strategy, oversee large teams, and are accountable for enterprise reputation outcomes with minimal oversight.
Prevailing Wage for Public Relations Managers by OES area
Each shape is a DOL OES area, the unit prevailing wage is published for.
What’s an OES area?
The Department of Labor publishes prevailing wages for geographic zones called OES areas. Every U.S. county belongs to exactly one, and the wage floor applies across the whole area. A worker in Oakland gets the San Francisco metro wage, not a separate Oakland wage.
Top 10 cities · Level 1
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Audit your title against the LCA filing
Titles like Communications Director or Public Affairs Director are common aliases for SOC 11-2032. Confirm your employer's LCA lists this SOC code, not a marketing or general management code, so your offer is benchmarked against the correct prevailing wage floor.
Watch how in-house versus agency roles are leveled
In-house Communications Managers at large corporations are frequently filed at Level 2 or 3, while agency-side roles with similar titles often come in at Level 1 due to junior scope. Verify the level matches your actual decision-making authority, not just your job title.
Factor out bonuses before comparing to the floor
Signing bonuses and performance bonuses are excluded from prevailing wage calculations for Public Relations Managers. Only base salary counts. If your offer is packaged with a large one-time bonus, confirm the base salary alone clears the applicable level.
Use Migrate Mate to find employers with PR sponsorship history
Migrate Mate shows which employers have historically sponsored Public Relations Managers roles, so you can focus outreach on companies already familiar with the LCA process for this occupation rather than educating a new sponsor from scratch.
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Find Jobs for Public Relations ManagersPrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 11-2032.00 alongside Public Relations Managers, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Communications Director Prevailing Wage
Communications Director Prevailing Wage
Communications Director positions fall under SOC 11-2032.00 (Public Relations Managers). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Communications Manager Prevailing Wage
Communications Manager Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Communications Manager for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 11-2032.00 (Public Relations Managers). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Community Relations Director Prevailing Wage
Community Relations Director Prevailing Wage
Community Relations Director is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 11-2032.00 (Public Relations Managers). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Development Director Prevailing Wage
Development Director Prevailing Wage
Development Director positions fall under SOC 11-2032.00 (Public Relations Managers). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Public Affairs Director Prevailing Wage
Public Affairs Director Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Public Affairs Director for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 11-2032.00 (Public Relations Managers). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Public Relations Director (PR Director) Prevailing Wage
Public Relations Director (PR Director) Prevailing Wage
Public Relations Director (PR Director) is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 11-2032.00 (Public Relations Managers). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Public Relations Manager (PR Manager) Prevailing Wage
Public Relations Manager (PR Manager) Prevailing Wage
Public Relations Manager (PR Manager) positions fall under SOC 11-2032.00 (Public Relations Managers). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does DOL set the prevailing wage for Public Relations Managers?
DOL uses Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics across hundreds of metropolitan areas. For each area, wages are sorted into four percentile bands tied to experience level. Employers must pay at least the wage corresponding to the level they designate on the Labor Condition Application submitted to OFLC before sponsoring a visa.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I know which one applies to my offer?
Level 1 reflects entry-level, closely supervised work. Level 2 covers qualified professionals working independently on established communications programs. Level 3 applies to experienced managers leading complex initiatives. Level 4 is reserved for senior strategic leaders. Your level should match the actual duties and supervision described in the LCA, not just your job title. Review the LCA your employer files with OFLC to confirm the level matches your role.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same role vary so much by city?
DOL calculates prevailing wages from regional OES surveys, so wages reflect local labor market conditions rather than a single national figure. A Communications Director role in San Jose, California is benchmarked against Bay Area salaries, while the same title in Mobile, Alabama is benchmarked against a much lower local market. The LCA must list the actual worksite location, so if you work remotely from a different city than your employer's headquarters, your prevailing wage is tied to where you perform the work.
What happens if my offer is below the prevailing wage for a sponsored position?
An employer cannot certify a Labor Condition Application with USCIS if the offered wage falls below the applicable DOL prevailing wage. OFLC will reject the LCA, and without a certified LCA, the H-1B or E-3 petition cannot proceed. If a wage issue surfaces after approval, DOL can require back pay and bar the employer from future sponsorship. The prevailing wage floor is a compliance requirement, not a suggestion.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for Public Relations Managers in a specific U.S. city?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool on the DOL website and enter SOC code 11-2032 along with the metropolitan area where you will work. Select the wage level that matches your role's scope to see the applicable floor. Cross-check against recent LCA disclosure data that OFLC publishes quarterly. Migrate Mate can also help you identify which employers in your target city have an active history of sponsoring Public Relations Managers roles.
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