What are the main factors that influence an External Relations's salary?

The primary factors are: 1) Experience Level, 2) Geographic Location, 3) Education/Skills, 4) Company Size & Industry

How does experience change An External Relations's salary?

An External Relations's salary grows with experience: an Employee Relations Specialist I (0-2 years)earns $65,016, an External Relations (2-4 years)earns $83,859, an Employee Relations Specialist III (4-7 years)earns $101,635, an Employee Relations Specialist IV (7+ years)earns $115,980, an Employee Relations Manager (7+ years)earns $124,729,

What are the highest paying states for an External Relations?

External Relations salary varies significantly by state. The top 3 highest paying states for External Relations roles are District of Columbia $93,213, California $92,859, Massachusetts $91,621. These tech hubs typically pay 10-15% above the national average.

How much do different types of External Relations roles make?

Salaries for External Relations level roles vary by specialization: Associate Director of External Relations: $255,833; Director Of External Relations: $251,905; Assistant Dean For Advancement And External Relations: $102,808; External Relations Manager: $98,672; External Auditor: $90,329.

How do different companies affect an External Relations's salary?

Company size, industry, and compensation structure create significant salary variations for External Relations roles. Large, established industry leaders like C R Bard Inc ($128,509) and Henry Schein Canada ($124,697) offer base salaries 35-40% above the national average. In contrast, smaller firms or startups may offer closer to $82,041.

External Relations Salary in the United States

How much does an External Relations make in the United States?

As of May 18, 2021, the average salary for an External Relations in the United States is $84,188 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $40.

However, an External Relations's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

Top Earners (90th percentile): $95,867
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $76,053 to $90,301
Entry-Level (10th percentile): $68,647

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External Relations Salaries by Percentile

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$90,301	$7,525	$1,737	$43
Average	$84,188	$7,016	$1,619	$40
25th Percentile	$76,053	$6,338	$1,463	$37

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Key Factors That Influence External Relations Salaries

An External Relations's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects External Relations Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an External Relations's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $65,016
Early Career (1-2 years): $83,859
Mid-Level (2-4 years): $101,635
Senior-Level (5-8 years): $115,980
Expert (over 8 years): $124,729

Levels	Salary
Employee ... Level External Relations	$65,016
External ... Level External Relations	$83,859
Employee ... Level External Relations	$101,635
Employee ... Level External Relations	$115,980
Employee ... Level External Relations	$124,729

View as Graph

What Am I Worth?

How Do External Relations Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract External Relations. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

District of Columbia: $93,213.
California: $92,859.
Massachusetts: $91,621.

District of Columbia $93,213 California $92,859 Massachusetts $91,621 Washington $91,285 New Jersey $91,251 Alaska $91,133 Connecticut $89,971 New York $89,500

Hawaii $87,993 Rhode Island $87,286 Maryland $86,806 Minnesota $86,149 Colorado $85,897 Illinois $85,812 Oregon $85,493 Delaware $85,257

New Hampshire $85,109 Virginia $84,777 Pennsylvania $83,809 Nevada $83,321 North Dakota $83,161 Michigan $82,908 Wisconsin $82,815 Vermont $82,630

Texas $82,117 Maine $82,083 Arizona $82,032 Ohio $81,974 Georgia $81,199 Indiana $80,812 Wyoming $80,736 Utah $80,618

Iowa $80,568 Kansas $80,163 Louisiana $80,046 North Carolina $80,004 Missouri $79,987 Florida $79,658 Montana $79,482 Nebraska $79,313

Kentucky $79,221 South Carolina $78,884 Tennessee $78,673 Idaho $78,589 New Mexico $77,975 Oklahoma $77,840 Alabama $77,343 South Dakota $76,510

