How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Social Media Marketer?

It's one of the most common questions I get, and the honest answer is: it depends on who you hire and what you expect them to do. But "it depends" isn't helpful, so here are the real ranges — and what actually drives the price.

The typical ranges

A freelancer: often a few hundred up to around $1,500 a month, depending on how many platforms and posts. Cheapest option, but usually just content — not strategy or ads.

An agency: commonly $1,000 to $5,000+ a month, because you're paying for a team and overhead. More capability, more cost, and often less direct access to the person doing the work.

An in-house hire: a full-time social media manager in the U.S. typically runs $45,000 to $70,000 a year in salary alone, before benefits — which only makes sense once you're at real scale.

Why the range is so wide

Price tracks scope. Posting a few times a week is one thing. A real program — content, community management, paid ads that actually convert, and reporting that ties back to sales — is another thing entirely. Cheap "just post something daily" help is easy to find and rarely moves revenue.

What you're really paying for

The number that matters isn't the monthly fee — it's the return. Ten cheap posts a week that no customer ever sees cost you more than a smaller, sharper program that actually books jobs. Judge the price against results, not volume.

What it costs with me

I don't make you sit through a sales call to get a number. My plans and prices are posted publicly — social media handled as part of a system built to turn attention into customers, not just fill a feed. If you want to know exactly what it would cost for your business, just ask and I'll give it to you straight.