Demandsage reports that social media users spend an average of 18 hours and 36 minutes every week on social media. This explains why business owners are commonly advised to build an online presence for their business. Building a solid online presence involves doing research, coming up with a strategy, posting consistently, creating content, designing content, and staying informed of social media trends. Hiring a social media manager solves this because it is their domain and it means fewer tasks for the business owner to manage.
In this article, we cover the base cost of hiring a social media manager by experience level, the additional costs most businesses overlook, the total cost of employment, the key factors that affect what you pay, and the options available if the numbers do not fit your budget.
What Is the Base Cost of Hiring a Social Media Manager in the UK (2026)?
The cost of hiring a social media manager can vary considerably depending on their level of experience. The more experience a social media manager has, the higher their expected base pay is likely to be. It is also important to factor in the UK’s updated minimum wage when considering these costs. For workers aged 21 and over, the minimum wage increased to £12.71 per hour on 1 April 2026, in line with the latest rates published by GOV.UK.
With this updated rate in mind, the table below breaks down the typical base cost of hiring a social media manager across different experience levels.
| Experience level | Years of experience | Hourly | Monthly (approx.) | Yearly (approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-level | 0 – 3 years | £12.71 – £14.50 | £2,200 – £2,510 | £26,400 – £30,120 |
| Mid-level | 3 – 5 years | £14.50 – £16.50 | £2,510 – £2,860 | £30,120 – £34,320 |
| Senior-level | 5+ years | £16.50 – £19.00 | £2,860 – £3,290 | £34,320 – £39,520 |
Indeed places the average base salary for a social media manager in the UK at £34,418 as of August 2026, which sits comfortably within the 4+ years experience range above.
What Are the Additional Costs of Hiring a Social Media Manager?
Aside from the base pay, there are other costs that factor into hiring a full-time social media manager:
- Employer National Insurance
Employers are required to pay National Insurance contributions, which is currently 15% on earnings above a certain threshold. - Auto Enrolment Pension
Under the UK’s auto-enrolment scheme, every eligible employee must be enrolled into a workplace pension, and as an employer, you’re required to contribute at least 3%. - Paid Leave & Public Holidays
UK full time employees are entitled to 28 days paid leave (including bank holidays). This means you pay your employees on these days where there’s no active output. - Equipment and Software
Your social media manager may need access to scheduling platforms, analytics tools, design software, and content creation tools. If you do not already have these subscriptions, they add an ongoing expense to the total cost of the role. - Onboarding and Training
A social media manager needs more than just an understanding of social platforms. They will need time to get familiar with your brand, tone of voice, target audience, content strategy, and internal systems. Depending on your setup, onboarding can add £500 to £2,000 or more to the overall cost. - Recruitment or Job Board Fees
Due to the wider reach of talent you get via recruiters and job boards, business owners prefer to utilize them. And this can easily cost you £1,000 to £3,000 depending on the seniority role before your new hire resumes.
Here is what these additional costs typically add up to for a full-time social media manager:
| Additional Costs | Estimated Cost |
|---|---|
| Employer National Insurance | £3,200 – £5,200 |
| Auto Enrolment Pension | £800 – £1,200 |
| Paid Holiday Cover (28 days) | £2,400 – £3,500 |
| Equipment and Software | £800 – £1,500 |
| Onboarding and Training | £500 – £2,000 |
| Recruitment or Job Board Fees | £1,000 – £3,000 |
| Total Additional Costs | £8,700 – £16,400 |
What is the Total Cost?
Having covered the base pay and additional costs, here is what the estimated total cost to hire a social media manager in the UK in 2026 typically looks like:
| Experience Level | Base Annual Salary | Total Additional Costs | Total Monthly Cost | Total Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 – 3 years | £26,400 – £30,200 | £8,700 – £12,800 | £2,920 – £3,550 | £35,100 – £42,920 |
| 3 – 5 years | £30,120 – £34,320 | £9,600 – £14,400 | £3,310 – £4,060 | £39,720 – £48,720 |
| 5+ years | £34,320 – £39,520 | £11,400 – £16,400 | £3,810 – £4,660 | £45,720 – £55,920 |
Key Factors That Affect the Cost of Hiring a Social Media Manager
Several factors can influence how much you will pay when hiring a social media manager.
- Experience level
More experienced managers can typically take on more complex responsibilities beyond posting content. They may handle content strategy, audience growth, analytics, paid social campaigns, community management, and overall social media planning, which commands a higher salary. - Industry
Competitive or highly specialised industries such as SaaS, finance, e-commerce, and professional services may require social media managers with specific knowledge and experience, which can increase the salary you can expect to pay. - Location
Social media managers in major UK cities, particularly London, typically command higher salaries than those based in smaller towns due to differences in living costs and local salary expectations.
Affordable Ways to Hire Social Media Support in the UK
For many UK businesses, hiring a full-time social media manager is not always the right starting point. Whether it is the scope of the role or the workload not yet justifying a permanent hire, there are several practical options to consider.
- Hire Part-Time
If you only need a few hours of social media support each week, a part-time manager may make more sense than paying a full-time salary. You can scale the hours around your workload and budget while still having someone consistently managing your social channels. - Hire Interns
Businesses with an experienced marketing or social media professional on their team can consider hiring an intern, recent graduate, or entry-level candidate. With the right training and supervision, they can take on tasks such as content scheduling, community management, and basic content creation while developing their skills. - Hire Freelancers
Freelancers can be a good option when your social media needs are project-based or inconsistent. You can bring in specialist support for content creation, campaigns, strategy, or account management without committing to a long-term employment contract. - Hire Remote
This is where many businesses are saving the most right now. You can partner with Arwana to hire experienced and dedicated remote social media manager based overseas, at a fraction of the cost of hiring locally, with no recruitment fees and no long-term contracts.
Conclusion
The cost of hiring a social media manager in the UK in 2026 goes well beyond the advertised salary. Once you factor in the full cost of employment, most businesses are looking at somewhere between £35,000 and £56,000 a year depending on experience level.
That gap between the advertised salary and what you actually pay is why more UK businesses are looking at remote hiring as a practical alternative. A dedicated remote social media manager gives you the same support without the additional employment costs covered in this article.
If you are looking for dedicated social media support at a more accessible cost, Arwana helps UK businesses hire experienced remote social media professionals from £699/month. Book a call with us to get started.