Arkansas $76,055 West Virginia $75,811 Mississippi $75,079

Top Paying Cities for External Relations

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

San Jose: $106,186
San Francisco: $105,142
Oakland: $102,810

San Jose, CA $106,186

San Francisco, CA $105,142

Oakland, CA $102,810

New York, NY $97,565

Queens Village, NY $96,934

Paramus, NJ $96,260

Passaic, NJ $96,176

Bergenfield, NJ $96,092

Stamford, CT $95,966

Huntington, NY $95,881

Newark, NJ $95,334

Bridgeport, CT $95,166

New Brunswick, NJ $94,888

Vallejo, CA $94,711

Middlesex, NJ $94,661

Somerset, NJ $94,585

Petaluma, CA $94,391

Santa Cruz, CA $94,063

Boston, MA $93,894

Monterey, CA $93,474

Fairbanks, AK $93,415

Los Angeles, CA $93,255

Washington, DC $93,213

Seattle, WA $93,061

Santa Rosa, CA $93,044

Juneau, AK $92,800

Orange, CA $92,522

Anchorage, AK $92,371

Anaheim, CA $92,312

Santa Ana, CA $92,185

Nassau, NY $92,135

Long Beach, CA $92,101

Danbury, CT $92,076

Santa Maria, CA $91,790

Everett, WA $91,773

Bremerton, WA $91,360

Trenton, NJ $91,200

Sacramento, CA $91,167

San Diego, CA $91,125

Brockton, MA $91,091

Tacoma, WA $91,057

Santa Barbara, CA $90,940

Lowell, MA $90,603

New Suffolk, NY $90,569

Nashua, NH $90,468

Lompoc, CA $90,333

Ventura, CA $90,249

Stockton, CA $90,224

New Haven, CT $90,056

Atlantic City, NJ $89,837

Hartford, CT $89,651

Modesto, CA $89,609

Poughkeepsie, NY $89,424

New Britain, CT $89,382

Kennewick, WA $89,264

Olympia, WA $89,264

New London, CT $89,247

Norwich, CT $89,222

Lawrence, MA $89,180

Bakersfield, CA $88,944

New Bedford, MA $88,826

Riverside, CA $88,826

Richland, WA $88,742

Portsmouth, NH $88,675

Vineland, NJ $88,658

San Bernardino, CA $88,591

Boulder, CO $88,355

Worcester, MA $88,288

Portland, OR $88,212

Saint Paul, MN $88,111

Minneapolis, MN $88,111

Philadelphia, PA $87,993

Honolulu, HI $87,547

Springfield, MA $87,252

Providence, RI $87,244

Chicago, IL $87,000

Bellingham, WA $86,898

Baltimore, MD $86,806

Chico, CA $86,595

Wilmington, DE $86,452

Pittsfield, MA $86,368

Manchester, NH $86,208

Spokane, WA $85,838

Denver, CO $85,829

Albany, NY $85,434

Troy, NY $85,400

Schenectady, NY $85,223

Burlington, VT $85,038

Portland, ME $84,743

Salem, OR $84,676

Yakima, WA $84,659

Ann Arbor, MI $84,634

Rochester, MN $84,398

Reno, NV $84,356

Fresno, CA $84,356

Milwaukee, WI $84,280

Detroit, MI $84,196

Allentown, PA $84,171

Carson City, NV $84,162

Houston, TX $84,036

Colorado Springs, CO $84,028

Syracuse, NY $83,986

Eugene, OR $83,826

Gary, IN $83,725

Bismarck, ND $83,725

Galveston, TX $83,725

Springfield, OR $83,657

Medford, OR $83,455

Fort Collins, CO $83,422

Austin, TX $83,354

Mesa, AZ $83,177

Phoenix, AZ $83,161

Dallas, TX $83,135

Reading, PA $83,085

Saint Cloud, MN $83,051

Concord, NH $82,975

Madison, WI $82,942

Utica, NY $82,714

Raleigh, NC $82,647

Las Vegas, NV $82,639

Rochester, NY $82,580

Des Moines, IA $82,571

Atlanta, GA $82,437

Battle Creek, MI $82,411

Salt Lake City, UT $82,386

Lancaster, PA $82,260

Champaign, IL $82,243

Harrisburg, PA $82,142

Durham, NC $82,066

Kansas City, MO $82,058

Kansas City, KS $82,041

Fort Worth, TX $82,032

Boca Raton, FL $81,999

Cleveland, OH $81,990

Columbus, OH $81,974

Pittsburgh, PA $81,965

Richmond, VA $81,931

Indianapolis, IN $81,915

Cincinnati, OH $81,805

Petersburg, VA $81,679

Lansing, MI $81,494

Billings, MT $81,494

Huntsville, AL $81,494

Lebanon, PA $81,485

Pueblo, CO $81,477

Dayton, OH $81,477

Appleton, WI $81,452

Buffalo, NY $81,418

Racine, WI $81,376

Charlotte, NC $81,367

