Full-Time Employee vs. Outsourced Social Media Manager: What Makes Sense for Your Business?
When business owners realize they need help with social media, the big question becomes:
“Do I hire someone full-time, or do I bring in a contractor or small agency?”
There isn’t one right answer for everyone, but the numbers and realities make outsourcing a lot more attractive than people realize.
The true cost of a full-time social media hire
In the U.S., the average salary for a Social Media Manager is reported to be around $62,000 per year on Indeed, based on recent job postings.
Salary.com, which tends to skew toward larger employers, lists an average closer to $112,750 per year, with many roles falling between $100,000 and $124,000.
Now add:
Benefits (health insurance, retirement, PTO)
Payroll taxes
Software costs (scheduling, design tools, analytics, etc.)
Training and onboarding time
The risk of turnover
Suddenly, “we’ll just hire someone” can easily turn into $70,000–$130,000+ per year in total cost.
For many small to mid-sized businesses, nonprofits, farms, and boutique brands, that simply isn’t realistic.
What you actually need: a whole skill set, not just a title
Modern social media isn’t just about posting. It’s:
Strategy
Copywriting
Design
Video editing
Analytics
Community management
Ad creation and management
Finding one full-time employee who is excellent at all of those is rare. And if you do find them, they’re not going to be cheap.
Working with a specialized contractor (hi, I’m Kendall) often means you’re getting:
A broader range of skills in one package
Systems and processes already in place
Experience across multiple industries
An outside strategic perspective
Why outsourcing often saves money and sanity
When you outsource:
You pay for a defined scope of work, not idle time
You can scale up or down as your needs change (busy seasons vs. slower periods)
You avoid HR overhead and long-term hiring commitments
You can access a higher level of expertise without a six-figure salary
For many businesses, a monthly retainer with a trusted contractor is a fraction of what a full-time hire would cost, while still giving you consistent content, strategy, and support.
When in-house does make sense
Hiring in-house can be helpful when:
You’re a larger company with a big budget
You want someone physically on-site daily
You also need them to handle other internal marketing responsibilities (events, PR, internal comms, etc.)
But for so many brands, especially local, equine, nonprofit, creative, and small businesses, an outsourced partner provides the perfect mix of flexibility, affordability, and expertise.
In other words, you don’t need a giant marketing department. You might just need the right person in your corner.
Cost Efficiency & Outsourcing
If you're debating whether outsourcing makes more sense than hiring in-house, I can walk you through what working with me actually looks like and what level of support fits your business and budget.
Start by filling out my short onboarding form so I can learn about your goals:
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Then feel free to browse:
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Let’s build a plan that saves you time and money, without sacrificing quality.
Sources:
Indeed – Social Media Manager Salary in United States Indeed
Salary.com – Social Media Manager Salary in the United States Salary.com