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Job outlook for social media project managers in the United States
Social media project manager job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected social media project manager job growth rate is 10% from 2018-2028.
About 33,700 new jobs for social media project managers are projected over the next decade.
Social media project manager salaries have increased 8% for social media project managers in the last 5 years.
There are over 9,931 social media project managers currently employed in the United States.
There are 136,876 active social media project manager job openings in the US.
The average social media project manager salary is $81,039.
Are social media project manager jobs in demand?
Social media project manager job and salary trends over time
Social media project manager jobs over time
Social media project manager job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 9,931 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 9,639 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 9,407 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 9,002 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 8,132 | 0.00% |
Average social media project manager salary over time
Social media project manager salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $81,039 | $38.96 | +3.9% |
| 2024 | $78,007 | $37.50 | +1.9% |
| 2023 | $76,547 | $36.80 | +1.6% |
| 2022 | $75,373 | $36.24 | +0.8% |
| 2021 | $74,775 | $35.95 | +1.9% |
Social media project manager jobs by state
Most common states for social media project managers
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 519 | 75% |
| 2 | Delaware | 961,939 | 376 | 39% |
| 3 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 2,494 | 36% |
| 4 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 485 | 36% |
| 5 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 1,908 | 34% |
| 6 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 2,472 | 33% |
| 7 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 246 | 33% |
| 8 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 550 | 29% |
| 9 | Idaho | 1,716,943 | 492 | 29% |
| 10 | Vermont | 623,657 | 178 | 29% |
| 11 | Georgia | 10,429,379 | 2,880 | 28% |
| 12 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 1,167 | 28% |
| 13 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 877 | 28% |
| 14 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 357 | 27% |
| 15 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 284 | 27% |
| 16 | New Mexico | 2,088,070 | 534 | 26% |
| 17 | California | 39,536,653 | 8,957 | 23% |
| 18 | Wisconsin | 5,795,483 | 1,352 | 23% |
| 19 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 237 | 23% |
| 20 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 200 | 23% |
Most common cities for social media project managers
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | 1 | 0% | $91,051 |
Social Media Project Manager job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of social media project manager experts
Cabrini University
Maryville University of Saint Louis
Ohio State University
Huntington University
North Dakota State University
Siena College
University of Scranton
University of Houston - Downtown
Berea College
University of Minnesota Crookston
Franklin and Marshall College
University of Colorado Colorado Springs
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Dalton State
New York Institute of Technology
Campbellsville University
Prairie View A&M University
Nichols College
What will help Social Media Project Managers increase their earning potential?
Rich Johnson: Digital media covers a lot of mediums and requires many skill sets (print, static online, animation, interactive). The print arm is a lesser component although still valuable in the scope of marketing. Smartphones, tablets and gaming have moved a lot of digital into a customer expectation of interactive and customizable content. The present model of career specialization in a certain aspect of this spectrum of skills is changing. The age of the generalist is becoming more of a reality as design tools are becoming more accessible and A.I. is assisting in the more complex tasks. I would say that someone working in digital media will need to focus more on the big picture of design, predicting trends and developing solutions from a point of view with perspective. It will be even more important to understand the needs of a system from the top down and provide solutions that enhance that system. This might be through partnering with marketing and sales to conceptualize solutions, pitching product ideas and other functions related to creative and art direction. And be curious, all of the time. Keep up to date with everything that is happening. Take classes, watch tutorials, read articles and be obsessed with the breakneck rate of change. Digital media is constantly changing and possibilities are always expanding. It can be near impossible to be a master of all of these trajectories, but you can understand them well enough to bring in a specialist when the challenge requires it. This is where I predict that A.I. will be a major paradigm shift. There will be a time when you will ask the system to solve a problem, and you can choose what parts of the process that you want to control. So to boil it down... Develop a well rounded set of skills Further develop specialist level skills where you excel Keep on top of change and keep a thirst for learning Strengthen your connection to problem solving and creative innovation Keep an eye on the future predicting what might be around the bend
Professor Cheryl Pilchik
Marketing at Cabrini U.Cabrini University
Business Administration, Management And Operations
What general advice would you give to a Social Media Project Manager?
Professor Cheryl Pilchik: Dress to impress for interviews. Consider the benefits offered by the company, not just the compensation. Use the position as a steppingstone in your field to a second job in the future.
What Social Media Project Manager skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Professor Cheryl Pilchik: Look at all the benefits offered by the company, such as medical, holidays, 401K, etc. Also, consider using the position as a steppingstone in your field to a second job in the near future.
What will help Social Media Project Managers increase their earning potential?
