Let’s dive in and answer everything—no marketing fluff, just the truth.
💼 What’s the Average Salary of a Social Media Manager?
Alright, let’s start with some global perspective.
Country | Average Monthly Salary | Average Hourly Rate |
---|---|---|
UK | £2,500 – £4,500 | £18 – £35/hour |
Pakistan | PKR 45,000 – 150,000 | PKR 250 – 1,000/hr |
USA | $3,000 – $7,000 | $25 – $60/hr |
Remote Freelancers | Depends on client & skill | $10 – $80/hr |
Your salary as a social media manager really depends on experience, city, type of company, and whether you’re full-time, freelance, or just dipping your toes in.
💡 How Much Can You Make Being a Social Media Manager?
Short answer? It ranges a lot. Here’s a breakdown:
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Entry-Level / Fresh Graduates:
Expect around PKR 30,000–50,000 in Pakistan or £1,800–2,200 in the UK. It’s the grind phase. Lots of learning, not-so-much-earning. -
Mid-Level (2–4 years experience):
Around PKR 70,000–120,000 in Pakistan and £2,500–£3,500 in the UK. At this stage, you’re probably managing multiple accounts, maybe leading a junior team, and creating real impact. -
Senior or Lead Roles:
This is where it gets juicy. PKR 150,000+ in Pakistan, £4,000+ in the UK. You might be managing strategy, ad budgets, and team performance. Basically: you run the show.
📍How Much Does a Social Media Manager Earn Near London?
London pays better—but life costs more too.
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Entry Level: ~£25,000/year
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Mid-Level: £35,000 – £50,000/year
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Senior Roles: £60,000+ (especially in marketing agencies or tech companies)
The real kicker? Freelancers near London often charge £30–£80/hr depending on their portfolio. If you’re good, you’re gold.
💰 How Much Can Freelance Social Media Managers Earn?
This one’s wild—because it totally depends on you.
Freelance Rates Breakdown:
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Beginners: $10–$15/hr
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Intermediate (1–3 yrs): $20–$40/hr
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Advanced / Niche experts: $50–$100/hr (yes, really)
Platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, and LinkedIn can get you international clients who pay in USD or GBP. If you’re in Pakistan and charging $25/hour? That’s 7,000 PKR per hour. Multiply that by 40 hours/week. You do the math. 👀
📊 What Should a Social Media Manager Be Paid?
Here’s what should happen if companies value their online growth:
Experience | Monthly (PKR) | Monthly (GBP) |
---|---|---|
Beginner (0–1 yr) | 30k–50k | £1,800–2,200 |
Junior (1–2 yrs) | 50k–70k | £2,200–2,800 |
Mid-Level (3–5 yrs) | 80k–120k | £2,800–4,000 |
Senior (5+ yrs) | 130k+ | £4,000+ |
But let’s be real. Sometimes, companies try to lowball. If your responsibilities include content, ads, strategy, community, reporting, AND crisis management, don’t accept an intern’s salary. Negotiate like your rent depends on it—because it probably does.
⏱️ How Much Does a Social Media Manager Earn Per Hour?
This is especially useful for freelancers or part-timers.
Hourly Rate Guide:
Region | Beginner | Mid-Level | Senior |
---|---|---|---|
UK | £15/hr | £25/hr | £40+/hr |
Pakistan | PKR 300/hr | PKR 700/hr | PKR 1,200+/hr |
Remote Clients (USD) | $10/hr | $25/hr | $60/hr |
Pro tip: Always charge more than your local rate if you’re freelancing for foreign clients. You’re saving them money and bringing global-quality content.
🎓 What About Entry-Level Salary?
Just starting out? Expect to earn the lower end of the range.
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In Pakistan: PKR 25,000 – 50,000/month
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In the UK: £18,000 – £24,000/year
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Online gigs: $8 – $15/hr for basic account management
But trust me—once you’ve built some case studies, gotten results, and understand platforms like Meta Ads or TikTok strategies, you’ll double that in no time.
🧠 Final Thoughts: Is It Worth Becoming a Social Media Manager?
If you’re creative, strategic, and obsessed with scrolling TikTok “for research”—then yeah, it’s worth it. You can work from home, build a portfolio, and even create your own agency down the line.
Bonus tip: Learn to run paid ads, write killer captions, and analyse metrics. That’s where the high-paying gigs hide.
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Oliver Bennett, with his Master’s degree from Manchester Metropolitan, is our in-house SEO specialist. At Spinbot UK Blog, he focuses on optimizing content to achieve the highest search engine rankings and edits articles to ensure they meet the highest standards of clarity and precision.