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Social media specialist salary
Average social media specialist salary
$51,584
Average Social Media Specialist Salary
As of October 2025, the average salary for a social media specialist is $51,584 annually, translating to approximately $25 per hour. Factors influencing this salary include geographical location, years of experience, and specific industries. For example, professionals in tech and marketing sectors often command higher wages due to the demand for digital expertise.
Where Can Social Media Specialists Earn More?
Pay scales vary significantly across states. The highest-paying states for social media specialists include California, New York, and Washington, where salaries can exceed the national average by over 20%. Additionally, major metropolitan areas tend to offer better compensation packages due to higher living costs and a competitive job market.
Salary by Experience
Entry-level positions may start around $40,000, while those with several years of experience can earn upwards of $70,000. Specialists who advance into managerial roles or specialize in data analytics can see even greater financial rewards, making this a lucrative career path for those willing to grow their skills.
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Where can a Social Media Specialist earn more?
Social media specialist salary estimates from across the web
Average social media specialist salary by state
The highest-paying states for social media specialists are Hawaii, New Jersey, and California. The lowest average social media specialist salary states are Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for social media specialists
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | $60,360 | $29.02 |
| 2 | Massachusetts | $54,483 | $26.19 |
| 3 | Washington | $54,971 | $26.43 |
| 4 | New York | $55,915 | $26.88 |
| 5 | Rhode Island | $54,694 | $26.30 |
| 6 | Delaware | $52,916 | $25.44 |
| 7 | Idaho | $50,561 | $24.31 |
| 8 | Hawaii | $58,642 | $28.19 |
| 9 | California | $56,204 | $27.02 |
| 10 | New Jersey | $57,484 | $27.64 |
| 11 | Nevada | $52,630 | $25.30 |
| 12 | North Dakota | $48,976 | $23.55 |
| 13 | Virginia | $54,491 | $26.20 |
| 14 | Alaska | $52,318 | $25.15 |
| 15 | Connecticut | $54,049 | $25.99 |
| 16 | Oregon | $53,244 | $25.60 |
| 17 | New Hampshire | $49,733 | $23.91 |
| 18 | West Virginia | $47,368 | $22.77 |
| 19 | Arizona | $49,295 | $23.70 |
| 20 | Michigan | $45,440 | $21.85 |
| 21 | Colorado | $49,198 | $23.65 |
| 22 | Maryland | $48,677 | $23.40 |
| 23 | North Carolina | $47,913 | $23.04 |
| 24 | Tennessee | $47,525 | $22.85 |
| 25 | Kentucky | $46,789 | $22.49 |
| 26 | Illinois | $46,677 | $22.44 |
| 27 | Pennsylvania | $46,676 | $22.44 |
| 28 | Utah | $43,627 | $20.97 |
| 29 | Ohio | $45,873 | $22.05 |
| 30 | Minnesota | $46,539 | $22.37 |
| 31 | Wyoming | $40,887 | $19.66 |
| 32 | Florida | $44,682 | $21.48 |
| 33 | South Dakota | $41,888 | $20.14 |
| 34 | Nebraska | $42,460 | $20.41 |
| 35 | Wisconsin | $45,785 | $22.01 |
| 36 | Georgia | $44,318 | $21.31 |
| 37 | Texas | $43,948 | $21.13 |
| 38 | Arkansas | $41,559 | $19.98 |
| 39 | Vermont | $39,806 | $19.14 |
| 40 | Iowa | $40,552 | $19.50 |
| 41 | Indiana | $42,523 | $20.44 |
| 42 | Montana | $38,782 | $18.65 |
| 43 | Maine | $36,206 | $17.41 |
| 44 | New Mexico | $40,733 | $19.58 |
| 45 | Louisiana | $38,276 | $18.40 |
| 46 | Missouri | $41,707 | $20.05 |
| 47 | Kansas | $40,318 | $19.38 |
| 48 | Mississippi | $37,969 | $18.25 |
| 49 | Alabama | $38,557 | $18.54 |
| 50 | Oklahoma | $37,410 | $17.99 |
| 51 | South Carolina | $36,464 | $17.53 |
Highest paying cities for social media specialists
The highest-paying cities for social media specialists are Washington, DC, San Francisco, CA, and New York, NY.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington, DC | $60,436 | $29.06 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $59,732 | $28.72 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $56,127 | $26.98 |
| 4 | McLean, VA | $55,970 | $26.91 |
| 5 | Seattle, WA | $55,336 | $26.60 |
| 6 | Boston, MA | $54,326 | $26.12 |
| 7 | Middletown, CT | $53,962 | $25.94 |
| 8 | Portland, OR | $52,996 | $25.48 |
| 9 | Las Vegas, NV | $52,125 | $25.06 |
| 10 | Phoenix, AZ | $49,308 | $23.71 |
| 11 | Colorado Springs, CO | $49,240 | $23.67 |
| 12 | Baltimore, MD | $48,980 | $23.55 |
| 13 | Raleigh, NC | $48,461 | $23.30 |
| 14 | Philadelphia, PA | $47,175 | $22.68 |
| 15 | Chicago, IL | $46,846 | $22.52 |
| 16 | Minneapolis, MN | $46,512 | $22.36 |
| 17 | Detroit, MI | $45,611 | $21.93 |
| 18 | Miami, FL | $45,494 | $21.87 |
| 19 | San Antonio, TX | $44,608 | $21.45 |
| 20 | Atlanta, GA | $44,147 | $21.22 |
Social Media Specialists are the most in-demand in these five cities:
Social media specialist salary details
A social media specialist's salary ranges from $38,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $68,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a social media specialist's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $68,000 | $5,667 | $33 |
| 75th Percentile | $60,000 | $5,000 | $29 |
| Average | $51,584 | $4,299 | $25 |
| 25th Percentile | $44,000 | $3,667 | $21 |
| 10th Percentile | $38,000 | $3,167 | $18 |
Highest paying social media specialist jobs
The highest paying types of social media specialists are social media manager, public affairs specialist, and content specialist.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Relations Coordinator | $46,225 | $3,852 | $22.22 | 35,324 |
| Communications Coordinator | $47,075 | $3,923 | $22.63 | 39,790 |
| Media Consultant | $53,443 | $4,454 | $25.69 | 28,768 |
| Media Coordinator | $47,471 | $3,956 | $22.82 | 35,285 |
| Social Media Internship | $31,145 | $2,595 | $14.97 | 79,411 |
| Social Media Manager | $70,287 | $5,857 | $33.79 | 105,475 |
How would you rate the starting salaries for social media specialists, as well as the prospects for salary advancement?
