Largest PR paychecks found in coastal cities, mostly

But with its sunny desert environs, its Star Trek-worthy headquarters, and its bonuses and stock options, the manufacturer can snag top talent even though it’s not on the East or West coasts, says Steve Tuttle, vice president of communications.

“There’s a great opportunity to make more than just your salary,” says Tuttle.

The recruiting challenge is just one result of regional salary variations—a matter explored by the PR Daily Salary and Job Satisfaction Survey of 2,787 industry professionals ranging from associates to company presidents and chief executives.

The online survey showed that the Northeast and West Coast mostly dominated the high salary categories, with one possible outlier in the upper range, the Midwest.

Respondents to the questionnaire on PR salary and job satisfaction largely came from the U.S. and Canada, with contingents from Europe, Oceania, Asia, and Africa.

Northeast leads in $100K to $150K

The Northeast topped the $100,000 to $150,000 range. Of those earners, 24 percent came from the Northeast and 16 percent from the Midwest. Trailing closely were the West Coast, at 15 percent, and Canada, with 14 percent. Ten percent of those in this range came from the Southeast.