How to hire a social media manager

How to hire a social media manager, step by step

Here's a step-by-step social 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 social media manager job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new social media manager
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a social media manager do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a social 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 social media manager's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, social 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.

   This list shows salaries for various types of social media managers.

   Type of Social Media Manager	Description	Hourly rate
   Social 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.	$24-47
   Marketing Manager/Project Manager	A marketing manager/project manager oversees a company's marketing programs and projects, aiming to attract more customers and increase the brand value of a business, product, or service. They primarily perform market research and assessments to identify marketing trends and opportunities, gather and analyze data to generate business leads, study the consumer and competitors in the industry, and identify the weaknesses and strengths of existing marketing projects, utilizing information to enhance operations... Show more	$26-52
   Revenue Manager	A revenue manager is responsible for conducting price analysis and revenue strategies to support business development and improve marketing techniques. Revenue managers research on the current market trends, evaluate statistical data of resources, maintain reasonable rates, and match the competitiveness of other hotel industries... Show more	$28-59

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Instagram
   • Twitter
   • Digital Marketing
   • Social Media Marketing
   • Facebook Insights
   • Media Management
   • Social Media Management
   • YouTube
   • Social Platforms
   • Content Strategy
   • Linkedin
   • Google Analytics
   • Customer Service
   • Social Channels

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage Google Ticketmaster SEM accounts.
   • Used social media systems to schedule, manage, and curate content across various social media platforms.
   • Manage the development of multiple e-commerce websites, including gathering requirements for basic layout, design and content of websites.
   • Organize events for the public and manage the organization's branding through logo use, print materials and social media marketing.
   • Develop and lead Facebook strategy.
   • Manage the company Facebook page; promote inventory through Pinterest

   More social media manager duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your social media manager job description helps attract top candidates to the position. A social media manager salary can be affected by several factors, such as geography, experience, seniority, certifications, and the prestige of the hiring company.

   For example, the average salary for a social media manager in South Dakota may be lower than in Washington, and an entry-level social media manager usually earns less than a senior-level social media manager. Additionally, a social media manager with certifications may command a higher salary, and working for a well-known company or start-up may also impact an employee's pay.

   Average social media manager salary

   $70,287yearly

   $33.79 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level social media manager salary

   $50,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 31, 2025

   Average social media manager salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$97,312	$47
   2	Washington	$89,784	$43
   3	Oregon	$86,303	$41
   4	Nevada	$86,002	$41
   5	Arizona	$78,422	$38
   6	New York	$78,188	$38
   7	Utah	$75,350	$36
   8	Colorado	$66,357	$32
   9	Ohio	$65,874	$32
   10	Missouri	$65,741	$32
   11	Massachusetts	$65,524	$32
   12	Illinois	$64,192	$31
   13	District of Columbia	$64,105	$31
   14	Pennsylvania	$63,039	$30
   15	Indiana	$62,493	$30
   16	Texas	$61,321	$29
   17	Kansas	$61,014	$29
   18	Minnesota	$60,866	$29
   19	Virginia	$60,448	$29
   20	Maryland	$60,060	$29

   Average social media manager salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Microsoft	$131,788	$63.36	39
   2	McKinsey & Company Inc	$126,331	$60.74
   3	Chegg	$122,236	$58.77
   4	Thrive Global	$122,148	$58.73
   5	ServiceNow	$119,501	$57.45	28
   6	Adobe	$118,674	$57.05	41
   7	Cisco	$118,481	$56.96	35
   8	StubHub	$117,052	$56.27	5
   9	Waymo	$114,972	$55.27	25
   10	Gap Inc.	$114,466	$55.03
   11	Bayer	$113,481	$54.56	18
   12	Fanatics	$113,026	$54.34	24
   13	AbbVie	$112,748	$54.21	79
   14	TheStreet	$110,709	$53.23
   15	Amazon	$110,568	$53.16	365
   16	Netflix	$109,929	$52.85	43
   17	Scribd	$109,863	$52.82	2
   18	Homes.com	$109,472	$52.63
   19	Nike	$107,846	$51.85	8
   20	A+E Networks	$107,005	$51.44

4. Writing a social media manager job description

   A social media manager job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of a social media manager job description:

   Social media manager job description example

   WW is looking for candidates to help change people's lives. We are a global wellness technology company inspiring millions of people to adopt healthy habits for real life. We do this through engaging digital experiences, face-to-face workshops and sustainable programs that encourage people to move more, shift their mindset and eat healthier while enjoying the foods they love. By drawing on over five decades of experience and expertise in behavioral science, we build communities in order to deliver wellness for all.
   What you will do:
   As the Manager, Social Media & Cultural Activations, you will play a key role in the day-to-day management and strategy of WeightWatchers' social media channels and cultural engagement initiatives. This role is the connective tissue on the brand & marketing Strategy team, working across social, activations and influencers to ensure cohesion and culture-busting programming.
   
   Here's a bit more of what you can expect to accomplish:
   Hone the brand's social media vision & go-forward activation strategy Own the content calendar creation, posting & planning content across all social media channels Develop and build content in-house with our food & science teams, influencers, coaches and WW members Produce ongoing social insights reports, tracking benchmarks, conversations as well as competitive performance Ensure WW is first on emerging social channels and constantly testing & leaning into new social features
   Assist in leading cultural moments calendar and campaign execution around key time periods for the brand.360 Integrated brand marketing for cultural activations Working closely with the Ambassador, Influencer and Talent activation teams Be plugged into NA culture and trends to inform our brand relevance Responsible for bringing new opportunities across emerging digital channels (social, web3, gaming, etc) and brand partnerships/sponsorships Working with both internal and external creative teams to bring all of the above to life.
   
   Who you are:
   You're an extremely curious, creative thinker and team player with a get-it-done, roll-up-your-sleeves attitude. Other skills we hope you will bring to the table:
   4-5+ years of relevant experience in social media and cultural marketing; preferably gained while working for a global, complex organization A natural creative though process; your wheels are always turning.Experience managing social media on behalf of a brand in-house or at an agency, deep understanding of social media channel strategy and creative best practices Extreme passion for culture & trend hunting. Always on the pulse of what's happening/next Content creation background and expertise in TikTok is a plus Ability to think analytically and evaluate program effectiveness; background with social listening/measurement tools a plus Excellent team player who thrives in a collaborative environment Bachelor's degree in business management, marketing or related field preferred Extraordinary communication (oral and written) and brand storytelling skills Ability to learn quickly, work effectively with little direction, take the lead in situations where appropriate, and execute with urgency.
   #LI-Remote
   
   At WW, it is our priority to cultivate a diverse and inclusive workplace. We are committed as individuals, as an organization, and as fellow humans, to advocate for and support our employees, our members, and our communities. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer and we do not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, color, creed, national origin, marital status, age, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, veteran status, or disability.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find social media managers 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 managers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level social media managers 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 manager job on Zippia to find and recruit social media manager candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites such as swipe files, exit five, marketinghire, american marketing association.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit social media managers, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up 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 manager

   Once you've decided on a perfect social media manager 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 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.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new social media manager. 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 manager?