How to hire a social media editor

How to hire a social media editor, step by step

Here's a step-by-step social media editor hiring guide:

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

What does a social media editor do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the social media editor you need to hire. Certain social media editor roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

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

   Yes

   No

   A social media editor's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, social media editors 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 social media editor salaries for various roles:

   Type of Social Media Editor	Description	Hourly rate
   Social Media Editor	Editors plan, review, and revise content for publication.	$19-34
   Public Relations Internship	A public relations intern is responsible for assisting the public relations department in creating content to engage customers and prospective clients in availing of the goods and services of the company. Public relations interns participate in meetings to suggest strategies and observe areas of improvement... Show more	$11-18
   Content Creator	A content creator is primarily responsible for producing written, verbal, and visual materials that promote products and services to a particular audience. In a company setting, a content creator adheres to managers or senior creators' directives, fact-check and review data, coordinate with other staff such as graphic artists, and participate in developing promotional materials... Show more	$18-47

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Instagram
   • Facebook
   • Twitter
   • Social Platforms
   • Social Content
   • Video Content
   • YouTube
   • Blog Posts
   • Google Analytics
   • Social Channels
   • Curate
   • SEO
   • Digital Content
   • Pinterest

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage editorial department by editing and publishing daily content for website and daily e-newsletter.
   • Improve the aesthetic look of the organization's twitter profile.
   • Involve proofreading, basic HTML coding and working on tight deadlines.
   • Take photos of dishes and post them on the restaurant's Instagram account.
   • Provide reports and metrics for social media, including SEO impact and consumer growth.
   • Advise other departments on how to improve the SEO and social sharing for their content.

   More social media editor duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in the social media editor job description is a good way to get more applicants. A social media editor salary can be affected by several factors, such as the location of the job, the level of experience, education, certifications, and the employer's prestige.

   For example, the average salary for a social media editor in Kansas may be lower than in Hawaii, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level social media editor. Additionally, a social media editor with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

   Average social media editor salary

   $53,943yearly

   $25.93 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level social media editor salary

   $40,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 23, 2026

   Average social media editor salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Connecticut	$64,104	$31
   2	New York	$62,507	$30
   3	District of Columbia	$61,434	$30
   4	California	$59,404	$29
   5	Washington	$59,243	$28
   6	New Jersey	$54,905	$26
   7	Illinois	$52,192	$25
   8	West Virginia	$51,468	$25
   9	Florida	$51,380	$25
   10	Pennsylvania	$50,698	$24
   11	Texas	$49,419	$24
   12	Georgia	$47,871	$23
   13	Arizona	$47,780	$23
   14	Massachusetts	$47,627	$23
   15	Ohio	$44,378	$21
   16	Louisiana	$37,166	$18
   17	Iowa	$34,103	$16

   Average social media editor salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	RE/MAX Realty One	$75,683	$36.39
   2	Conair	$64,891	$31.20
   3	The Univision Network Partnership	$64,533	$31.03
   4	Univision Communications	$63,603	$30.58	18
   5	CTC	$62,867	$30.22
   6	HCL Technologies	$61,812	$29.72
   7	NBCUniversal	$61,070	$29.36	56
   8	UMiami Health System	$60,049	$28.87	1
   9	AXIOS HR	$58,330	$28.04
   10	Quora	$55,613	$26.74
   11	The Dot Corp	$55,539	$26.70
   12	Dow Jones	$55,361	$26.62	21
   13	Chicago Public Media	$55,157	$26.52
   14	The Washington Post	$54,454	$26.18	6
   15	Audacy	$53,547	$25.74	9
   16	West Virginia University	$53,136	$25.55
   17	Live Action	$52,681	$25.33	2
   18	Surge Staffing	$52,542	$25.26	7
   19	The New York Times Company	$52,349	$25.17	71
   20	Cision	$52,278	$25.13

4. Writing a social media editor job description

   A good social media editor 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 social media editor job description:

   Social media editor job description example

   Application Instructions
   
   Please list all professional experience and explain any gaps in employment history. All of your application materials, which may include PDF files of work samples and/or links to audio, video, photography or graphics, must be uploaded to the field labeled Resume/Cover Letter/Work Samples to be considered for the position.
   
   Job Description
   
   The Washington Post is looking for an experienced editor with a strong understanding of Reddit to join our expanding social team. We want a savvy, creative social media editor who can connect with Reddit's 52 million daily active users, sharing Washington Post journalism, reporting and expertise. This hire is part of The Post's efforts to better serve the next generation of Post readers and subscribers.
   
   This editor will be charged with optimizing our storytelling for Reddit, leading experimentation with AMAs, Reddit Talks and multimedia, as well as finding engaging ways to showcase The Post's exclusive reporting, investigations, distinct graphics and vibrant personalities.
   
   This role requires a highly engaged Redditor, who has a deep knowledge of the way news is consumed on the platform. The editor should be able to identify unique ways to build relationships with new audiences through consistent communication, engagement with trending topics and experimentation with new on-platform features.
   
   Relationship-building is a key element of this role. This editor should be a steward between The Post, partners at Reddit and the moderators who manage the communities in which we want to amplify our empowering and award-winning journalism. This editor will also be responsible for working with The Post's project editors, marketing teams and data analysts to identify opportunities for AMAs, Reddit Talks, subreddit-building and more.
   Ideal candidates should have experience managing a news organization's social accounts during breaking news, planned live events and quiet moments when there is time to craft that perfect social language. Experience working with Reddit is preferred.
   
   Please consider applying if you have at least two years of journalism experience. This role requires someone who can write sharp headlines targeted toward specific audiences and has a command of voice and tone on social media. Comfort with analytics tools such as Chartbeat, Google Analytics and the platform's key metrics is preferred, as is the ability to understand and act upon these insights when appropriate.
   
   Candidates should upload a résumé and cover letter outlining your experience, including the accounts you've run before, and any examples of work on Reddit to our jobs portal. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled, but those received by 08/31/2022 will be prioritized. The cover letter should be addressed to Deputy Director of Social Travis Lyles, Head of Curation and Platforms Coleen O'Lear and Director of Next Generation Audience Development Phoebe Connelly.
   
   The Post strives to provide its readers with high-quality, trustworthy news and information while constantly innovating. That mission is best served by a diverse, multi-generational workforce with varied life experiences and perspectives. All cultures and backgrounds are welcomed.
   
   Ever wondered if what you are doing will Impact Tomorrow? At The Washington Post, every employee shapes the way we deliver the news. Find the career that's right for you
   #washpostlife

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find social media editors for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any social media editors they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level social media editors with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your social media editor job on Zippia to find and recruit social media editor candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with social media editor candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to 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 social media editor

   Once you've decided on a perfect social media editor candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

   It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new social media editor. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

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 social media editor?