Are you considering a career as a social media manager in 2024?
Or are you already working in the field and wondering if you’re being paid fairly?
Either way, it’s essential to know what the average social media manager’s salary is so you can negotiate better and get the figure you deserve in this competitive industry.
However, determining a precise number isn’t a straightforward process. There are several factors determining these salaries, and understanding them is crucial for both aspiring social media managers and organizations looking to hire social media managers.
In this blog post, we’ll explore the ins and outs of how much a social media manager makes, the industry averages, location-based pay, and tips for negotiating your salary.
What is the Average Social Media Manager Salary?
Businesses are increasingly investing in their online presence, including on social media networks. Hence, the hiring of a social media manager has become more pertinent than ever before.
Social media managers wield unparalleled influence over brand perception and consumer engagement. As their roles are crucial and sometimes complex, organizations are willing to offer competitive salaries across verticals and levels.
So, what is the average payout for social media managers in recent times?
According to Indeed.com, the average base salary for a social media manager is $57,598 per year as of August 2023 in the US.
As per Glassdoor, social media managers in the US enjoy a base salary of $57,132 per year. This is based on 8,743 salaries submitted on the platform anonymously by social media managers in the United States.
However, that’s just the number for the average base salary. Beyond that, things get more interesting.
According to Builtincolorado’s research, a beginner social media manager with 1-3 years of experience in Denver earns in the range of $57,167/year, while a professional with 3-5 years in most regions earns around $71,333/year.
The above numbers would indicate that a social media manager’s salary depends on several factors.
What exactly determines the compensation figures for social media managers? What are the current trends in the US and globally?
Let’s look at all the primary factors that decide the pay of a social media manager.
Factors That Determine Social Media Manager Salaries
Today, the compensation of a social media manager is influenced by a combination of elements, including:
Geographic Location
Like most professionals, social media managers, too, receive varying salaries based on their workplace’s location. Salaries typically vary based on the cost of living, with major cities often offering higher compensation due to higher expenses.
For example, social media managers working in San Francisco or New York City can expect to make more than those working in smaller cities or rural areas.
Industry
Different industries prioritize social media management to varying degrees, affecting salary levels. Some industries, such as tech and finance, tend to pay higher salaries than others. Additionally, specific industries may have a greater need for social media managers than the rest.
Company Size
The resource allocation capacity of a company for social media marketing can impact your salary. Larger companies with extensive marketing budgets may offer higher compensation to attract top talent.
Experience
A candidate’s experience and education are crucial influencers of their salary. Those with more years of experience and advanced degrees can command higher salaries across industries.
Certifications and Specializations
Finally, certifications and specialized skills, such as influencer marketing or certifications in social media marketing, can make a social media manager more valued and potentially lead to a higher salary.
How Much Do Social Media Managers Make By Location?
From the above factors, you know location plays a crucial role in deciding the monetary compensation a social media manager receives.
What are the numbers that highlight this?
Here is a breakdown of the salaries across countries and in different cities and states to summarize the varying pay grades for social media managers.
Average Social Media Manager Salary in the United States
According to Indeed, the average salary of a social media manager in the US stands at $57,564 per annum and can go as high as $89,178. Here is what the average salary for social media managers in different regions of the US looks like:
- New York, NY: $70,267
- San Francisco, CA: $76,510
- Los Angeles, CA: $65,909
- Seattle, WA: $70,836
- Austin, TX: $ 56,970
- Chicago, IL: $ 60,316
- Boston, MA: $ 57,861
- Denver, CO: $64, 873
- Atlanta, GA: $56,510
- Miami, FL: $56,241
Source: Indeed
Average Social Media Manager Salary in Canada
According to Glassdoor, the average social media manager salary in Canada stands at $58,739 CAD per year and can reach as high as $77,000 CAD per year – data updated on 22 August 2023
Here’s how the number changes when you look at specific locations across Canada:
- Toronto, Ontario: CA $60,283/yr
- Vancouver, British Columbia: CA $57,958/yr
- Calgary, Alberta: CA $53,145/yr
- Ottawa, Ontario: CA $61,077/yr
- Montreal, Quebec: CA $58,251/yr
Average Social Media Manager Salary in Europe
European markets are known for their rich cultural diversity and multilingualism and offer various opportunities to social media managers. Here are some of the best countries in Europe offering the highest packages as of 2023:
- United Kingdom: €36,796
- Germany: €44,976
- France: €40,000
- Italy: €35,684
- Spain: €29,019
- Netherlands: €32,772
- Switzerland: €83,975
- Sweden: €64,915
- Denmark: €47,919
- Norway: €44,301
Source: Glassdoor
Average Social Media Manager Salary in Australia
Another growing hub for social media management roles, Australia offers an average salary as high as $84,500 per year. This estimate is based on 237 salaries submitted anonymously by social media managers in Australia to Glassdoor.
