Social Media Means
Photo by Karolina Grabowska Pexels Logo Photo: Karolina Grabowska

What level is a social media specialist?

A social media specialist is an entry-level, hands-on role in the social media marketing space. They are responsible for creating content for various platforms to support business objectives, like boosting brand awareness and generating sales or leads.

What social media platform do professionals use?
What social media platform do professionals use?

LinkedIn LinkedIn is a huge professional networking site. In fact, it is the world's largest professional network, with more than 610 million users...

Read More »
What are 10 high income skills?
What are 10 high income skills?

12 High Income Skills to Teach Yourself in 2023 SEO. Blockchain. Data Science. Video Editing. Digital Marketing. Sales. Coding. Copywriting. More...

Read More »

The role of social media specialist is essential for many organizations, and the job outlook is sunny. Businesses are well aware of social media’s ability to influence buying decisions; the estimated $41 billion they spent on social media ads in 2020 proves that they believe such platforms to be a critical part of their marketing strategy. Understanding the job market is essential for negotiating your salary if you’re looking to try your luck as a social media specialist. You’ll also want to be knowledgeable about what you can expect to earn as a social media specialist so you can negotiate fair compensation. This article will provide an in-depth look at social media specialist salaries from all over the United States and other countries. You’ll also learn how industry and seniority affect compensation and what the job actually entails.

We’ll cover:

So get comfortable, grab a snack or a coffee, and let’s go!

1. What does a social media specialist actually do? A brief overview

A social media specialist is an entry-level, hands-on role in the social media marketing space. They are responsible for creating content for various platforms to support business objectives, like boosting brand awareness and generating sales or leads. Someone in this role is also responsible for measuring campaign results and optimizing them to improve them over time. Other responsibilities include building an online community, engaging with followers or fans, social “listening,” and potentially creating assets like videos or graphics. You may collaborate with a social media strategist or social media manager and execute their plans, or you may create your own. It depends on your company’s organizational structure. You’ll find an in-depth description of the role of the social media specialist here. Social media strategist, social media manager, community manager, and director of social media are all related positions that you may want to pursue as you become more experienced (more on their salaries later). You can learn more about the types of social media jobs that are available (and how to qualify for them) in this guide.

A social media specialist is a dream job for someone who is creative and has excellent communication skills—and who loves posting on social media, of course! You can learn more about the top skills you’ll need to excel as a social media specialist here. First things first, though: what can you expect in terms of compensation?

2. What is the average social media specialist salary in the United States?

Do PayPal have refer and earn?
Do PayPal have refer and earn?

You can earn a reward when friends you invite to join PayPal through the Program sign up and complete an Eligible Transaction (defined below). If...

Read More »
How much is 200 Lacs?
How much is 200 Lacs?

Therefore, 2 Crores is equivalent to 200 Lakhs. May 21, 2022

Read More »

While geography, company size, and experience all factor into total earnings, it is helpful to have an understanding of the average social media specialist salary in the United States as a benchmark when negotiating for pay. We’ve collected data from top salary data aggregators, but keep in mind that they are estimates. The information these companies provide should serve as a range of what you can expect rather than a guarantee! Here’s what the experts say you can expect for a social media specialist salary, on average: What if you want to dig a little deeper and find out salary estimates for your particular location? We’ve got you covered; read on!

3. Social media specialist salary from state to state

Zippia provides a general overview of salaries for each state, but metro areas often have higher salaries than less populated areas, so we’ve included some stats on salaries in individual cities as well: Though the cost of living heavily influences your compensation, some salaries go further than others when covering expenses, depending on where you live. Say you earn almost $50,000 per year as a social media specialist in Los Angeles and only $42,061 a year in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Your cost of living in Oklahoma City will be significantly less than it would be in LA! (Average rent in Oklahoma City is $849 compared to $2,450 in Los Angeles.) However, social media specialists can easily perform their job remotely. As more employers become open to hiring for remote positions, many people are accepting offers and moving to cities with low costs of living so they can make the most of a higher salary.

4. Social media specialist salaries around the world

Social media specialists are in demand all over the world. With almost 4 billion people on social media worldwide, companies in every country are keen to take advantage of social media’s massive user base. Here’s what you can expect to earn as a social media specialist in different countries and cities:

Germany

Canada

Russia

Mexico

Average : 377,000 MXN

Mexico City : 277,909 MXN

Guadalajara : 235,665 MXN

South Korea

Just like any other job, consider the cost of living in an area before agreeing to a salary.

5. Social media specialist salaries in different industries

What qualities make people famous?
What qualities make people famous?

What makes someone influential? Here are the top characteristics of influential people: They have vision. Influential people aren't just trying to...

Read More »
Is squad a PC game?
Is squad a PC game?

Squad is a tactical first-person shooter video game developed by the Canadian game development studio Offworld Industries. ... Squad (video game)...

Read More »

Location clearly influences compensation, but industry also has an impact. Not only that, but some industries are more competitive (retail especially!) and faster-growing than others. Take a look at how a social media specialist’s pay varies by industry, courtesy of Zippia:

Technology: $55,155

Media: $53,189

Manufacturing: $52,767

Retail: $52,077

Healthcare: $51,174

Professional: $49,972

Hospitality: $49,838

Some industries are also better suited to social media promotion than others. For example, medical device manufacturers may not find Instagram as helpful as companies that sell beautiful clothing or accessories.

6. The average social media specialist salary based on years of experience

A social media specialist is generally considered an entry-level position, so the differences in salary based on experience may not be too significant. Zippia estimates that social media specialists can expect to earn anywhere from $35,000 to $61,000, and ZipRecruiter’s range is from $19,500 to $74,500 (the latter of which is very much on the high side). Regardless, the variability is most likely due to location, industry, and company size rather than experience level.

7. What are some other social media job titles and their salaries?

If you like the idea of a career in social media, you can look forward to a variety of jobs under this umbrella. Social media management has many aspects, and many social media jobs allow you to specialize. Here are some other jobs to consider, as well as their salaries:

8. Key takeaways and further reading

Social media is not going away any time soon, which means social media specialists will be in demand for the foreseeable future! If you’re already prolific on various social media platforms and enjoy this type of work, it could be a great career path for you. If you’d like to start a career in the field, follow this guide on how to become a social media specialist. Or why not try this free, self-paced short course to see if the digital marketing field is for you?

And, for more marketing insights, check out the following:

Is getting verified worth it?
Is getting verified worth it?

For both brands and influencers, getting verified on Instagram takes things to the next level. Instead of blending in with the crowd, you'll stand...

Read More »
What happens if I buy TikTok views?
What happens if I buy TikTok views?

By buying TikTok likes and views, you can promote the visibility of your account by improving your ranking. If done properly, buying TikTok likes...

Read More »
What means 800k?
What means 800k?

800 = Eight Hundred. 8000 = Eight Thousand. 80000 = Eighty Thousand. 800000 = Eight Hundred Thousand or Eight Lakh. Thus, the word form of the...

Read More »
How many views is 2000 dollars?
How many views is 2000 dollars?

According to Digiday, YouTube creators with more than 100,000 subscribers can earn about $2,000 per video. Jul 7, 2022

Read More »