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Public Relations Managers Salary in Colorado: Cost of Living Adjusted (2025)

Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:

What does a Public Relations Managers salary really buy you in Colorado?

Colorado is 2.3% pricier than the US average

Data: BLS OEWS 2025 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-05-19

Nominal Salary
$162,870
Median annual (2025)
-2.2%
Real Purchasing Power
$159,208
COL-adjusted (RPP=102.3)

Colorado Cost of Living Index

Colorado's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 102.3, meaning prices are 2.3% higher the national average. A Public Relations Managers earning $162,870 in Colorado has the equivalent purchasing power of $159,208 in an average-cost US state.

CO: 102.3
Cheapest (~85) US Avg (100) Priciest (~115)

Salary Breakdown: Nominal vs. COL-Adjusted

Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Colorado's cost of living.

Percentile Nominal Salary COL-Adjusted Difference
10th Percentile (P10) $98,180 $95,972 $-2,207
25th Percentile (P25) $124,680 $121,876 $-2,803
Median (P50) $162,870 $159,208 $-3,661
75th Percentile (P75) $208,020 $203,343 $-4,676
90th Percentile (P90) $238,240 $232,883 $-5,356
Key Insight

Colorado's cost of living is close to the national average, so $162,870 keeps most of its value at $159,208 in real terms. Location choice here is more about career opportunities than cost arbitrage.

What the Cost-of-Living Data Says

Colorado Sits Near the National Cost Benchmark

RPP 102.3

With an RPP of 102.3, Colorado is within a few percent of the national cost-of-living baseline. Salary adjustment for Public Relations Managers is therefore minor — what you earn is close to what you'd keep in real purchasing power.

Minor COL Adjustment for This Salary

-2.2%

After adjusting for Colorado's cost of living, $162,870 nominal nets out to $159,208 in real purchasing power — a small 2.2% loss. The state's cost profile is close enough to average that COL alone shouldn't drive location decisions for this Public Relations Managers.

Top-Quartile Adjusted Earnings in Colorado

#6 / 48

Ranked on COL-adjusted median pay for Public Relations Managers, Colorado places #6 of 48 states — top quartile. Either nominal wages run high, cost of living runs low, or both.

Best States for Public Relations Managers (After Cost of Living)

Where does Public Relations Managers salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.

$172,713
RPP 102.1
$169,468
RPP 116.6
$168,104
RPP 107.6
4. Maine
$165,615
RPP 100.8
$160,827
RPP 108.8
$159,208
RPP 102.3
$156,983
RPP 109.4
$156,132
RPP 98.0
$149,315
RPP 112.5
$149,073
RPP 104.7

Colorado ranks #6 out of 48 states for Public Relations Managers after cost-of-living adjustment.

How much do you actually take home? See Public Relations Managers take-home pay in Colorado after taxes →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the real salary for a Public Relations Managers in Colorado after cost of living?

A Public Relations Managers in Colorado earns a median salary of $162,870 per year. After adjusting for Colorado's cost of living (RPP=102.3), the real purchasing power is $159,208 — a -2.2% difference.

Is Colorado expensive to live in?

Colorado's cost of living is 2.3% higher than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Colorado is 102.3 (US average = 100).

What are Regional Price Parities (RPP)?

Regional Price Parities (RPPs) are price indexes published by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) that measure differences in price levels across states. They are expressed as a percentage of the national average (US = 100). Higher RPP means higher cost of living.

How is the cost-of-living adjusted salary calculated?

The adjusted salary is calculated as: Nominal Salary x (100 / RPP). For a Public Relations Managers in Colorado: $162,870 x (100 / 102.3) = $159,208. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.

Does the high cost of living in Colorado offset the salary?

Partially — a Public Relations Managers's nominal salary of $162,870 in Colorado has 2.2% less purchasing power due to higher living costs. The real value is $159,208. However, Colorado may offer better career opportunities, networking, and industry access.

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