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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