Sales & Marketing

How to become a Social Media Manager

From no experience: every step, how long it takes, and the credential it earns.

Time to get there

3–9 months

Typical pay

$48k–$72k

Starting from

No experience

Pay is an estimate of typical US entry-level pay for this role and varies by state, employer and shift. The timeline assumes you are starting from no experience and includes any licence or programme legally required, not just course length.

The route

1. 1

   2–4 months

   Learn the platforms as a publisher

   Posting personally is not the same as running an account to a target.

   Course that covers thisComplete Social Media Marketing CourseUdemy · around $19.99 →
2. 2

   3–6 months

   Manage a real account

   A small business, a nonprofit or your own project, with numbers you can show.

3. 3

   2–4 months

   Learn short-form video

   Shooting and editing to a hook. This is now most of the job.

4. 4

   6–12 months

   Learn paid and analytics

   Organic-only managers plateau; paid social is where budget and seniority are.

   Course that covers thisDIGITAL MARKETING: Complete Digital Marketing CourseUdemy · around $19.99 →
5. ✓

   Destination

   Social Media Manager

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