Public Affairs salary by state and agency

How median pay for full-time federal employees in the Public Affairs series (series 1035) differs by where they work and who employs them. Nationally the median is $128,410. Full public affairs salary profile →

Highest state median

$154,263

Maryland

Lowest state median

$98,459

Montana

Agency spread

$75,571

highest vs. lowest agency median

National median

$128,410

2,949 full-time employees

State differences come largely from locality pay, which raises federal salaries in high-cost labor markets, and from differences in the grade mix of the jobs located there. Agency differences often reflect different pay plans and grade structures. Only states and agencies with at least 30 full-time employees with published pay are listed.

By state, highest to lowest median

Public Affairs median pay by state
State	Employees	Median pay	Middle 50%
Maryland	226	$154,263	$133,964–$172,700
District of Columbia	765	$154,263	$133,142–$176,853
Virginia	152	$142,084	$121,785–$164,552
New York	85	$133,794	$108,997–$156,427
Massachusetts	48	$128,255	$111,513–$149,682
Texas	150	$126,672	$101,726–$143,208
Pennsylvania	86	$125,104	$106,463–$146,680
California	196	$124,085	$104,452–$147,170
Georgia	146	$123,812	$104,120–$146,325
Washington	55	$123,618	$102,964–$143,557
Colorado	92	$120,882	$103,126–$142,412
Illinois	71	$119,806	$106,155–$154,666
Missouri	33	$119,153	$110,741–$131,309
Louisiana	36	$116,362	$94,816–$123,290
Oregon	68	$115,733	$98,459–$137,622
Florida	91	$113,356	$90,140–$126,046
North Carolina	48	$112,340	$93,874–$144,493
Ohio	53	$111,879	$89,618–$125,957
Utah	48	$110,190	$95,475–$121,516
Michigan	32	$109,985	$83,505–$131,100
Idaho	38	$107,411	$96,221–$124,177
Arizona	38	$101,443	$87,128–$119,301
New Mexico	37	$99,527	$96,511–$121,611
Montana	41	$98,459	$95,475–$114,124

middle 50% (25th–75th percentile) 10th–90th percentile median all-federal median ($109,641)

By agency, highest to lowest median

Public Affairs median pay by agency
Agency	Employees	Median pay	Middle 50%
Department of Justice	229	$163,104	$148,173–$186,650
Department of Health and Human Services	180	$156,742	$134,793–$172,700
Department of Commerce	73	$152,789	$125,460–$174,942
Department of Energy	63	$150,013	$134,112–$163,104
Department of State	177	$142,084	$129,904–$160,138
National Aeronautics and Space Administration	123	$139,116	$117,951–$158,758
Department of the Treasury	186	$137,354	$120,127–$160,260
Environmental Protection Agency	202	$129,411	$107,440–$154,276
Department of Homeland Security	438	$126,587	$104,120–$153,509
Social Security Administration	90	$125,031	$116,738–$134,277
Department of the Interior	299	$115,756	$98,459–$140,224
Department of Agriculture	440	$111,291	$95,475–$133,074
Department of Veterans Affairs	366	$109,554	$89,508–$131,076
Small Business Administration	188	$87,533	$77,026–$116,348

middle 50% (25th–75th percentile) 10th–90th percentile median all-federal median ($109,641)