Some of the highest-paying locations across Australia include:
- Sydney, New South Wales: $83,500/yr
- Melbourne, Victoria: $86,750/yr
- Brisbane, Queensland: $71,848/yr
- Perth, Western Australia: $80,600/yr
- Adelaide, South Australia: $55,000/yr
How Much Do Social Media Managers Make By Industry?
Salaries can vary widely from one sector to another due to a multitude of factors that influence the demand, complexity, and strategic importance of social media management within that industry.
A report by Zippia offers insights into the industry average salaries and the highest-paying industries for social media managers. According to this report, the technology, finance, and professional industries offer the highest packages to social media managers.
Have a look at this:
- Technology offers an average pay of $82,546
- Finance provides an average salary of $74,173
- Professional offers an average salary of $71,455
- The Internet industry offers an average salary of $71,000
- Media provides an average salary of $70,960
- Retail offers an average salary of $70,013
- Hospitality provides an estimated average salary of $67,443
So, what are the lowest-paying industries?
Social media consultant Rachel Karten drew some conclusions in her social media compensation survey. According to her report, non-profit, education, and food and beverages, with $53,000, $55,000, and $60,000, respectively, are the lowest-paying industries for social media managers.
The variations in social media manager salaries across verticals would boil down to the strategic role of social media within that industry and the typical complexity of content and campaigns involved.
How Much Do Social Media Managers Make Based on Experience?
A social media manager’s experience plays a significant role in determining their salary. A candidate’s combination of skills, knowledge, and insights can greatly impact a company’s social media strategy and performance and, thereby, its resource allocation.
Zippia has categorized industry experience as entry-level, mid-level, and senior.
- The average salary for an entry-level social media manager with 0-2 years of experience is $52,177 per year.
- Mid-level social media managers with 3-6 years of experience make an average of $70,287 per year.
- Senior-level social media managers with 7-12 years of experience make an average of $127,777 per year.
Rachel Karten surveyed over 1,000 social media marketers to analyze the compensation trends. Here’s what the salary chart looks like:
How Much Do Freelance Social Media Managers Make?
With the rise of remote work and the gig economy, the question of how much freelance social media managers make has gained prominence. The compensation landscape for freelance social media managers is dynamic and diverse, shaped by various factors that determine their earning potential.
Usually, freelance social marketers charge their clients by the hour.
- Data from Upwork shows that the social media managers on their platform charge $14 – $35 per hour.
- Data from Glassdoor shows a similar pay range, $22 to $36 per hour.
- As per ZipRecruiter, a recruiting website, the hourly rate for social media managers is $31.
Social media managers’ hourly rates can vary based on factors like experience, skill level, and geographic location.
Project-based rate is another common approach among freelancers, with the figures varying by business type and size. Social media managers may charge a flat fee for specific projects or campaigns. This approach involves estimating the time and effort required for the project’s completion and presenting a fixed cost to your clients.
3 Tips for Negotiating a Competitive Salary as a Social Media Manager
Negotiating your salary may seem a nerve-wracking process, but it’s a crucial step in ensuring fair compensation for your skills and expertise.
These three tips will help both new and experienced social media managers navigate the salary negotiation process effectively:
Showcase Your Value and Achievements
Highlighting your accomplishments is pivotal to showcasing your value for any career. Whether it’s successful campaigns, increased engagement rates, or follower growth, quantifying your work’s impact with social media metrics showcases your contributions.
Emphasize your expertise in specific areas like content creation, interpreting analytics, or influencer collaborations.
This way, you can set yourself apart from the crowd and justify a higher salary.
Research and Present Market Insights
It’s never a bad idea to research what the industry standard is and what the salary benchmarks are for your position. Equally important is comprehending the company’s financial health and the industry’s emphasis on social media.
Present data-backed insights during the interview process to make a well-informed case that justifies your desired salary range. Highlight any industry trends to demonstrate your negotiation prowess and awareness of the bigger picture in social media management.
Consider a Comprehensive Compensation Package
Salary is just one aspect of a well-rounded compensation package. During your negotiations, explore the benefits as parts of the compensation structure that can enhance your work-life balance.
The inclusion of performance-based bonuses ties up your success to the company’s goals, showcasing your commitment to driving results.
Highlight your value as a team player who can collaborate effectively with cross-functional departments, aligning your aspirations with the company’s growth trajectory. This will result in the company recognizing your value-add to the organizational goals and offering a commensurate compensation.
Wrapping Up
A social media manager’s salary isn’t just numbers—it’s a reflection of your skills, dedication, experience, and strategic prowess. By gathering insights into industry benchmarks, showcasing accomplishments, and embracing a holistic compensation approach, you can ace your salary negotiations.
Remember, your expertise shapes brand narratives, drives growth, and makes you a valuable resource for an entire host of industries.
Tools like SocialPilot can help you better implement your roles and responsibilities toward building an impressive profile. With an advanced social media management tool, you can effortlessly curate content, optimize scheduling, and measure your content’s impact across social media platforms.
This efficiency translates into elevated brand visibility and an enhanced career trajectory for yourself. Try out SocialPilot yourself by booking a demo today.
