According to online resources like Payscale and Indeed, the average salary for a Social Media Manager in the United States is about $58,000 to $62,000. However, this range falls within a much broader average range of around $32,000 to $92,000, including additional pay like bonuses or profit sharing.

To better understand how a salary range affects you, plan to learn the average salaries of social media pros in your area before you commit to this career. If you start a social media management career track with no experience, consider the value of a certificate or certification to optimize your salary in the local job market.

What is a Social Media Manager?

Most Social Media Managers combine their marketing expertise with management skills. They may design, curate, and manage an organization’s social media content, especially in smaller companies. Larger organizations may require a Social Media Manager to partner with a creative team and outside agencies to oversee everything from short-form videos to marketing campaign strategies.

What Affects Your Pay as a Social Media Manager

Like their many potential titles, Social Media Manager pay varies by industry, company, seniority, and title. For example, salaries in small organizations may lag behind large corporations. Read on to learn how various factors can affect social media management salaries.

Education

Education is important. Fortunately, learning how to do the work can be just as valuable for a Social Media Manager as learning abstract marketing concepts taught in many college courses.

If you want to manage social media for a well-known company, the position may require a bachelor’s or master's degree. Typical degree requirements include marketing, communications, public relations, or journalism. Positions like these usually demand experience. However, salary may be commensurate with skills and industry-specific knowledge, too.

While a four-year degree may be essential for some industries, this is not always the case with social media management. Search online job listings, and you may find bachelor’s or associate degrees under requirements.

High school graduates looking for social media positions will likely have to start with a Social Media Strategist or Digital Marketing Strategist role. However, the lack of a degree does not necessarily exclude candidates from specific social media management roles. Many job postings list skills but mention nothing about education. A certificate of completion from a respected course provider can often open the door to a full-time position that includes healthcare and paid time off (PTO).

Experience

Experience is always a factor for compensation, and social media pros have a unique advantage: they can use tools required in other fields for many social media management roles.

Many smaller companies hire Social Media Managers with graphics, video, or marketing experience. Skill sets from other fields like market research, photography, or web design can also be essential to social media management, including:

  • The Adobe Creative Cloud - Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator
  • Online Design Tools - Canva, Figma, or other platforms
  • Google Ads & Analytics
  • Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Software - HubSpot, Salesforce
  • Content Management Systems (CMS) - WordPress, Drupal

Although few Social Media Managers need to manage a CRM or CMS, many have experience navigating them. The same principle applies to design and Creative Cloud tools: some companies emphasize YouTube videos, whereas others emphasize Facebook, Google, or Instagram. If you do not have paid on-the-job experience, an internship or volunteer position may be enough to qualify for the position you want.

Industry

Your industry or sector is among the most essential factors that impact salary. If you already have industry-specific knowledge from a current or previous position, you might leverage that for a social media management role. If you have no experience, the skills and knowledge you gain from an intensive bootcamp or certificate program might qualify you for an entry-level social media position on the management track.

Consider the following as some of the best industries salary-wise for Social Media Managers:

  • Education
  • Entertainment
  • Healthcare
  • Leisure & Hospitality
  • Marketing
  • Real Estate
  • Retail

Whatever your industry, a multinational corporation will likely pay more than a small nonprofit. Similarly, a freelance social media pro can set rates for clients but must accommodate the budgets of small- to medium-sized companies.

Location

Like industry or sector, location is a top factor driving starting salaries. The average salary of a social media pro in a metro area like New York City or Los Angeles is typically higher than in a small town in the Midwest. However, cost-of-living expenses like housing or commuting can outweigh the advantages of big-city life. Those seeking social media management careers must weigh other factors like industry, experience, and education.

In an increasingly mobile job market, location can also be less relevant. Some companies require full-time employees to report to the office daily, others feature an in-person and remote work hybrid, and others are entirely remote. Freelancers typically work from their home or a coworking rental space. If your company hires you based on your willingness to relocate, that may also affect your salary. Some organizations can reimburse moving expenses, whereas others must stick with local applicants.

Specialization

Many companies reward a Social Media Manager who has learned an in-demand specialized skill for their expertise. Consider the following specialized skills that can make some job candidates more attractive to recruiters and human resources managers than others.

