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What is a social media marketing assistant and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
Quoted experts
Joseph Shields,
Michelle R. Eubanks

The social media marketing assistant's chief duty is to perform all tasks related to social media marketing, which usually include studying social media trends; creating, scheduling, and posting content on various platforms; collating reports on the performance of the company's social media accounts; and providing input on social media marketing strategies.

However, their duties don't stop there. A social media marketing assistant may also be in charge of monitoring post analytics, responding to comments or messages from followers, and preparing marketing pipelines for the social media marketing team. Plus, they also provide the necessary support to the marketing manager and other members of the digital marketing team.

To be successful in this role, a social media marketing assistant needs to have extensive knowledge of social media and marketing in general. A bachelor's degree in communication, business, or marketing is also a basic requirement. More than that, a social media marketing assistant has to be technologically adept, able to stay on top of trends and current events, as well as possess a good set of communication and interpersonal skills.

A social media marketing assistant can earn around $34,000 a year, on average. In time, their position can rise to social media marketing manager or some other higher-level role on the marketing team.

What general advice would you give to a social media marketing assistant?

Joseph Shields

Assistant Professor of Management and Marketing, Carthage College

Consider taking an entry-level sales role. Many marketing majors never consider an entry-level position in sales (especially Business-to-Business Sales), and this can be a big missed opportunity for several reasons. First, many companies require sales experience for their marketing positions, especially for mid/senior management positions. Second, sales experience will make you a better marketer, since you have intimate knowledge of the customer. Finally, who knows, you might love sales, and you will have the potential to make considerably more money than a career in marketing. Through the years, I have had dozens of my students take an entry-level sales position to leverage their experience to get a traditional marketing job, only to discover they loved sales and never pursued a career in marketing.
ScoreSocial Media Marketing AssistantUS Average
Salary
4.1

Avg. Salary $52,662

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 11.73%

Black or African American 5.25%

Hispanic or Latino 12.55%

Unknown 5.02%

White 65.31%

Gender

female 72.65%

male 27.35%

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 marketing assistant career paths

Key steps to become a social media marketing assistant

  1. Explore social media marketing assistant education requirements

    Most common social media marketing assistant degrees

    Bachelor's

    83.4 %

    Associate

    7.2 %

    Master's

    6.2 %
  2. Start to develop specific social media marketing assistant skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Social Media Marketing46.13%
    Facebook8.90%
    Instagram6.57%
    Twitter5.19%
    Marketing Campaigns2.62%
  3. Complete relevant social media marketing assistant training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New social media marketing assistants 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 marketing assistant based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real social media marketing assistant resumes.
  4. Research social media marketing assistant duties and responsibilities

    • Create and manage the company's Instagram account for their cell phone charging bracelet.
    • Upload house designs onto Jones Pinterest page to show their followers different architectural designs.
    • Contract with videographer to capture events on video for promotional use on website and YouTube.
    • Increase brand awareness by posting daily on Facebook, engaging with current fans of the page.
  5. Prepare your social media marketing assistant resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your social media marketing assistant 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 marketing assistant 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 marketing assistant resume templates

    Build a professional social media marketing assistant 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 marketing assistant resume.
    Social Media Marketing Assistant Resume
    Social Media Marketing Assistant Resume
    Social Media Marketing Assistant Resume
    Social Media Marketing Assistant Resume
    Social Media Marketing Assistant Resume
    Social Media Marketing Assistant Resume
    Social Media Marketing Assistant Resume
    Social Media Marketing Assistant Resume
    Social Media Marketing Assistant Resume
  6. Apply for social media marketing assistant jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a social media marketing assistant 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 marketing assistant job

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Average social media marketing assistant salary

The average social media marketing assistant salary in the United States is $52,662 per year or $25 per hour. Social media marketing assistant salaries range between $38,000 and $71,000 per year.

Average social media marketing assistant salary
$52,662 Yearly
$25.32 hourly

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How do social media marketing assistants rate their job?

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Social media marketing assistant reviews

profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Nov 2019
Pros

Being able to help enhance websites for clients.

Cons

There was a learning about SEO and all the data behind it. Wasn’t taught in school and supervisors were new to it.


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.


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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.

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