Professor Cheryl Pilchik: Within Marketing, social media is still huge. There are many types of jobs within social media, including being an expert social media guru at an ad agency. I advise all students to be prepared and sign up for online courses if needed.
What general advice would you give to a Social Media Project Manager?
Kara Alaimo PhD: The communication landscape is always changing. The social media platforms that are popular right now may not even exist by the time my students graduate, and of course they're always changing their algorithms and the kinds of content they prioritize, so professional communicators can never get too comfortable in their work. Therefore, one of the most important skills to acquire is how to stay on top of all these changes, keep learning how different platforms work, and come up with creative ideas to use on them.
What Social Media Project Manager skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Kara Alaimo PhD: A lot of my former communication students who are commanding the highest salaries are working in social media management. This is because often senior communication executives who have been working in the field for decades feel like they don't know how TikTok and emerging platforms work and think people who grew up as digital natives hold the secrets of the universe, so they empower them at earlier stages in their careers to run organizations' social channels. It's not uncommon for me to see a former student who manages social media accounts on behalf of an organization get multiple promotions and raises within their first few years of graduation.
What will help Social Media Project Managers increase their earning potential?
Kara Alaimo PhD: I strongly recommend that students consider jobs managing social media accounts on behalf of people and organizations. There's a lot of demand among employers to hire people for these positions right now, and a lot of my students are thrilled to discover that they can make a good living creating social media content - which many of them consider to be more like fun than work. This is why at Fairleigh Dickinson University we just created new academic programs in social media to give students the skills and credentials to go after these kinds of exciting jobs with significant labor market demand that often have particularly attractive starting salaries.
Dr. Leilani Carver-Madalon Ph.D.
Director of Graduate and Undergraduate Communication and Associate Professor of Strategic Communication and LeadershipMaryville University of Saint Louis
Public Relations, Advertising, And Applied Communication
What general advice would you give to a Social Media Project Manager?
Dr. Leilani Carver-Madalon Ph.D.: People hire people who they know, like, and are competent. So, how do you become known, liked, and competent? Beyond college, some unexpected ways to a successful career are 1) Internships 2) Informational Interviews, and 3) earning certifications.
Internships: Getting an internship is not a new idea but it is a very important one. Some organizations now only hire people who intern for them first. The internship now becomes a trial before hire. For example, Fleishman Hillard, ranked the fourth best PR agency in the World, offers many full-time Internships, 40 hours a week. Recent grads who want to work for Fleishman Hillard should see getting an Internship as the best avenue towards getting a job at Fleishman Hillard. Many organizations use their internship pools as potential hiring pools so do not be afraid to do a paid internship after graduation for a premier organization.
Informational Interviews: This is a wonderful way for people within an organization to get to know you and for you to learn from others with experience. Informational interviews are short interviews where you connect with someone in our field, research them, and their company and prepare questions to ask for advice. These interviews expand your network and also help you learn. These are a wonder source of networking.
Earn Certifications: Besides going to class and doing well, it is also important to be able to show what you know through certifications. For example, Hubspot has free certifications that you can take and link to your LinkedIn account. One I recommend is their Social Media Marketing Certification at https://academy.hubspot.com/courses/social-media?library=true&= This is yet another way to show your knowledge and expertise in our field. Showing through certifications is always preferable to telling someone you have the skillset.
What Social Media Project Manager skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Leilani Carver-Madalon Ph.D.: Many of my students get hired to do social media for organizations because organizations need help in this area. Knowing how to create engaging and creative content, produce quality videos, manage and understand data analytics, and respond to crises are some of the most important skills. Additionally, utilizing AI to do more with less will also become more and more important.
What will help Social Media Project Managers increase their earning potential?
Dr. Leilani Carver-Madalon Ph.D.: The first thing is to do your research so that you know the market and what the salary range is for your job in your city. This article has a list of free salary calculators.
Then, you wait until an offer is made. Once an offer is made you can negotiate (but never before).
Then, you ask politely. The amount is usually around 5- 10% of the salary. I encourage you to ask for 10% because they will likely try to meet you in the middle.
For a script, you could say something like...
Thank you so much for this offer. I am very excited to work at Company X. I know my internship experiences and degree from X University will help me be able to bring value to this organization.
Regarding salary, I was looking for something closer to $_________. Is this possible?
(Then be quiet).
It is beneficial to ask. The worst thing they can say is no. Also realize that you can negotiate vacation days, working from home, a 4-day work week, and other benefits that may be important to you if they cannot offer you more money. Once when I worked for a non-profit, I maxed out their salary but I negotiated another week of paid vacation because I asked. Asking after research and with respect is always a win.
