Social media manager salary calculator

Why use this social media salary calculator?

As far as we’re concerned, social media managers are the unsung heroes of the marketing department. They’re not just master content planners. They’re also copywriters, editors, videographers, actors, models, strategists, and analysts. 

(And let’s not forget the hardest job of all: convincing their bosses to get on board with the latest and strangest TikTok trends).

Unfortunately, in some cases, the pay doesn’t match the lift. If you want to know if your social media marketing salary is on par with the average — or if you need a little leveraging power for negotiation — use this handy tool.

It will tell you where you fall on the salary spectrum compared to thousands of other professionals in your role. Our research found that 74% of social marketers who ask for a raise, get one, so don’t be afraid to use this information to negotiate.

Oh, and if you’re toying with the idea of joining the field, this tool will help you determine if it’s the right fit for you compared to other options.

How to use this social media salary calculator

Our social media manager salary calculator is quick and easy to use. All you have to do is type in your annual salary in USD (here's a quick currency converter if you’re not paid in USD). It will then display your salary on a continuum compared to the average so you can quickly visualize if your pay is comparable to others in your position. 

How much do social media managers make?

And now for the million-dollar (or should we say the $70,000) question: How much does a social media manager make, really? (Subtext: are you being underpaid?)

According to our research, the average global salary of a social media marketer is $67,585, while the average salary of a social media marketer in the U.S. is $71,683. Of course, the social media manager average salary varies greatly depending on location, gender, and industry.

Our report shows that the highest-earning social media pros work in specific niches, live in the United States, and — no surprise here! — are men*. Those who work at agencies or for financial services and utility companies make more than those who work in other realms. 

*While the majority of social media managers are women, the wage gap persists in social media management. In fact, the average man in a salaried social media job makes $18,000 more a year on average than his female counterpart. Thanks, we hate it.

Social media manager salary stats

The best collection of social media salary statistics can be found in Hootsuite’s latest social media salary report. It will tell you everything you need to know about social media manager pay, vacation, job satisfaction, demographics, and mental health.

Here’s a quick snapshot of what you’ll find in the report:

• 74% of social marketers who ask for a raise, get one

• 77% are happy in their jobs

• 61% see social media as a long-term career

• 85% get at least two weeks of paid vacation per year

• 66% say they have too many responsibilities

• 47% don’t think they’re paid fairly

• 41% say their work has a negative impact on their mental health

Make sure to read the complete report for many more stats and insights.

How to negotiate a better social media manager salary: 5 tips

Did your research reveal that you’re making less than you should be as a super-talented — and very savvy, we might add — social media professional? The next step in your career journey is to negotiate a higher salary. Here’s how to do it.

Know your numbers (and your worth)

Know how much professionals make in a similar position as you. This is arguably the most powerful piece of information you can have when going into any salary negotiation. Use the above tool and our social media salary report to gauge roughly how much you should be making. 

Note that your salary expectations should be commensurate with your experience. If you’re an entry-level professional with a couple of years under your belt, coming in right at the average isn’t a bad thing (though you should expect to keep earning more each year you work).

However, if you’re making below the average as a seasoned professional, it’s time to negotiate hard. Go into your review or negotiation meeting with our report and this tool in your arsenal.

If possible, demonstrate your work’s value

We know that demonstrating the ROI of social media is a big-time challenge (Advanced Analytics can help with that, though). But if you’re able to tie back value to your efforts, your managers will be compelled to up your pay. 

Big caveat! While it may help, demonstrating a dollar value isn’t necessary, because money isn’t the only indicator of your hard work. In fact, your goals and benchmarks often have nothing at all to do with cash. That doesn’t mean your stats are any less impressive or important, though.

Make a report with your flashiest metrics — increases in followers, engagement rate, reach, views, etc. Customize a Hootsuite report with all of these stats for a quick way to put it all in one view and seriously impress your boss.

Be flexible and build in room for negotiation

No matter if you’re negotiating a raise or your starting salary with a new company, you should always be flexible and realistic. Come up with a range of numbers you’d be willing to accept. The salary or percent increase you present should be the one at the top of your acceptable range.

For example, if you’re negotiating a raise and would be okay with a 7% increase, make your range 7 to 10% and present 10% to start. That way, if your company counter-offers, you’ll still be within your acceptable range. The same goes for initial salary negotiations — always present the top of the range you’d be willing to accept.

Make a list of all your responsibilities and accomplishments

We know better than anyone that social media managers do a lot more than their JD asks. And, we’re willing to bet your boss has no idea exactly how much you do on a day-to-day basis. Make a spreadsheet of your daily duties and all the things you do that fall outside your scope.

At Hootsuite, for example, our social media managers not only plan and create months’ worth of viral content, but they’re also masters of software (Hootsuite! Canva! Wrike! Tableau!). Plus, they regularly host webinars, consult for articles like the one you’re reading right now, and attend conferences.

Not to mention all the aforementioned filming, editing, modeling, acting, and begging execs to get on board with their latest harebrained schemes.

Create (or spruce up) your portfolio and resume

Your social media portfolio is one of the most compelling pieces of evidence in your pay-me-more toolkit. If you don’t already have a portfolio, use the template in this social media manager toolkit to get started. It includes a handy slide deck that you can fill with all the content and results you’re most proud of.

Tip: Create a file where you can toss your proudest work, best content, and showiest analytics reports. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy or organized. That way you always have it on hand when you want to spruce up your portfolio. Oh, and it can’t hurt to throw in a few screenshots of your Slack or Teams accolades so they’re handy when you need a quick pick-me-up. ;)

If you’re new to the field and are negotiating your entry-level salary, be sure to use the social media manager resume templates in the toolkit to create a resume that really shines.

Get Hootsuite certified

Hootsuite is the no. 1 social media management tool among social pros, and having it on your resume is a surefire way to say “I know what I’m doing.” Hootsuite offers a ton of affordable certification courses, including platform certification and a general social marketing certification course that will really make your resume stand out.