Is Paying a Freelance Social Media Manager Worth It?
February 17, 2026
There are a few factors to weigh up when you’re considering hiring a social media manager. One of the key factors, of course, is the monetary investment. And whether you should choose a freelancer or an employee.
Now, only you can determine whether your business is ready to hire a social media manager, and what budget you have available.
Let’s say you opt for a $1,000 monthly retainer (fairly low for an experienced freelance social media manager). This person grows your reach and engagement, and drives traffic to your business.
If you think that’s sounding expensive, think of it this way:
$1,000 per month is $12,000 per year. Yes, that’s a decent investment, especially for smaller businesses.
But let’s compare it to hiring a full-time staff member.
You’d have to pay at least $50,000 (for an entry-level social media manager) – depending on your country/location.
You also have to fork out for benefits, including:
- Annual leave / PTO
- Kiwisaver or Superannuation
- Training
- Sick days (10 in New Zealand!)
- All the potential issues that come with managing a person (like what if that person doesn’t mesh well with the team, or underperforms?)
In summary, there are a LOT of responsibilities that come with hiring an employee.
But you can pay a freelancer for a fraction of the cost, and get arguably better results.
Even more importantly, freelancers bring a different mindset to your business.
They’re not just getting paid to come to work, clock the required hours, then go home.
They’re being paid for specific deliverables and strategy. And if they don’t deliver results, the client can simply give them notice. This means freelancers will typically work harder for you to achieve the results you’re looking for, and endeavour to create a positive long-term working partnership.
The only thing you’ll lose out on is the drastic changes in your social media marketing – and potential new customers buying from your business.
So, is paying a freelance social media manager worth it? I am biased, so of course I’d say yes.
But when you weigh up the figures, it does actually look good on paper. Scratch that – it looks like a bloody great deal, to be perfectly honest!