Dr. Laura Deeter PhD
Professor of Practice: Horticulture and Crop ScienceOhio State University
Applied Horticulture And Horticultural Business Services
What general advice would you give to a Social Media Project Manager?
Dr. Laura Deeter PhD: Be open to learning and trying something outside of your comfort zone.
Be willing to work hard and don't expect to be project manager right out of school. Hard work will get you there fast enough.
What will help Social Media Project Managers increase their earning potential?
Dr. Laura Deeter PhD: There are more than enough positions out there to find one with a good starting salary. Apply for as many as you can.
Be willing to relocate to another city or state.
What will help Social Media Project Managers increase their earning potential?
Jennifer D'Angelo Ph.D.: Brands across many product categories are facing an increasing level of competition. Brands may struggle with rising brand parity, where brands and their competitors are seen as similar to one another. Therefore, to stand out from competitors, it has become increasingly important for brands to have marketing managers that create value for consumers and communicate that value to consumers.
Brock Zehr
Associate Professor of Business & Economics and MBA DirectorHuntington University
Religion/Religious Studies
What general advice would you give to a Social Media Project Manager?
Brock Zehr: Social media content development, data analytics, and quality video content generation will all be in greater demand. Employers tell me that the "soft skills" of being a team player, excellent communication skills, integrity, and a strong work ethic are still valued skills.
What Social Media Project Manager skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Brock Zehr: Do your homework. Research salaries for the position, geographic location, and your experience level on sites like salary.com and zippia.com to determine the salary range for the position. Know the numbers. Let the employer provide the first salary number and decide how much to negotiate from there. Also, look at the entire compensation package and not the salary alone. Benefit packages vary and can encompass and large portion of compensation.
What will help Social Media Project Managers increase their earning potential?
Brock Zehr: Become a solution to an employer's problem. During the application and interview process, identify the needs of the employer and propose ways you can fulfill those needs. Every job, person, project, and client can lead to greater opportunities. So even if your first job is not ideal; do it well because it can be the impetus to propel your career forward. A positive, can-do attitude and quality work can take you wherever you want to go.
Ahmad Asady
Assistant Professor of Management Faculty Scholar, Challey Institute for Global Innovation and GrowthNorth Dakota State University
Marketing
What general advice would you give to a Social Media Project Manager?
Ahmad Asady: The role of a Marketing professional is as rewarding as it is demanding. On one hand, it offers the chance to unleash creativity, see the direct impact of your work, and enjoy a variety of experiences across different projects and industries. On the other hand, it comes with its fair share of challenges, such as the pressure to perform under tight deadlines and budgets, the constant need to stay ahead in a fast-evolving field, and the stress of quantifying the effectiveness of marketing campaigns. Despite these challenges, the role remains appealing for those drawn to a career that demands both strategic thinking and creative innovation, underscored by the powerful tool of persuasion to shape consumer behavior and drive business success.
Soyoung Joo
Assistant Professor of MarketingSiena College
Marketing Department
What skills stand out on Social Media Project Manager resumes?
Soyoung Joo: Communication and time management skills are valuable skills for marketing managers.
What skills will help Social Media Project Managers earn the most?
Soyoung Joo: Being able to work well with people from diverse backgrounds can be added to the above skills.
Abhijit Roy
Professor of MarketingUniversity of Scranton
School of Management
What skills stand out on Social Media Project Manager resumes?
Abhijit Roy: In general, companies will look to see whether or not the candidate can overall market the company's products. Given the depth and breadth of marketing jobs, the specific skill requirements will vary. For example, a sales manager position will require individuals with high interpersonal skills, advertising positions will look for individuals with creativity, while marketing research positions will demand strong analytical skills. Overall, most companies today are looking for individuals with strong digital marketing and social media skills.
Job market candidates must look for the job descriptions in the ads and ensure they have relevant matching skills that they can include in their resumes.
What soft skills should all Social Media Project Managers possess?
Abhijit Roy: These are very important, yet harder to quantify skills, not only for marketing professionals but for business graduates in general. They include the ability to make sound decisions under pressure, having a high emotional intelligence quotient (EQ) as embodied by having empathy towards coworkers and subordinates, delegating appropriately, mentoring, communicating, time management, maintaining positivity despite setbacks and adapting to unforeseen challenges, being flexible, being persuasive and assertive at appropriate moments, yet being collaborative, seeking feedback, and the ability to negotiate and resolve conflicts when needed, amongst others.
