What does a Social Media Manager do?

A Social Media Manager helps to increase exposure through social media platforms. They work alongside a specialized team to reach your brand's goals. From creating monthly editorial calendars, to using marketing strategies to deliver your brand's message in creative ways, a Social Media Manager is the link between your business and your social media followers. More than just attracting new customers, a Social Media Manager analyzes data to determine which initiatives work best and capitalize on this information to continue scaling your business.

Though advanced education is not necessary, many employers seek to hire candidates a with bachelor's degree in marketing, business, advertising, public relations or a related field. Additional certifications such as Google Analytics and Google AdWords generally are preferred. Individuals who have a firm understanding of marketing principles and work well in a team setting tend to excel in the position of Social Media Manager.

What responsibilities are common for Social Media Manager jobs?
  • Oversee day-to-day management of campaigns and ensure brand consistency
  • Facilitate scaling brand and company awareness through various social media channels
  • Work with brand to create and implement social media strategies monthly
  • Ensure brand consistency in copy through tone, voice and terminology
  • Supervise all aspects of social media interaction between customers and the company, and ensure a positive customer service experience
  • Create actionable plans to both grow and maintain followers through popular social media platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, YouTube and LinkedIn
  • Ensure progress on all platforms by using analytical tools such as Google Analytics and others
  • Oversee the creating and implementation of the monthly editorial calendar which includes monthly sales objectives and initiatives
What are the typical qualifications for Social Media Manager jobs?
  • 3-5 years of social media management experience
  • Bachelor's degree in business, marketing, journalism, public relations or related field
  • Professional certification in Google Analytics strongly preferred
  • Proficient using multi-social posting programs such as Hootsuite and HubSpot
  • Strong computer skills using Microsoft Office and Adobe Suites
  • General knowledge of Search Engine Optimization and internet ranking for web content
  • Relevant experience determining a target audience and how to cater unique marketing campaigns to capture their attention
  • Strong understanding of marketing strategy and how to effortlessly utilize these concepts throughout various forms of outreach
  • Ability to manage and supervise a diverse group of employees and simultaneously work toward many company initiatives at once
EducationBachelor's Degree
Work/Life Balance
3.8 ★
Total Pay--
Career Opportunity
3.8 ★
Avg. Experience2-4 years

How much does a Social Media Manager make near United States?

Confident
$58,186 /yr
Total Pay
$54,411
 /yr

Base Pay

+
$3,775
 /yr

Additional Pay

$58,186

 / yr
$36K$94K
Most Likely Range
Possible Range
See More Insights

Social Media Manager Career Path

Learn how to become a Social Media Manager, what skills and education you need to succeed, and what level of pay to expect at each step on your career path.

Social Media Manager
$58,186/yr
Senior Social Media Manager
$84,495/yr
Social Media Manager

Years of Experience Distribution

0 - 1
6%
2 - 4
87%
5 - 7
5%
8+
2%
Not including years spent in education and/or training

Social Media Manager Insights

Read what Social Media Manager professionals have to say about their job experiences and view top companies for this career.
Boohoo GroupBoohoo Group
Social Media Executive
Apr 7, 2021

“Not much but pay is somewhat low but in my opinion its still worth it!”

Silver Stroke Communications
Social Media Strategist
Jun 1, 2022

“Despite performing the best and doing odd jobs (which is not even part of the JD) you cannot expect job security.”

Midpac Distributors
Social Media Manager
Apr 13, 2022

“Leadership was very understanding and patient with my progression as this was my first job outside of college.”

Little Red Rooster Little Red Rooster
Social Media Executive
Feb 27, 2023

“There are ample opportunities to flag any issues you have and I’ve personally always felt heard.”

Protocol LabsProtocol Labs
Social Media Manager
Feb 23, 2023

“Great pay package that is way above industry standards and allows you to live a comfortable life.”

GucciGucci
Social Media Innovation Specialist
May 13, 2021

“Gucci is a great place to learn how to work in the best way possible and with the best tools.”

Cerebro KidsCerebro Kids
Social Media Marketing Intern
Apr 26, 2021

“It provided me a great learning opportunity and I got the opportunity to explore my ideas practically.”

Coccole BimbiCoccole Bimbi
Social Media Content Creator
Feb 20, 2023

“There's no possibility of growth and I really can't find any pro in my personal experience.”

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Social Media Manager Interviews

Frequently asked questions about the role and responsibilities of social media managers

A typical day for a social media manager involves promoting a company's brand and image on social media networks. Social media managers post content that advertises the company's products and services. They use social media to network with potential clients and business partners while reaching out to customers.

Social media management is a good career for people who enjoy working in the online world and know how to use social media advantageously. If you like channeling your creativity in a fun and engaging way, becoming a social media manager might be right career path for you. Every post you make is important in representing the brand of your client or workplace. Posting content that puts the company's image in a positive light is the key to success.

Social media managers earn comfortable salaries. The national average salary for a social media manager is slightly above $58,186 per year. Salaries vary depending on the size of the company and how many social media accounts the manager is expected to handle at a given time.

As with any job, there are some difficult aspects to working as a social media manager. For example, you are expected to react fast to breaking news that could affect the company. If the company is implicated in a negative media event, the social media manager's job is to mitigate the damage by presenting a counter narrative online.

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Social Media Manager Jobs