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) - Many Social Media Managers combine this essential skill set with search engine marketing (SEM). A Social Media Manager may come to their role from a previous position as a Search Engine Optimization Specialist, SEO/SEM Coordinator, or Marketing Specialist. SEO and SEM are part of a company’s digital marketing strategy, and a Social Media Manager should be proficient in these areas. Consider a certificate or certification program to become an SEO expert.

Google Ads & Analytics - If you plan to work as a Social Media Manager, you should know how to use Google Ads, as many companies require it. The newest iteration of Google Analytics, GA4, is also essential for digital marketers. Google Analytics features numerous tools, from tracking video engagement to landing page performance.

Pay Range for Social Media Managers

Salaries for Social Media Managers in the United States are about $60,000 annually. According to Indeed, the average annual salary is $58,000, while Glassdoor reports an average of $60,000. However, the scale starts around $32,000 on the low end and reaches as high as $95,000 on the upper. Factors like location, industry, experience, and education can all influence where a given role will fall within that range.

Positions at the lower end of the salary range often combine basic administrative tasks with the responsibility of running a given organization's social media presence. For example, an ad for an Administrative Assistant & Social Media Manager might appeal to someone with a high school diploma and admin experience but no on-the-job social media experience. A candidate might still need social platform proficiency to qualify for this role.

Social media management positions at the high end of the scale can exceed the average by a wide margin. For example, a Senior Social Media Manager might earn over $200,000 annually. These roles usually require years of experience and a proven track record. Salaries at this level are more typical in major metropolitan areas.

Highest-Earning Job Titles for Social Media Managers

Titles for the highest-earning Social Media Managers often reflect seniority. Recent job postings for roles at these elevated levels include titles like:

  • Senior Corporate Marketing Manager (Social Media)
  • Senior Social Media Manager
  • Social Media Business Intelligence Senior Manager
  • Social Media & Partnership Manager

Less common titles for high earners do not necessarily combine the word manager with the phrase social media directly:

  • Social Influencer / Escalations - Senior Manager
  • Social Media Producer
  • Manager, Marketing Creative Brand + Content
  • Director, Social Media

If you want to start a career on the Social Media Manager path and have not earned a degree in the field, consider getting on the fast track by enrolling in a bootcamp or certificate program that features social media training or includes it as part of a broader digital marketing curriculum.

Learn the Skills to Become a Social Media Manager at Noble Desktop

Noble Desktop offers numerous training options for students to learn social media management in person or online through teleconferencing. Topics include marketing, SEO, and Google Analytics, to name a few. Consider the following programs:

  • Digital Marketing Certificate - Noble’s Digital Marketing Certificate program is Noble Desktop's primary program for students looking to get on the marketing career track. You and your classmates will gain a deep understanding of digital marketing from every angle. Topics include Google Ads and Analytics, SEO, email marketing, and social media marketing campaigns, to name a few.
  • Social Media Marketing Certificate - The Social Media Marketing Certificate emphasizes social without delving into SEO or Google Ads/Analytics. This immersive 72-hour certificate covers LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram, and other platforms alongside social media content marketing. Attendees learn hands-on as they create a professional-level portfolio.
  • Google Analytics Bootcamp - The Google Analytics Bootcamp introduces students to GA4, the newest analytics service from the tech giant. Topics include determining key performance indicators (KPIs), tracking ROI (return on investment) on marketing campaigns, and Google Analytics Reports. You can save by taking this bootcamp as part of the Digital Marketing Certificate program.
  • SEO Bootcamp - Also available through the Digital Marketing Certificate, Noble’s SEO Bootcamp is a 12-hour dive into the importance of search engine optimization. You'll learn keyword research techniques with Semrush, SEO for mobile, and numerous other subjects.
  • AI for Marketing - AI For Marketing is one of Noble Desktop’s most popular new courses, covering popular platforms like ChatGPT, Salesforce Einstein, and Google's Gemini AI. Applicants should understand social media marketing, SEO, and analytics before enrolling. You can save by taking AI for Marketing as part of the Generative AI Certificate program.