Roughly 72 percent of Americans currently use social media, and platforms like Facebook and Instagram have transformed drastically over the last several years. This has had a dramatic impact on how much social media jobs pay.
Not only are these sites used to connect with friends and share pictures of people’s pets, but they’re also important business marketing and promotional tools. As the purpose of social media has evolved, there’s become a strong need for businesses to employ experts who can help them create content, manage their online presence, analyze data gathered from ads, and more.
I’ve spent the past 15 years managing teams and clients around social media, and the landscape has changed dramatically in just a short time. Social media jobs have evolved quite a bit, and what and how they pay can be a bit of a crap shoot. I’ve taken the time to bring it all together for those interested in learning where things stand these days.
The Top Searched and Best Paying Social Media Jobs
With nearly three-quarters of Americans using social media, it makes sense that millions of people are also searching for social media jobs each month. The top-searched social media jobs all receive well over 100,000 searches per month on Google:
- Brand Ambassador: 115,620 searches per month
- Social Media Manager: 131,310 searches per month
- Community Manager: 207,990 searches per month
- Blogger: 4,499,440 searches per month
Interestingly, while these are the top 4 most frequently searched positions, they aren’t the highest-paying social media jobs in the U.S. Those are explored in more detail in the following section.
Top 10 Highest Social Media Jobs Pay Opportunities [with Salaries]
In addition to wanting to know what the most popular social media jobs are, everyone also wants to know what social media jobs pay — and which ones pay the most.
It’s important to note that the salary range for social media positions varies widely depending on where a person is located.
For example, a social media manager in New York City or Los Angeles is going to earn more than a social media manager in Lincoln, Nebraska or Bismark, South Dakota. After all, the cost of living is a lot lower in these midwestern cities than it is in major metropolitan areas.
The increase in remote positions opening up throughout the United States is also expanding earning opportunities for people working in social media careers. With more businesses hiring professionals from all over the country (or even the world), it’s now possible to earn an above-average salary without having to relocate to a new city or state.
Despite there being a lot of variation in salaries, certain social media marketing careers will almost always pay more than others. If you want to maximize your earnings while working in this field, here are the top 10 options to keep in mind as you start your job search, ranked from highest to lowest salary (according to data from Indeed):
1. Creative Director: Average Salary $77,327 per year
Creative directors oversee all the creative aspects of a business’s marketing department, including those related to the company’s social media presence. They work alongside the creative team (which includes art directors, designers, and copywriters) to plan, create, and carry out a strategic vision.
Most creative directors have at least a bachelor’s degree (although some go on to earn a master’s) in a field like graphic design or marketing.
2. Content Strategist: Average Salary $63,942 per year
A content strategist is a core member of a business’s marketing and advertising team. As the name of the position suggests, these professionals are responsible for developing content strategies based on the company’s business objectives and needs.
Most content strategists have a bachelor’s degree in a field like communications, English, or journalism. They must be skilled writers and creators who can easily communicate the company’s message in a way that aligns with its values.
3. Data Analyst: Average Salary $65,275 per year
For those who are more analytical and less creative, a career as a social media data analyst is an excellent and high-paying choice. Data analysts evaluate data gathered from social media posts, ads, etc., and use it to help the company make strategic decisions.
Most data analysts have either a bachelor’s or master’s degree in a field like analytics, science, math, statistics, or computer modeling.
4. Brand Manager: Average Salary $62,517 per year
Social media brand managers are responsible for researching various social media platforms to determine the company’s current position and gauge people’s attitudes toward it. They also develop marketing and advertising strategies, manage the budgets for those strategies, and create designs and layouts for social media marketing campaigns.
Social media brand managers typically have at least a bachelor’s degree in a field like marketing, graphic design, business, or advertising.
5. Digital Strategist: Average Salary $61,872 per year
Digital strategists plan and offer advice on executing social media marketing campaigns (as well as other types of digital marketing campaigns). They are experts in social media marketing, as well as SEO, paid advertising, content marketing, and more, and they use that knowledge to create detailed plans for various companies.
In general, digital strategists must have a bachelor’s degree in a field like communications, marketing, advertising, or business.
6. Social Media Community Manager: Average Salary $49,467 per year
Social media community managers are responsible for growing and maintaining a company’s online community. They ensure that all of the brand’s followers feel that they belong to the community and are receiving value from being a part of it.
Many social media community managers have a bachelor’s degree in marketing, communications, public relations, or a related field.
7. Social Media Manager: Average Salary $49,285 per year
Social media managers oversee all aspects of a company’s social media presence. They develop social media content strategies, supervise the production of that content, analyze social media analytics, and manage various projects and campaigns.
A social media manager typically has a bachelor’s degree in marketing, advertising, communications, public relations, or a related field.
8. Marketing Associate: Average Salary $46,780 per year
A social media marketing associate is a lower-level social media marketing position that still provides a decent salary. They are responsible for planning and implementing various marketing and advertising activities. They also analyze market research and customer behavior.
Most social media marketing associates have a degree in marketing, communications, or a related field. However, some entry-level positions don’t require a degree as long as you have a thorough understanding of how social media advertising and promotions work.
9. Social Media Specialist: Average Salary $44,106 per year
Social media specialists are responsible for creating and publishing content on a variety of social media platforms. They also monitor site metrics, respond to comments, and assist with creative design.
To become a social media specialist, it helps if you have a bachelor’s degree in a field like marketing or communications. However, as is the case with the social media marketing associate job, a degree isn’t always required if you have relevant experience.
10. Social Media Coordinator: Average Salary $40,818 per year
A social media coordinator creates and edits written, video, and photo content for social media. They may also attend events and produce live-streamed social media content while also collaborating with other members of the marketing team.
Social media coordinators usually have a bachelor’s degree in marketing or communications. However, relevant experience can also take the place of a degree in some cases.
Do Social Media Jobs Pay Well?
As is the case in a lot of industries, the short answer to this question is “it depends.”
Some social media jobs, particularly entry-level positions, don’t come with very high salaries. After all, they’re entry-level jobs that don’t require a lot of prior training and experience.
However, after you spend some time in these entry-level jobs, you will soon be able to qualify for other positions that pay a lot more.
After a while, you’ll find that you’re earning quite a bit more per hour or per year. You may even find yourself working in one of the highest-paying social media careers — including those on the top 10 list above.
What Is the Highest-Paid Social Media Job?
Based on the data from Indeed mentioned above, the highest-paid social media job in the United States is a job as a Creative Director.
The average salary for a creative director may seem relatively low at first ($77,327 per year). However, this is well above the average salary in the U.S., which is $56,310 per year.
It’s also important to note that you can earn a lot more than $77,327 per year in this position depending on where you live and where you work. This is especially true if you’re employed by a major company like Facebook (now Meta). They are currently paying their creative director over $275,000 per year.
Start Applying for Social Media Jobs Today
Now that you know more about what social media jobs pay, and what the highest-paying social media jobs are, do you have a better idea of what kind of career you want to pursue?
There are lots of well-paid social media jobs out there, including some that don’t require any previous experience. Keep the information from this guide in mind so you can choose the right job for you.
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