Michael Riecke
Assistant Professor, State University of New York at Oswego
They may not openly admit it, but many employers see the first job as a test of who has the stamina, talent, and passion for succeeding. If a new employee puts in the effort, doesn't balk at long hours, and gets the job done well without a sizeable financial reward, it's generally interpreted by the employer as a sign of commitment. That display of commitment typically gets rewarded.
Top companies hiring social media specialists now:
Which companies pay social media specialists the most?
Social media specialist salaries at McKinsey & Company Inc and Bain & Company are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average social media specialist salary at companies like Earthjustice and TBWA Worldwide are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | McKinsey & Company Inc | $78,446 | $37.71 |
| 2 | Bain & Company | $78,028 | $37.51 |
| 3 | Earthjustice | $76,304 | $36.68 |
| 4 | TBWA Worldwide | $74,602 | $35.87 |
| 5 | RPA | $72,724 | $34.96 |
| 6 | Evonik | $71,988 | $34.61 |
| 7 | Independence Contract Drilling | $69,900 | $33.61 |
| 8 | Adobe | $68,783 | $33.07 |
| 9 | Zynga | $67,467 | $32.44 |
| 10 | Constellation Energy Partners | $67,321 | $32.37 |
| 11 | Electronic Arts | $66,871 | $32.15 |
| 12 | Edelman Financial Engines | $65,160 | $31.33 |
| 13 | Amphenol | $64,703 | $31.11 |
| 14 | National Grid plc | $64,579 | $31.05 |
| 15 | Survios | $64,472 | $31.00 |
| 16 | Helen of Troy | $63,002 | $30.29 |
| 17 | Duquesne Light Company | $62,354 | $29.98 |
| 18 | Andersen | $62,108 | $29.86 |
| 19 | Panasonic Avionics | $61,152 | $29.40 |
| 20 | Salesforce | $60,560 | $29.12 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Social Media Specialist salary by industry
The average social media specialist salary varies across industries:
- The average social media specialist salary in the professional industry is $52,527, the highest of any industry.
- The average social media specialist salary in the finance industry is $52,371.
- Social media specialists in the hospitality industry earn an average salary of $49,814, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for social media specialists
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Professional | $52,527 | $25.25 |
| 2 | Real Estate | $52,371 | $25.18 |
| 3 | Technology | $52,237 | $25.11 |
| 4 | Health Care | $51,227 | $24.63 |
| 5 | Media | $50,602 | $24.33 |
| 6 | Retail | $50,570 | $24.31 |
| 7 | Hospitality | $49,814 | $23.95 |
High paying social media specialist jobs
Social media specialist salary trends
The average social media specialist salary has risen by $7,901 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average social media specialist earned $43,683 annually, but today, they earn $51,584 a year. That works out to a 8% change in pay for social media specialists over the last decade.
Compare social media specialist salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average social media specialist salary over time
Compare social media specialist salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Social media specialist salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $51,600 | $24.80 | +2.6% |
| 2024 | $50,200 | $24.14 | +1.9% |
| 2023 | $49,300 | $23.69 | +1.2% |
| 2022 | $48,700 | $23.41 | +2.2% |
| 2021 | $47,700 | $22.91 | +2.2% |
Recently added social media specialist salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jostens | Search & Social Media Specialist | Minneapolis, MN | 06/30/2025 | $55,000 |
| Barkley | Paid Social Media Specialist | Nome, TX | 06/29/2025 | $48,000 |
| Ramsey | Social Media Specialist 2 | Nashville, TN | 06/29/2025 | $55,000 |
| Get It-Marketing | Social Media Specialist, North America-Remote | Chicago, IL | 06/29/2025 | $25,044 |
| Get It-Marketing | Social Media Management-Remote | Manassas, VA | 06/29/2025 | $36,000 |
| Get It-Marketing | Paid Social Media Specialist-Remote-Hybrid-Remote | Highland Beach, FL | 06/29/2025 | $25,044 |
| Amazon | Executive Social Media Specialist, Devices & Services | Seattle, WA | 06/28/2025 | $68,900 |
| Scheels All Sports | Social Media Specialist | Eden Prairie, MN | 06/28/2025 | $41,740 |
| Revolve | SR Social Media Specialist, Revolve & Fwrd Man | Cerritos, CA | 06/28/2025 | $70,000 |
| Carver Road Hospitality | Social Media Marketing Specialist | Salt Lake City, UT | 06/28/2025 | $41,740 |
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