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The differences between social media managers and content creators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 8-10 years to become a social media manager, becoming a content creator takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a social media manager has an average salary of $70,287, which is higher than the $61,988 average annual salary of a content creator.
The top three skills for a social media manager include instagram, twitter and digital marketing. The most important skills for a content creator are content creation, instagram, and digital content.
| Social Media Manager | Content Creator | |
| Yearly salary | $70,287 | $61,988 |
| Hourly rate | $33.79 | $29.80 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 13% |
| Number of jobs | 105,475 | 9,142 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 79% | Bachelor's Degree, 77% |
| Average age | 39 | 37 |
| Years of experience | 10 | 4 |
Social media managers are responsible for representing the company's business through social media channels. They help the company grow by enhancing its presence via social networks. Primarily, they need to implement marketing plans and identify their target clients and create a content schedule. Their duties include implementing and strategizing digital marketing campaigns. They support the development of brand identity and promotional strategies. Candidates for the job must be excellent in communication skills, have in-depth knowledge of how social platforms work, and easily understand the target audience.
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. Moreover, a content creator utilizes social media for brand awareness. They must maintain knowledge of the latest trends, create content that captures the public's interest, and engage with clients, all while adhering to the company's policies and regulations.
Social media managers and content creators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Social Media Manager | Content Creator | |
| Average salary | $70,287 | $61,988 |
| Salary range | Between $50,000 And $98,000 | Between $38,000 And $99,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Washington |
| Best paying company | Microsoft | |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Internet |
There are a few differences between a social media manager and a content creator in terms of educational background:
| Social Media Manager | Content Creator | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 79% | Bachelor's Degree, 77% |
| Most common major | Communication | Communication |
| Most common college | University of Georgia | Harvard University |
Here are the differences between social media managers' and content creators' demographics:
| Social Media Manager | Content Creator | |
| Average age | 39 | 37 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 38.9% Female, 61.1% | Male, 55.7% Female, 44.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.0% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 8.7% Asian, 8.2% White, 74.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 7.2% Unknown, 6.7% Hispanic or Latino, 13.3% Asian, 10.7% White, 61.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 10% | 9% |