Social Media Manager Salary UK
Last updated: July 2026 · Written by Shev Dilay, Live Digital · 10 min readSocial Media Manager Salary UK — 2026 Quick Reference
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- Social Media Executive / Assistant: £22,000–£30,000
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- Social Media Manager: £30,000–£45,000
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- Senior Social Media Manager: £45,000–£60,000
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- Head of Social: £55,000–£80,000
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- UK average: ~£36,000 · London: ~£39,000 (to £76,000 senior)
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- Freelance day rate: £150–£400+ / day
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Average Social Media Manager Salary UK 2026
The average social media manager salary in the UK is around £36,000 in 2026 (Glassdoor £35,999, Indeed £36,000), rising to roughly £39,000 in London. But the range is wide: entry-level executives start near £22,000, while senior managers and Heads of Social at well-funded brands earn £60,000–£80,000. Robert Half puts London social media managers as high as £76,750 at the senior end. Pay is driven by seniority, whether you work agency-side or in-house, sector, and location. Social has also matured from a junior “posting” role into a strategic function owning paid social budgets and brand growth — which is pushing senior salaries steadily upward.Social Media Manager Salary Per Month
On the UK average of £36,000, a social media manager earns roughly £3,000 per month gross. By level:| Level | Annual salary | Approx. monthly (gross) |
|---|---|---|
| Social Media Executive | £22,000–£30,000 | £1,800–£2,500 |
| Social Media Manager | £30,000–£45,000 | £2,500–£3,750 |
| Senior Social Media Manager | £45,000–£60,000 | £3,750–£5,000 |
| Head of Social | £55,000–£80,000 | £4,600–£6,700 |
Social Media Manager Salary by Seniority
Social Media Executive / Assistant — £22,000–£30,000
Entry-level roles handling content scheduling, community management and reporting. A common first step into digital marketing.Social Media Manager — £30,000–£45,000
The core role, owning strategy and delivery across channels for a brand or set of clients, often with paid social responsibility. London and tech/e-commerce roles reach the top of this band.Senior Social Media Manager — £45,000–£60,000
Owns larger budgets, manages junior team members and reports on commercial impact. Senior managers with paid-social and strategy expertise are in strong demand.Head of Social — £55,000–£80,000
Leads the social function, sets strategy and manages a team. At larger brands and agencies this can extend toward £90,000, particularly in London.Agency vs In-House & Salary by Sector
In-house roles at established brands and tech companies typically pay more than agency roles at the same level, though agencies can offer faster progression and broader experience. Technology, e-commerce and consumer brands pay the most; charity and smaller B2B pay least.| Setting / sector | Social Media Manager |
|---|---|
| Tech / SaaS / e-commerce (in-house) | £35,000–£50,000 |
| Consumer brand (in-house) | £32,000–£45,000 |
| Agency | £28,000–£42,000 |
| Charity / small B2B | £26,000–£38,000 |
London vs the Rest of the UK
London pays a premium of around 10–20%. Indeed shows London social media managers at £36,700 versus £36,200 in Manchester and £36,000 in Bristol for the base title — a modest gap at entry level that widens sharply at senior and Head of Social level, where London roles reach £70,000–£80,000+.Freelance & Day Rates
Many social media managers work freelance or run their own micro-agencies. UK freelance day rates typically run £150–£400+ per day depending on experience, niche and whether paid-social management is included. Retainer arrangements (managing a client’s social for a fixed monthly fee) commonly range from £500 to £2,500+ per client per month. Experienced freelancers with a strong portfolio and paid-media skills command the top of these ranges.What Factors Affect Social Media Manager Salary?
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- Seniority. Executive to Head of Social roughly triples pay.
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- Paid social skills. Managing ad budgets (Meta, TikTok, LinkedIn) commands a clear premium over organic-only roles.
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- Agency vs in-house. In-house brand roles usually pay more at the same level.
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- Sector. Tech, SaaS and e-commerce pay top of market.
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- Location. London adds 10–20%, widening at senior level.