Strong 6.5% annual wage growth
This role's national salaries are growing at 6.5% year-over-year, well above the BLS all-occupations average of ~3.5%. If that pace holds, the Raleigh median reaches $82,205 in five years.
CreativeUpdated Q1 2026
Social Media Manager Salary
in Raleigh, NC
Manage brand presence across social media platforms through content, engagement, and analytics. Median salary in Raleigh: $60K/year. Data from BLS, O*NET, and H-1B disclosures.
Median salary
$60K
per year
Take-home: $39K
Salary range in Raleigh
Entry level (25th)$45,000
Median (50th)$60,000
Senior (75th)$82,000
Top earner (90th)$110,000
Data freshness
- BLS OEWS · May 2025 release · pulled August 2025
- DOL H-1B LCA Disclosures · FY2026 Q1 · pulled February 2026
- C2ER Cost of Living Index · 2026 Q1 · pulled April 2026
Figures represent annual base salary in Raleigh, North Carolina. Reviewed by SalaryOptics Editorial · How we calculate this →
Help build this dataset. Add your own Social Media Manager salary so other workers in Raleigh have better numbers to work with.
Submit yours →What the numbers say for Raleigh
Analysis derived from the salary, COL, tax, and labor-market figures above — specific to this role and city.
72% remote-eligible
This role is 72% remote-eligible nationally according to job-posting analysis, which significantly expands the job market for Raleigh-based Social Media Managers. Many Raleigh professionals in this role are paid on the locality scale of their employer's HQ rather than Raleigh's local rate — verify which scale your offer references before negotiating.
Rent eats 49% of take-home
Average 1-bedroom rent in Raleigh ($1,600/mo) consumes approximately 49% of an after-tax median Social Media Manager salary. Financial planners typically recommend keeping housing under 30% of take-home — a salary at the 75th percentile ($82K) brings that ratio into a more comfortable range here.
Key facts for Raleigh
Median salary
$60K
annual
Take-home pay
$39K
after fed/state tax
COL index
102
100 = US avg
State income tax
4.75%
effective rate
Avg 1BR rent
$1,600
per month
YoY growth
+6.5%
salary trend
Salary forecast: Raleigh Social Media Manager to 2030
Based on BLS 2022–2032 Employment Projections and WEF Future of Jobs Report 2026. At current growth rates, median salary reaches $60K by 2030.
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Social Media Manager Salary in Raleigh, North Carolina: Complete Guide (2026)
The median Social Media Manager salary in Raleigh, NC is $60,000 per year as of Q1 2026. This figure represents the midpoint of all reported compensation for this role in the Raleigh–NC metropolitan area, based on data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics, H-1B visa disclosures from the Department of Labor, and O*NET occupational data.
Salary range for Social Media Manager in Raleigh
Entry-level Social Media Managers in Raleigh with 0–2 years of experience typically earn between $45,000 and $60,000 annually. Mid-career professionals with 3–7 years command $60,000 to $82,000, while senior-level practitioners with 8+ years of experience regularly earn $82,000 to $110,000 or more.
Cost of living in Raleigh for Social Media Managers
Raleigh has a cost of living index of 102 compared to the US national average of 100. Living costs in Raleigh are close to the national average. North Carolina has a 4.75% state income tax rate.
Education requirements for Social Media Manager
Bachelor's in Marketing or Communications. This role is 72% remote-eligible nationally, which can significantly expand the job market for Raleigh-based professionals.