Social Media Manager Salary.
Across 81 U.S. cities.
$77,000
national median salary
$56,000 to $105,000. Last updated August 2026.
Government benchmark for this occupation
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage of $78,760 for Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists (SOC 13-1161) across the United States, based on 899,580 employed workers (May 2025 release).
10th percentile
$43,390
25th percentile
$58,350
Median
$78,760
75th percentile
$108,310
90th percentile
$155,480
Workers surveyed
899,580
What BLS published in each release
May 2024 release
$76,950
May 2025 release
$78,760
These are two separate published estimates, not a time series. The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not encourage the use of OEWS data for time-series analysis. Differences between releases reflect changes in occupational classification, survey methodology, and the three-year pooled sample as well as any change in pay, so the two figures should not be read as a rate of wage growth.
BLS publishes wages by occupation code, not by job title, so this figure covers every role mapped to Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists (SOC 13-1161) rather than Social Media Managerspecifically. The national range at the top of this page is Orbyt’s role-level estimate, which is a different thing and is labelled as such.
View the BLS source for SOC 13-1161Highest Paying
$109,000
San Jose, CA
Best Purchasing Power
$80,000
New York, NY
Lowest Paying
$60,000
Charleston, WV
The salary figures on this page are computed estimates, not observed wages. Each one is a national role baseline scaled by a Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parity cost-of-living multiplier (2025 index) and rounded to the nearest $1,000. No published wage percentile is consulted and no wage survey response enters the calculation, so an Orbyt estimate must not be cited as a Bureau of Labor Statistics figure or as measured pay. The published wage data Orbyt holds is Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, and Department of Labor H-1B Labor Condition Application filings, which record a filed minimum visa base wage rather than market pay. Where BLS publishes a wage for the occupation a role maps to, it is shown on that role's page as a separate benchmark, labelled with its occupation code, metro area and the number of employed workers it covers. Last updated August 2026. This role maps to BLS occupation code 13-1161. Full methodology.
Orbyt estimates the average Social Media Manager salary in the United States at $77,000 in 2026, within a range of $56,000 to $105,000. These figures are Orbyt estimates, computed rather than measured, and must not be cited as Bureau of Labor Statistics figures; the published BLS wage for the occupation this role maps to is shown separately on this page. San Jose is the highest of the 81 cities at $109,000, while New York offers the best purchasing power after cost-of-living adjustments. Paid social advertising expertise, analytics proficiency, and experience managing large community platforms create the biggest salary differences.
Social Media Manager salary by city.
Skills that increase Social Media Manager pay.
The skills below command measurable salary premiums for Social Media Managers based on job posting data. Learning the top skill here could add $10,780 to your annual compensation.
≈ +$10,780 per year
≈ +$10,010 per year
≈ +$9,240 per year
≈ +$8,470 per year
≈ +$8,470 per year
≈ +$7,700 per year
≈ +$7,700 per year
≈ +$6,930 per year
What you should know.
Paid social advertising expertise, analytics proficiency, and experience managing large community platforms create the biggest salary differences. Managers at B2B SaaS companies or direct-to-consumer brands with measurable revenue attribution earn more than those in general brand awareness roles.
Junior Social Media Coordinators start at $48,000 to $55,000. Mid-level managers owning full channel strategy earn $60,000 to $74,000. Senior Social Media Managers and Directors of Social reach $78,000 to $100,000, with VP-level roles at major brands exceeding $120,000.
Performance bonuses tied to follower growth or engagement metrics add 5 to 15% at results-driven companies. Some roles include content creation budgets and conference attendance. Remote work is standard in this field.
Total compensation breakdown.
Salary by company size
Remote salary adjustment
Remote Social Media Managers typically earn $69,000 (10% less than on-site). This reflects location-adjusted pay policies at companies using geographic salary bands. Some companies pay flat national rates regardless of location.
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Common questions about Social Media Manager pay.
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