Saint Louis, MO $81,342

Springfield, IL $81,308

York, PA $81,292

Elkhart, IN $81,292

Gastonia, NC $81,283

Benton Harbor, MI $81,283

Beaumont, TX $81,233

Lorain, OH $81,216

Toledo, OH $81,182

Binghamton, NY $81,140

Rock Hill, SC $81,132

Rockford, IL $81,090

Elyria, OH $81,047

Fargo, ND $81,047

Flagstaff, AZ $80,989

Fort Lauderdale, FL $80,938

Miami, FL $80,888

Duluth, MN $80,753

Bangor, ME $80,643

Cedar Rapids, IA $80,551

Louisville, KY $80,509

Grand Rapids, MI $80,492

Hialeah, FL $80,483

Casper, WY $80,366

Scranton, PA $80,265

New Orleans, LA $80,239

Virginia Beach, VA $80,231

Akron, OH $80,189

Peoria, IL $80,079

Sarasota, FL $80,062

Green Bay, WI $80,004

Baton Rouge, LA $79,961

Charleston, SC $79,945

Nashville, TN $79,919

Jamestown, NY $79,903

Davenport, IA $79,903

Tucson, AZ $79,860

Cheyenne, WY $79,835

Saint Petersburg, FL $79,810

Tampa, FL $79,793

Omaha, NE $79,776

Evansville, IN $79,743

Port Arthur, TX $79,743

Bradenton, FL $79,709

Santa Fe, NM $79,557

Orlando, FL $79,473

Clearwater, FL $79,381

La Crosse, WI $79,204

Canton, OH $79,204

Grand Forks, ND $79,178

Tulsa, OK $79,153

Albuquerque, NM $79,153

Newport News, VA $79,145

High Point, NC $79,120

Ogden, UT $79,086

Corpus Christi, TX $79,019

Laramie, WY $78,968

Norfolk, VA $78,968

Rock Island, IL $78,918

Saginaw, MI $78,901

Jacksonville, FL $78,892

Salisbury, NC $78,875

Memphis, TN $78,859

Moline, IL $78,816

Fort Myers, FL $78,791

Waterloo, IA $78,682

Spartanburg, SC $78,598

Lincoln, NE $78,556

Fort Wayne, IN $78,539

Birmingham, AL $78,446

Cedar Falls, IA $78,429

Provo, UT $78,421

Springfield, OH $78,412

San Antonio, TX $78,396

Greensboro, NC $78,362

South Bend, IN $78,353

Winston Salem, NC $78,345

Boise, ID $78,320

Savannah, GA $78,261

Muskegon, MI $78,109

Lima, OH $78,008

Lake Charles, LA $77,975

Anderson, IN $77,958

Lexington, KY $77,933

Augusta, GA $77,907

Greenville, SC $77,907

Wichita, KS $77,831

Tuscaloosa, AL $77,831

Columbia, SC $77,756

Bloomington, IN $77,545

Roanoke, VA $77,495

Asheville, NC $77,385

Knoxville, TN $77,242

Shreveport, LA $77,234

Wilmington, NC $77,124

Frankfort, KY $76,964

Oklahoma City, OK $76,905

Chillicothe, OH $76,872

Longview, TX $76,863

Topeka, KS $76,838

Mobile, AL $76,712

Terre Haute, IN $76,678

Erie, PA $76,670

Altoona, PA $76,628

Melbourne, FL $76,602

Amarillo, TX $76,569

Killeen, TX $76,543

Fayetteville, AR $76,476

Sioux Falls, SD $76,417

Chattanooga, TN $76,367

Idaho Falls, ID $76,358

Gainesville, FL $76,181

Portsmouth, OH $76,139

Little Rock, AR $76,122

Lynchburg, VA $76,122

Youngstown, OH $76,089

Lafayette, LA $76,089

Temple, TX $76,055

Daytona Beach, FL $76,038

Clarksville, TN $76,030

Pensacola, FL $76,021

Hopkinsville, KY $75,769

Charleston, WV $75,760

Florence, SC $75,718

Sioux City, IA $75,668

Macon, GA $75,424

Tallahassee, FL $75,415

Fayetteville, NC $75,398

Wichita Falls, TX $75,382

Waco, TX $75,382

Pine Bluff, AR $75,348

Vincennes, IN $75,188

Lubbock, TX $75,154

Great Falls, MT $75,104

Alamogordo, NM $75,095

Abilene, TX $75,028

Rapid City, SD $74,919

Monroe, LA $74,919

Albany, GA $74,868

Huntington, WV $74,860

Jackson, MS $74,851

Greenville, MS $74,843

Parkersburg, WV $74,759

Montgomery, AL $74,742

Johnstown, PA $74,725

Springfield, MO $74,658

Biloxi, MS $74,616

Sumter, SC $74,439

Columbus, GA $74,430

Twin Falls, ID $74,380

Pascagoula, MS $74,270

Kingsport, TN $74,051

Gulfport, MS $74,026

Alexandria, LA $73,748

Fort Smith, AR $73,538

El Paso, TX $73,311

Helena, MT $73,201

Las Cruces, NM $72,932