Soft skills are typically more instrumental in enabling candidates to fit into an organization's culture and be strong candidates for promotion. Most marketing jobs involve candidates representing their brand initiatives and building strong client relationships, so interpersonal, and other soft skills are often valued more than hard skills. The strongest case for having excellent soft skills is that they are more easily transferable across various jobs and industries.
Dr. Richard Conde Ph.D.
Assistant ProfessorUniversity of Houston - Downtown
Marilyn Davies College of Business
What soft skills should all Social Media Project Managers possess?
Dr. Richard Conde Ph.D.: The need for soft skills are consistent through time. With our societal focus on social media, texting, emojis, etc. It appears to me companies are looking for the following:
- Active listening skills
- Willingness to be self-reflective and accept feedback
- Accept different perspectives. The collision of ideas creates knowledge
- Communicate to the listener (at their level). Flex communicators
- Cultural intelligence. Demographics changes will require better understanding of team member's, boss', customer's, etc. cultural context
J. Ian Norris Ph.D.
Professor of Marketing and Fellow, American Council on EducationBerea College
Economics and Business Department
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Social Media Project Managers?
J. Ian Norris Ph.D.: There is little doubt that workers will continue some of their work remotely. This was a trend already underway before the pandemic that was greatly accelerated during the pandemic. In marketing specifically, many businesses had to shift business to online that had not been online before. It is likely that this will also have a lasting impact on how business is conducted. This was particularly true in the service industry and in arts and entertainment. The big take-home lesson for marketing graduates is that digital literacy has never been more important. All marketers are digital marketers, to some degree or another, today.
What certifications/licenses/courses can have the biggest impact for Social Media Project Managers?
J. Ian Norris Ph.D.: Digital marketing skills are essential for any area of marketing. Luckily there are many online certifications available for this purpose. On the research side, Google Analytics offers a certification. It will also be valuable to know the analytics platforms on social media sites such as facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. Conversely, all of these sites also offer training on digital advertising and promotion, such as Google AdWords. Any coursework in digital marketing that provides instruction in Search Engine Marketing (SEM) will also be highly valuable. Finally, digital video and editing skills are also quite valuable, as all kinds of companies and organizations are using the short video format for storytelling and brand advertising.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Social Media Project Managers to find work opportunities?
Rutherford Johnson Ph.D.: With the remote working possibilities, graduates could work for a company in a big city without leaving their hometown. As for classic jobs with relocation involved, that really depends on the field. For international business, the major international and finance cities such as New York, Boston, and Atlanta are always significant -- though with definite cost of living problems. My advice is to look everywhere and be willing to give a city or region you never thought of living in a try. The less-traveled path can often lead to great success.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Social Media Project Manager job market given the pandemic?
Nicole Jones Young Ph.D.: One big trend we will see is the continuation of working from home. It may not be for all employees every day, but I think that is definitely here to stay. Many employees have been asking for this benefit for years. After almost a year of working from home, many employers that were reluctant in the past have likely realized that employees can still be very productive and they can decrease expenses related to office space.
Another is related to the focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion related efforts. While the majority of the country was quarantined, we all witnessed the same horrific murder of George Floyd, and there was nothing else to distract us from finally directly addressing issues related to race in this country. Many employees of color, and particularly Black employees, are no longer interested in making everyone else around them feel comfortable. Organizations that issued statements and initiatives in the spring will likely be held more accountable than ever before.
Another trend may be the elimination of jobs in their previous iteration. Many companies that have survived, or even thrived, during COVID likely did so by adapting. As such, these organizations may not return to their prior ways of doing business, which may require employees and applicants to increase or highlight a different skill set.
Mark Paquette
Principal Program CoordinatorUniversity of Colorado Colorado Springs
College of Business
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Social Media Project Manager job market given the pandemic?
Mark Paquette: The pandemic has caused employers to assess their work capabilities and shift positions to virtual environments. As a result, I think the trends we will see are:
-An increase and shift to permanent or long-term work-from-home opportunities. Many companies are recognizing that the shift to working remotely may actually improve morale, efficiency, quality, and job satisfaction among staff. Additionally, companies are seeing financial savings with reduced need in utilities, ancillary, and auxiliary services. As a result, I believe employers will be looking at their structures and making decisions to increase remote work opportunities, which also allows the employers to access a broader talent pool outside of their regional areas.
-A demand in flexible work arrangements from employees and candidates. As companies see the benefits of remote work, so do the employees and those searching for work. Individuals are seeing benefits of commuting less, having greater flexibility with time, and the ability to have more independence. I would suspect we will see individuals asking for more flexible arrangements, including the option to work from home at least part of the time. Prior to COVID, candidates were already asking for options that allowed for, at least in part, some remote work arrangements, and with COVID, this will likely be magnified.
