Are you considering a career in social media? Knowing the average social media manager salary can help you determine if this is the right job for you.
Social marketers are highly sought after in today’s digital age, and social media marketing salaries vary depending on experience, location, and industry.
In this article, we’ll explore average salaries for social media managers worldwide to give you an idea of what you should charge for your work.
Bonus: Our free social media manager career toolkit includes resume, cover letter, and portfolio templates, along with a complete guide to social media job descriptions and frequently asked interview questions. You got this!
How much do social media managers make? Since the industry is still relatively new, salaries for social media professionals have yet to be standardized.
In some companies, social media marketers are treated like interns. In others, they are essential members of the C-Suite.
Below, you’ll find a quick breakdown of social media management salaries in Canada, the USA, Europe, and the United Kingdom.
If you already have a job in social media marketing, you can use this social media salary calculator to see how your compensation compares to the industry average.
Average social media manager salary in Canada
Data from Glassdoor finds the average salary for a social media manager is $53,759 per year in Canada.
Source: Glassdoor
Payscale shows the average social media manager’s salary is around $48,946 annually in Canada.
Source: Payscale
On the high end, some roles boast up to $85,500 per year on Glassdoor and $64,000 on Payscale. Some of these roles include cash bonuses of $9,000-$11,00. On the low end, social media manager salaries sit around $42,000 per year on Glassdoor and Payscale, respectively.
Source: Glassdoor
Payscale also finds that social media marketing manager salaries in Canada are higher in large cities like Toronto, Montreal, and Calgary. Surprisingly, social media managers in Vancouver earn around 3% less than the national average.
Source: Payscale
Average social media manager salary in US
According to Glassdoor, the average social media manager salary in the United States is $57,852 per year.
Source: Glassdoor
Payscale found a similar average for social media managers in the US, at around $54,755 annually.
Source: Payscale
While Glassdoor found some roles can see up to $85,473 USD per year, there are also roles paying as low as $23 per hour.
In terms of location, Payscale found that roles in social media manager salaries in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and San Francisco are higher–with San Francisco offering salaries up to 51% more than other parts of the country.
Source: Payscale
Average social media manager salary in Europe
European data on the salary of a social media manager is a bit harder to pin down, as currencies and payscales vary widely. Here’s what we did find:
- Data from SalaryExpert shows that the average social media salary in the Netherlands is €74,127 annually.
- In Germany, you can expect to earn an average salary of €35,705 annually (according to Payscale.)
- Glassdoor finds that in France, you earn an average of €39,039 annually.
- In Spain, you make around €30,528, according to Glassdoor.
- Italian social media managers make an average salary of €47,303, Glassdoor finds.
- Payscale shows that in Poland, you make around 84,000zł per year.
- Glassdoor shows social media managers in Switzerland make an average salary of CHF 99,366 per year.
Average social media manager salary in the United Kingdom
How much does a social media manager make in the UK?
Well, according to Glassdoor, social media manager salaries in the United Kingdom (UK) average around £37,429 per year and can reach as high as £60,000 per year.
Source: Glassdoor
Payscale finds the average UK social media manager salary sits around £25,922 per year and goes as high as £40,000.
Source: Payscale
By location, social media marketing manager salaries are highest in London and lower in places like Brighton and Manchester.
Source: Payscale
Social media manager salaries by seniority
Experience matters in the world of social media marketing. Here’s how much experience you’ll need to make big bucks in different parts of the world.
Canada
According to Payscale, Canadian social media managers can expect the following salaries based on years of experience:
- Entry-level social media managers with less than 1 year of experience earn around $42,088 CAD.
- Social media managers with 1-4 years of experience earn an average of $46,286 CAD.
- Social media managers with 5-9 years of experience earn an average of $54,674 CAD
- Social media managers with 10-19 years of experience earn an average of $63,808 CAD.
Source: Payscale
United States
Data from Payscale breaks American salaries down further based on experience:
- Entry-level social media managers with less than 1 year of experience earn around $41,860 USD.
- Social media managers with 1-4 years of experience earn an average of $51,142 USD.
- Social media managers with 5-9 years of experience earn an average of $64,321 USD.
- Social media managers with 10-19 years of experience earn an average of $73,808 USD.
Source: Payscale
Europe
Here’s what level of experience Payscale found European social media professionals need to earn higher salaries:
- Social media managers in the Netherlands with 1 year of experience make around €36,885, while those with 5-9 years of experience can earn €42,000.
