Post job

What is a social media marketer and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
Quoted experts
Dr. Gail Hudson Ph.D.,
Michelle R. Eubanks

Social media marketers use visual and audiovisual tools through social media platforms to promote goods and services for sale. As expected, media marketers are an integral part of any online business. Their functions typically include creating content for social media through pictures, text, and videos. They also have a good knowledge of adverts and run ads on social media. Social media marketers are often confused with social media managers, social media assistants, or even brand strategists. For social media marketers, the lines are intertwined with anything regarding branding and marketing online. Social media marketing is becoming more profitable by the day as more businesses are building an online presence.

The most important skills required for social media marketing include Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter skills. It is very possible to become a social media marketer with only a high school degree, although most social media marketers have bachelor's degrees. In social media marketing, your results prove your worth. The industry generates an average of $21.52 pay per hour. The growth rate is also estimated to rise in a few years.

What general advice would you give to a social media marketer?

Dr. Gail Hudson Ph.D.Dr. Gail Hudson Ph.D. LinkedIn profile

Director, College of Business Internship Program, Arkansas State University

As the world has shown us most recently, we need to be flexible as the marketplace can change, without warning.
The need to differentiate yourself from others will always be necessary, so keep learning while you are in school and beyond.
I believe that technology and social media skills will continue to be necessary. Seek and achieve as many certifications as possible to hone these skills and differentiate yourself in the market.
ScoreSocial Media MarketerUS Average
Salary
4.0

Avg. Salary $51,505

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
4.9

Growth rate 19%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
3.0
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.13%

Asian 10.32%

Black or African American 5.11%

Hispanic or Latino 12.19%

Unknown 4.98%

White 67.26%

Gender

female 56.40%

male 43.60%

Age - 34
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 34
Stress level
4.9

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level
8.2

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance
4.6

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Social media marketer career paths

Key steps to become a social media marketer

  1. Explore social media marketer education requirements

    Most common social media marketer degrees

    Bachelor's

    75.1 %

    Associate

    12.4 %

    Master's

    5.6 %
  2. Start to develop specific social media marketer skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Facebook14.35%
    Instagram12.13%
    Social Media Marketing10.85%
    Twitter10.78%
    Digital Marketing5.55%
  3. Complete relevant social media marketer training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New social media marketers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a social media marketer based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real social media marketer resumes.
  4. Research social media marketer duties and responsibilities

    • Assist with managing global AdWords PPC campaign.
    • Fan building: base on achieving specific ROI objectives.
    • Manage blog posts, monthly newsletter, PPC campaigns and social media presence.
    • Help manage the Concrete2Green official blog and create multimedia PowerPoint presentations for promotional purposes
  5. Prepare your social media marketer resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your social media marketer resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a social media marketer resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable social media marketer resume templates

    Build a professional social media marketer resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your social media marketer resume.
    Social Media Marketer Resume
    Social Media Marketer Resume
    Social Media Marketer Resume
    Social Media Marketer Resume
    Social Media Marketer Resume
    Social Media Marketer Resume
    Social Media Marketer Resume
    Social Media Marketer Resume
    Social Media Marketer Resume
  6. Apply for social media marketer jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a social media marketer job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first social media marketer job

Zippi

Are you a social media marketer?

Share your story for a free salary report.

Average social media marketer salary

The average social media marketer salary in the United States is $51,505 per year or $25 per hour. Social media marketer salaries range between $36,000 and $71,000 per year.

Average social media marketer salary
$51,505 Yearly
$24.76 hourly

What am I worth?

salary-calculator

How do social media marketers rate their job?

-/5

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Social media marketer reviews

profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Oct 2019
Pros

Content management.

Cons

I love my work. I don't love who I work for. They do not understand the steps involved in social media. And keep asking for analytics. I send them in a thoughtfully presented report. And they just don't get it. Sales thinks I jack around all day on social media. That is my job. Then there's the fact that I have to be paid to monitor the work and campaigns I shoot down the feeds. Ugh. Run for your life unless you work for a corporation.


Working as a social media marketer? Share your experience anonymously.
Overall rating*
Career growth
Work/Life balance
Pay/Salary

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Browse business and financial jobs