-Contract workers may experience more opportunities. As businesses grapple with the impacts of COVID, many are also seeing the need to have more control of time-sensitive changes that impact their business. When lockdowns and limitations are imposed on the number of people allowed in spaces, the need to have a workforce that can pivot quickly is becoming more essential. I think this will lead to more contract, or contingent, type work rather than full-time employment as it allows the employer greater flexibility.
-Expanded benefits may also be a trend, especially around mental health support services. The pandemic has forced many people to feel isolated, not in control, and questioning their value. To combat this, I anticipate employers will focus on promoting their health and wellness programs as benefits, and helping job seekers see the value in a company that has a well-rounded benefits package versus just a standard health plan or limited paid time off.
-Social distancing may be the norm for some time. As the vaccine rollout is underway, there are many months ahead of us for true results, and even then, questions linger on how many people may choose not to be vaccinated, or how many new strains there will be for which the vaccine may or may not work. This will impact business operations, and companies (and governments) may impose requirements for job seekers such as wearing personal protective equipment during the interview and onboarding process or as a standard operating practice throughout the year.
-Virtual interviewing is likely a big trend over 2021, whereby companies will focus on phone and video interviewing rather than in-person opportunities. Many individuals may onboard virtually as well. Virtual interviewing was on the rise prior to COVID, but the need was magnified. As a result candidates may also need to be adaptable to using various types of platforms and more products are coming to market, and existing products are enhancing their service options.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Social Media Project Manager job market given the pandemic?
Cortnee Young: I believe work-from-home/virtual job opportunities will become more available. For recent graduates, this comes with pros and cons. I believe a big pro is the availability to more opportunity (versus narrowing down their search to specific geographic locations). A major con that I see would be the inability to learn hands-on skills and teachable moments from being in the office, for their first job.
Elisa Chan
Assistant Professor of MarketingNew York Institute of Technology
School of Management
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Social Media Project Managers to find work opportunities?
Elisa Chan: Companies, big or small, will be looking for talents in e-commerce and digital marketing. But I think that there could be more demand from small/medium-sized companies looking for help in these areas.
Jeannie Clark
General Manager, WLCU-TV/FM, Assistant Professor of Broadcasting & Director of Broadcast ServicesCampbellsville University
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Social Media Project Manager job market given the pandemic?
Jeannie Clark: From the employers I have worked with in the industry recently, I am seeing a trend for more remote work and a requirement for multi-skilled workers. The graduates that bring with them a combination of a degree, experience, and multiple skills seem to be more successful post-graduation than graduates that only have the degree and have not done any work to gain experience in their chosen field. With many businesses scaling down their workforce to save money, those that have multiple skills seem to be more valuable to employers than those who are qualified to do one job.
What skills stand out on Social Media Project Manager resumes?
Jeannie Clark: Experience is the thing that most employers I have worked with are looking for. An applicant that has worked with specific types of equipment and software used in the industry is also more desirable since the learning curve for training is quicker.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Social Media Project Managers to find work opportunities?
Jeannie Clark: I do not know of any particular area that is needing more than another. All stations I have worked with across the country are dealing with the same issues-downsized staffs and budgets. These issues, coupled with Covid-19 concerns and remote wok situations, make the job market a challenging thing to navigate. One good thing I've been told is that with remote work allowing some businesses to cut their overhead costs, there may be some new factors which will create a more optimistic future for the media job market.
Dr Rick Baldwin
Associate Professor of PracticePrairie View A&M University
Management and Marketing Department
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Social Media Project Manager job market given the pandemic?
Dr Rick Baldwin: -Employers seeking applicants who have demonstrated the use of social media to promote their ideas and interests.
-Employers seeking applicants with minors in a liberal arts degree or interdisciplinary degree or entrepreneurship that provides a comprehensive understanding of an issue.
Jean Beaupré
Associate Professor of Communication and Marketing, Communication B.A. Program ChairNichols College
Department of Communication
How do you envision technology impacting Social Media Project Managers in the next 5 years?
Jean Beaupré: A generation ago, you could count the methods for communicating at work on one hand. Today, we have email, social media, video conferencing, texting, direct messaging, intranets, and more. These options are likely to expand in the future, as technology companies compete to meet professional, communicative needs. In my view, a significant challenge for those working in communication will be to maintain focus on the basic principles such as understanding your audience and not to assume that new technology will make communication simple. On the flip side, technology has facilitated ample data availability, so the opportunity exists to showcase communication as a vital contributor to business outcomes further and reliably.