- Entry-level German social media managers make around €28,000 annually, while a social media manager with 5-9 years of experience earns an average of €39,628.
- Spanish social media managers with 1-4 years of experience earn around €22,993. While those with 5-9 years of experience earn closer to €28,000.
- In Italy, social media managers with 1-4 years of experience earn around €18,020, while 5-9 years gets you to €23,000.
Data for Switzerland, France, and Poland is less readily available. That said, we did find that:
- On the high end, Swiss social media marketers can expect up to CHF 138,000 annually.
- French social media managers make a high of €48,000 per year.
- Polish social media managers can make up to 89,000zł per year.
Generally, you can expect to make more as a social media professional the longer you stay in the field. Social media specialist salaries also tend to be higher, so don’t be afraid to niche down.
United Kingdom
In the UK, social media professionals stand to make just £15,702 more with up to 19 years of experience. According to Payscale:
- Entry-level social media managers with less than 1 year of experience earn around £20,852.
- Social media managers with 1-4 years of experience earn an average of £25,301.
- Social media managers with 5-9 years of experience earn an average of £32,759.
- Social media managers with 10-19 years of experience earn an average of £36,554.
Source: Payscale
According to a survey conducted by Rachel Karten, the former Associate Director of Social Media at Bon Appetit, the highest-paying industries for social media professionals are:
- Technology
- Healthcare
- Entertainment
Rachel notes that these industries tend to be large organizations, which means they have room for bigger teams, advancement opportunities, and larger salaries.
She also notes that the #1 most popular industry in the survey was “Agency,” making up 18% of the sample.
Source: Rachel Karten
Social media manager hourly rates
Freelance social media manager salaries may look slightly different than the ones at larger organizations. Social marketers who take on clients as freelancers usually charge an hourly rate.
Here’s what freelance social media managers are charging today:
- ZipRecruiter shows that freelance social media professionals make around $25 USD per hour.
- According to Upwork, freelance social media manager ranges from $14-$35 USD per hour.
- Glassdoor data comes in at around $29 USD per hour.
Keep in mind average hourly rates for social marketers vary depending on the types of services offered, the frequency and duration of projects, and the size of clients. Social media professionals who have a portfolio of large corporate clients may command higher salaries than those working with smaller businesses that are just getting started.
Individual comments from Quora find that:
- Entry-level freelance social media managers can charge anywhere from $20-$50 per hour.
- Mid-level freelancers can charge 50-$100 per hour.
- Senior freelancers may charge $100-$150 per hour and above.
Download our Social Media Career Report for stats on social media manager salaries, benefits, job satisfaction, mental health, and more.
Get the report6 tips for getting the compensation you deserve
Whether you’re an associate or senior social media manager, salary negotiations should always be done with the understanding that you are providing valuable services to a business. Your salary should reflect your experience and expertise.
Here are some tips for getting the salary you deserve.
1. Research salaries in your industry
It’s always a good idea to research salary ranges in the industry of a job you are applying for. Find out what an associate social media manager salary, or even a Sr. social media manager salary looks like. This will help you determine what salary range to ask for during salary negotiations.
2. Negotiate with confidence
Once you understand your value in the market, go into salary negotiations with confidence. If you have done your research, you should be able to identify a salary range that reflects the value of your work. Be prepared to explain why you deserve each figure you provide, and don’t be afraid to ask for more if appropriate.
3. Build a beautiful portfolio
A social media portfolio is a great way to showcase your work and highlight your skills. Take the time to build a portfolio that reflects the quality of your work, and use it to demonstrate how you can help a company reach its social media goals.
4. Stay up to date on social media trends
Social media moves fast, and the best social marketers are always on top of the latest trends. Make sure to stay up to date on all the latest news and developments in the world of social media, and be prepared to discuss how you can use that knowledge in your work.
5. Build a mock social media marketing plan
If you really want to stand out, consider putting together a mock social media marketing plan for the company you’re interviewing with. This doesn’t need to be a long, in-depth plan; even something brief and targeted to the company’s needs can show that you understand how social media works and how your particular skills can benefit them.
6. Be flexible
It’s also important to be flexible when negotiating salary. You may not get exactly what you are asking for, especially if you are just starting in a social media marketing role. Be sure to consider salary ranges outside of your initial request, and don’t be afraid to compromise when necessary.
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