Source: https://deftridge.com/rates/pr-and-communications/california/ Title: PR & Communications hourly rate in California | Deftridge Summary: PR & Communications pay in California: median wage $54 an hour, typical part-time contractor rate $80. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2024. CA · United States · **Updated November 3, 2026** # PR & Communications hourly rate in California The market median wage for a PR & Communications in California is **$53.88 an hour**. A senior part-time contractor typically receives **$80 an hour** on Deftridge, +45% against the United States rate. **$80/hr** typical contractor rate, senior **$53.88/hr** median wage **$41-72** middle half of wages **$1,730** a month at 5 hours a week ## PR & Communications wage percentiles in California Employee wages for the role. The yellow row is the median. | Percentile | Per hour | 5 h a week, per month | Full time, per year | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 10th | $31.76 | $690 | $66,100 | | 25th | $41.47 | $900 | $86,300 | | Median | $53.88 | $1,170 | $112,100 | | 75th | $71.85 | $1,560 | $149,400 | | 90th | $96.55 | $2,090 | $200,800 | Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2024; aged to October 2026; about 31,070 people employed in the role. [How rates are built](https://deftridge.com/rates/methodology/). ## California in numbers What sets California apart for a PR & Communications, from the same sources as the table above. - **+37%** median wage against the United States median of $39.39 - **2nd of 51** states by median wage for this role - **31,070** people employed in the role in this place - **$66.91** median wage in the San Jose metro area, the highest here - **$35** country floor: no United States rate is published below it ## What contractors receive The Deftridge rate for a PR & Communications in California by level and by format. The company adds 15% on top; you keep all of the rate shown. | Level | Per hour | Per month at 5 h/week | | --- | --- | --- | | Senior | $80 | $1,730 | | Manager | $95 | $2,060 | | Director | $115 | $2,490 | - Regular role **$80** - One-off task **$90** - Task bundle **$80** ## PR & Communications pay across United States Typical contractor rate for a senior PR & Communications, highest first; 5 of 51 places shown. By median wage California ranks **2 of 51**. | Place | Median wage | Contractor rate | | --- | --- | --- | | District of Columbia | $57.32 | $85 | | California | $53.88 | $80 | | Washington | $48.01 | $70 | | New York | $46.34 | $65 | | Connecticut | $44.30 | $65 | ## Metro areas in California Median employee wage for the role in the metro area (BLS OEWS). - [San Jose $66.91/hr median wage · range $44-106](https://deftridge.com/rates/pr-and-communications/california/) - [San Francisco $65.10/hr median wage · range $49-92](https://deftridge.com/rates/pr-and-communications/california/) - [Sacramento $56.43/hr median wage · range $47-67](https://deftridge.com/rates/pr-and-communications/california/) - [Hanford $53.88/hr median wage · range $41-72](https://deftridge.com/rates/pr-and-communications/california/) - [Vallejo $53.33/hr median wage · range $41-72](https://deftridge.com/rates/pr-and-communications/california/) - [Santa Maria $52.29/hr median wage · range $40-66](https://deftridge.com/rates/pr-and-communications/california/) - [Oxnard $52.18/hr median wage · range $39-69](https://deftridge.com/rates/pr-and-communications/california/) - [Yuba City $51.43/hr median wage · range $40-62](https://deftridge.com/rates/pr-and-communications/california/) - [Los Angeles $51.15/hr median wage · range $40-66](https://deftridge.com/rates/pr-and-communications/california/) - [San Diego $51.10/hr median wage · range $40-67](https://deftridge.com/rates/pr-and-communications/california/) ## Questions about pay, fees and privacy The same rules apply to every task, so they live on two pages: [Pricing](https://deftridge.com/pricing/) explains the 15% fee, prepayment and when you are paid; [How it works](https://deftridge.com/how-it-works/) covers matching, what a company sees and side work next to a job. [PR & Communications rates in every country](https://deftridge.com/rates/pr-and-communications/) · [PR & Communications jobs in California](https://deftridge.com/jobs/pr-and-communications/california/) · [Methodology](https://deftridge.com/rates/methodology/)