How Much Does A Social Media Manager Make? Average Salary 2026
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- Jaro Education
- 13, November 2025
- 4:00 pm
During recent years, social media has completely transformed the way we connect, communicate, and even build careers. From staying in touch with friends and family across the world to helping brands reach millions of people in seconds, these platforms have truly changed the game. But here’s the exciting part: social media isn’t just about posting or scrolling anymore; it’s also a booming career field with some seriously impressive salary packages, both in India and abroad.
If you’re planning to build a career in digital or social media marketing in 2026, understanding the social media manager salary landscape can help you make smarter career choices. In this blog, we’ll break down how much social media managers earn in India based on factors like experience, job role, city, and qualifications. Let’s dive in!
What is a Social Media Manager
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A social media manager is a professional responsible for managing and enhancing a company’s presence across various social media platforms. Their role is dynamic, involving the planning, implementation, and maintenance of social media strategies and campaigns. This includes creating engaging content for platforms like LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter (X), and more, while actively interacting with the audience to build meaningful connections.
The main goal of a social media manager is to boost brand awareness, increase engagement, and drive traffic to the company’s website. They also keep an eye on trends, analyse performance patterns, and ensure consistent brand messaging across all channels.
Indeed, social media managers are key players in today’s digital marketing landscape, using creativity, strategy, and analytics to make brands stand out online.
Social Media Manager Salary by Experience
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The social media manager salary in India varies based on experience levels. The table given below shows experience-wise social media manager salary:
| Experience | Avg. Annual Salary |
| 1 year | ₹1.2 L/yr – ₹6 L/yr |
| 2 years | ₹1.8 L/yr – ₹7.2 L/yr |
| 3 years | ₹2 L/yr – ₹8.5 L/yr |
| 4 years | ₹2.4 L/yr – ₹9.8 L/yr |
| 5 years | ₹2.4 L/yr – ₹12 L/yr |
| 6 years | ₹3 L/yr – ₹13 L/yr |
| 7 years | ₹3.4 L/yr – ₹15.5 L/yr |
| 8 years | ₹4.7 L/yr – ₹14 L/yr |
Social Media Manager Salary by Designation
The range of social media manager salaries in India also varies based on their specific job designations:
| Designation | Avg. Annual Salary |
| Social Media Analyst Salary | ₹1.8 L/yr – ₹7.6 L/yr |
| Social Media Strategist Salary | ₹2.1 L/yr – ₹10 L/yr |
| Social Media Executive Salary | ₹1.4 L/yr – ₹5.6 L/yr |
| Social Media Associate Salary | ₹1.8 L/yr – ₹6.8 L/yr |
| Social Media Manager Salary | ₹1.8 L/yr – ₹10 L/yr |
| Social Media Marketer Salary | ₹1.2 L/yr – ₹6 L/yr |
| Digital Marketing Specialist Salary | ₹2.4 L/yr – ₹12 L/yr |
| Senior Social Media Executive Salary | ₹2.3 L/yr – ₹8 L/yr |
| Sales Executive Salary | ₹1.4 L/yr – ₹5.8 L/yr |
Salary Reference: Ambition Box
Social Media Manager Salary by City
Here’s the breakdown of social media manager salary by city:
| New Delhi. | ₹2.2 L/yr – ₹9.9 L/yr |
| Mumbai | ₹1.8 L/yr – ₹10 L/yr |
| Bangalore / Bengaluru | ₹2.3 L/yr – ₹13 L/yr |
| Gurgaon / Gurugram | ₹2.8 L/yr – ₹12.9 L/yr |
| Pune | ₹1.7 L/yr – ₹7.3 L/yr |
| Noida | ₹2.2 L/yr – ₹11 L/yr |
| Kolkata | ₹1.2 L/yr – ₹6 L/yr |
| Hyderabad | ₹2 L/yr – ₹9.5 L/yr |
Salary based on Educational Qualifications
In India, there is a strong relationship between a social media manager’s salary and educational background. Education level signifies not only an initial pay offer but also, more importantly, may influence future career advancement and professional growth. Wondering how? Let’s give you a brief:
Bachelor’s Degree:
For a social media manager working with a bachelor’s degree, starting compensation is approximately ₹3 LPA – ₹ 6 LPA. At this phase, the social media manager is typically entry-level and responsible for managing a brand page or pages, developing content calendars, and providing reported engagement stats for the brand(s). The social media manager’s salary may significantly increase with greater experience and development of their own strategy skill set.
Master’s Degree:
A master’s degree can greatly improve the compensation. A candidate with a master’s degree can get a salary of approximately ₹6 LPA – ₹12 LPA.
A graduate of a master’s program in marketing, digital media or communications is likely to gain mid-level and management positions faster than individuals graduating with a bachelor’s degree. This is due to the master’s level giving greater insight into understanding analytics, branding, and overall audience behaviour, which marketers and managers of social media may value.
Specialised Online Certifications:
Certifications in social media marketing, SEO, or digital advertising are certifications worth seeking alongside any degree of education. Professionals who hold certifications, such as the Professional Certificate Programme in Digital Marketing for Performance & Growth offered by IIM Kozhikode through Jaro Education, can help hone their social media management skills, ultimately leading to higher-paying jobs.
How Can You Earn More As A Social Media Manager?
Change employers:
As with many professions, one of the easiest ways to increase your Social Media Manager salary is to change employers. A quick search on LinkedIn can help you locate organisations willing to pay more money for your skills.
Advance your education:
Obtaining an advanced degree in things such as digital marketing, communications, or a related field not only helps you build your knowledge but also makes you more attractive as a candidate.
Expand your skills:
Managing social media profiles is more than posting content; you will need very strong copywriting skills to create clear and engaging content.
Get certified:
Obtaining a professional certification, such as the Social Media Marketing Certificate, will add a credential that distinguishes you from many others in the field.
The Bottom Line
Indeed, being a Social Media Manager in India offers rewarding career prospects and competitive salaries. As we know, the average Social Media Manager salary can range from INR 3 Lakhs to INR 10 lakhs per annum, depending upon factors such as skills, designation, and location. However, to excel in this field, it is important to upskill yourself and gain relevant expertise by enrolling in social media marketing courses. This is a great opportunity for freshers and professionals to enhance their experience and stay updated with the latest trends and strategies in the industry.
So, continue building up your digital and social media skills on Jaro Education. For example, you can enroll in our Online MBA – Dr. D. Y. Patil Vidyapeeth, Manipal University, Jaipur, and Amity University. Also, fast-track your career as a digital maverick with our Professional Certificate Programme in AI-Powered Digital Marketing for Performance & Growth offered by IIM Kozhikode.
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