Harlingen, TX $72,696

Pocatello, ID $72,620

Florence, AL $72,595

Brownsville, TX $72,578

Dothan, AL $72,443

Mcallen, TX $72,401

Columbus, MS $71,778

Altus, OK $71,391

Lawton, OK $71,231

Pierre, SD $70,928

What Skills Can Increase an External Relations's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

Initiative (Mentioned in 3.72% Job Postings): Taking decisive action and initiating plans independently to address problems, improve professional life, and achieve goals.
Food Safety (Mentioned in 2.45% Job Postings): Applying procedures during food preparation, processing, storage, and distribution to ensure consumers are safe from foodborne illnesses.
Labor Relations (Mentioned in 1.1% Job Postings): Is the term used to define the process between employers and employees, management and unions in order to make decisions in organizations. The decisions taken refer to wages, working conditions, hours of work, and safety at work, security and grievances.

See More Skills

Skills	Demand Percentage
Initiative	3.72%
Food Safety	2.45%
Labor Relations	1.1%

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on an External Relations's salary.

Labor Relations: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
Collaboration: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
Employment Law: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.

Skill	Salary	Salary % Increase
Labor Relations	$89,239	6%
Collaboration	$88,397	5%
Employment Law	$88,397	5%
Conflict Resolution	$87,555	4%
Employee Relations	$86,713	3%
Case Management	$86,713	3%

Get Latest Data

How Education impacts an External Relations's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many External Relations enter the field with a Associate's Degree degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an External Relations with a Associate's Degree is between $78,595 and $83,437).

External Relations Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for External Relations

No Diploma 10.8%

High School 10.8%

Associates 6.5%

Bachelors 43.0%

Masters 35.5%

Doctorate 4.3%

view as table

Degree Level	% of user with this level of education
No Diploma	10.8%
High School	10.8%
Associates	6.5%
Bachelors	43.0%
Masters	35.5%
Doctorate	4.3%

view as graph

External Relations Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an External Relations's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on May 18, 2021

$76,053

Average $84,188/year

$90,301

$6,338

Average $7,016/month

$7,525

$1,463

Average $1,619/week

$1,737

$37

Average $40/hour

$43

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$90,301	$7,525	$1,737	$43
Average	$84,188	$7,016	$1,619	$40
25th Percentile	$76,053	$6,338	$1,463	$37

Salaries of jobs related to External Relations

Salary Trends for External Relations

Salaries for an External Relations can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $71,491 in 2023 to around $71,340 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of External Relations salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of External Relations Over Time

2022

$???

2023

$71,491

2024

$71,525

2025

$71,340

2026

$???

2027

$???

Year	Average Annual Salary
2022	View More
2023	$71,491
2024	$71,525
2025	$71,340
2026	View More
2027	View More

Most common benefits for External Relations

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401(k)

Disability

Healthcare

Pension

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Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

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