How to hire a media manager

How to hire a media manager, step by step

Here's a step-by-step media manager hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a media manager job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new media manager
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a media manager do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a media manager, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A media manager's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, media managers from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   Here's a comparison of media manager salaries for various roles:

   Type of Media Manager	Description	Hourly rate
   Media Manager	Advertising, promotions, and marketing managers plan programs to generate interest in products or services. They work with art directors, sales agents, and financial staff members.	$31-67
   Business Development Manager	A business development manager's duties include identifying business opportunities, developing effective models and strategies to improve business performance, searching for potential clients to generate income and attract partnerships. A business development manager must have extensive knowledge of the market trends and adjust strategies as needed to meet the needs of the client... Show more	$32-72
   Social Media Director	Social Media Directors are responsible for the promotion of an organization's brand, services, and products through social media platforms such as Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook. They are responsible for implementing a social media strategy, tracking social media presence, keeping abreast of social media trends, and adopting new social media channels... Show more	$19-59

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Digital Marketing
   • KPIs
   • Media Planning
   • Media Management
   • PowerPoint
   • Google Analytics
   • Facebook
   • Project Management
   • Campaign Performance
   • Marketing Campaigns
   • Client Facing
   • SEO
   • SEM
   • Channel Marketing

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage B2C media campaigns from inception to reporting.
   • Evaluate, select and manage relationships with PPC technology vendors.
   • Lead intranet and internet maintenance, content, development and marketing.
   • Execute vendor fund campaigns to achieve KPIs base on each individual brand s needs and drive ecommerce sales.
   • Utilize CRM software to maintain contacts, leads, ad sales, sales reports and advertisement run sheets.
   • Manage search engine optimization (SEO) and pay-per-click (PPC) advertising for several B2B and health care clients.

   More media manager duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your media manager job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A media manager salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, media managers' average salary in hawaii is 44% less than in pennsylvania.
   • Seniority. Entry-level media managers earn 53% less than senior-level media managers.
   • Certifications. A media manager with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a media manager's salary.

   Average media manager salary

   $96,475yearly

   $46.38 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level media manager salary

   $66,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 19, 2025

   Average media manager salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$115,055	$55
   2	Pennsylvania	$105,933	$51
   3	Oregon	$103,167	$50
   4	Massachusetts	$97,819	$47
   5	Washington	$97,708	$47
   6	New Jersey	$96,010	$46
   7	Delaware	$94,662	$46
   8	Maryland	$94,126	$45
   9	Rhode Island	$93,046	$45
   10	Ohio	$90,994	$44
   11	Arizona	$90,211	$43
   12	North Dakota	$89,962	$43
   13	Maine	$89,947	$43
   14	New Mexico	$88,485	$43
   15	Virginia	$87,686	$42
   16	New York	$87,647	$42
   17	Kentucky	$86,517	$42
   18	Iowa	$85,306	$41
   19	Illinois	$82,969	$40
   20	Connecticut	$82,408	$40

   Average media manager salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Meta	$163,568	$78.64	726
   2	Google	$151,035	$72.61	310
   3	The Walt Disney Company	$143,685	$69.08	111
   4	Zoox	$135,471	$65.13	10
   5	Bain & Company	$132,375	$63.64	16
   6	Pace University	$131,509	$63.23	3
   7	Amazon	$131,476	$63.21	960
   8	LinkedIn	$131,127	$63.04	41
   9	Accenture	$130,717	$62.84	584
   10	Cirrus Aircraft	$129,889	$62.45	3
   11	PVH	$126,914	$61.02	8
   12	Amgen	$125,542	$60.36	10
   13	QuinStreet	$125,441	$60.31
   14	Intel	$125,146	$60.17
   15	Sanofi Genzyme	$124,040	$59.63
   16	Hearst	$123,696	$59.47	40
   17	Starz	$123,533	$59.39	5
   18	Micron Technology	$123,231	$59.25	29
   19	Shutterstock	$121,993	$58.65
   20	Walmart	$121,574	$58.45	223

4. Writing a media manager job description

   A good media manager job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a media manager job description:

   Media manager job description example

   WPIX is looking for a full-time Media Manager. This position will support all media retention within the News department. The ideal candidate must be able to use excel, have extensive knowledge of different media formats, and be solution-oriented. Exceptional organizational skills, attention to detail and familiarity with a fast-paced local news environment are musts. The media supervisor will act as a liaison between producers and editors to ensure that the media that has been or will be shot is archived so it can be used again on broadcast or digital platforms. Oversee the media storage devices as SD cards, hard drives and other related media such as film and tape. Help oversee content-licensing to third party entities.
   RESPONSIBILITIES:
   Work closely with assignment and planning editors to ensure footage from the day's stories is accounted for and returned to the station for cataloguing.Retain incoming media Maintain a database of archived content from daily news gathering, transferred film, and tapes.Build a stock video library that fulfills the newsroom's footage needs Coordinate and scout locations for shoots when necessary.Work with clients to manage licensing requests; complete project from initial inquiry to final invoice
   
   REQUIREMENTS:
   The ideal candidate should have knowledge of CMS and DAM systems, as well as metadata classifications and nomenclature. He or She is a self-starter who can work independently on special projects, but has also shown the ability to collaborate seamlessly with all departments involved in putting on a newscast. Successful candidate must possess sound leadership ability with a proven track record. Bachelor's degree or a minimum of 3-5 years ‑progressive experience working with archival and video libraries is a plus.Experience in news gathering in a major market.Must have good organizational and communication (verbal and written) skills. Prospective candidates must be proficient in Final Cut.
   
   COMPLEXITY
   
   The ideal candidate must be able to excel in a fast-paced environment, work well under pressure and be solution-oriented. Strong verbal and written communication skills as well as the ability to follow up are a critical component of this role.
   
   IMPACT OF DECISIONS
   
   The position has direct impact on revenue and archived video. Flawed judgment could impair the operation of the station, resulting in the loss curial moments in news.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right media manager for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with media managers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit media managers who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your media manager job on Zippia to find and attract quality media manager candidates.
   • Use niche websites such as swipe files, exit five, marketinghire, american marketing association.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit media managers, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new media manager

   Once you have selected a candidate for the media manager position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new media manager first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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How much does it cost to hire a media manager?