How much does a social media manager cost? It depends on what you are asking them to do, and most price lists hide that. A freelancer who posts for you three times a week costs a very different amount from a team that plans the content, shoots it, edits it, runs the community and reports on what it did. At RobbP Media, our social media management starts from $1,500 a month, on top of whatever you spend on ads. This post explains what that covers, what changes the price, and how to compare quotes so you are not paying for the wrong thing.
Two different jobs that get called the same name
When someone says "social media manager," they can mean one of two jobs. The first is publishing: someone schedules posts, replies to comments and keeps the feed moving. That is useful, and it is cheap, but it does not usually change how many people buy from you. The second is building a system: working out which communities your buyers already use, what content gets them to stop scrolling, how each post feeds a sale or a booked call, and whether it is working. That is the work that moves numbers, and it costs more because it takes more thinking and more hours.
Before you compare any price, ask the agency which of those two jobs it is quoting. If the answer is only publishing, you are buying hands, not strategy.
What the price includes
Our management covers the whole loop. We plan the content calendar around what your buyers actually respond to. We write the scripts and captions, shoot or direct the video, edit it, and post it. We handle the community side too: replies, comments and direct messages, because a post that gets seen but never answered is wasted. And every month you get a report that connects the content to what happened next, whether that is profile visits, saves, enquiries or sales.
The fee is a monthly number, and we confirm the exact figure after a free audit, so you know it before you commit. That is deliberate. A vague quote is usually a sign the scope is vague too.
What changes the price
Four things move the number up or down.
The first is how many platforms you need. One platform, say Instagram, costs less than Instagram, TikTok and YouTube together, because each platform has its own formats and its own audience habits.
The second is how much new creative you need. Filming and editing video is the most expensive part of social media. A brand that can supply its own footage, or that only needs a few new videos a month, pays less than one that needs a full production schedule.
The third is how much community work sits behind the content. Some clients want a few comments answered a day. Others run busy accounts with hundreds of messages a week, and that is real work.
The fourth is whether the social work is linked to paid ads. Organic posts feed paid campaigns with creative that has already proven itself, and that connection is often the difference between social that looks nice and social that pays. We price that link into the plan rather than charging for it separately.
How to compare quotes
Quotes are hard to compare because agencies describe the same work in different words. Use these four checks.
Ask what the content will be, not how many posts. "Twelve posts a month" tells you nothing. "Twelve posts, six of them short video, each tied to a named buyer question" tells you a lot.
Ask who does the work. Is it the person who pitched you, a junior with a template, or a freelancer you will never meet? All three can be fine, but you should know which one you are getting.
Ask how success is measured. If the answer is followers and likes, be careful. Followers are the easiest number to inflate and the least connected to money. Ask what they report on: enquiries, bookings, sales, or the metrics that connect to them.
Ask what happens after three months. A good agency will tell you how you would know the work was not working, and what they would change. If they cannot say, the plan probably has no feedback loop.
Where to spend first
If your budget is small, do not buy the biggest package on the list. Start with the platform where your buyers already spend time, get a steady rhythm of content there for three months, and measure whether it brings people in. Add platforms and paid support once the first one is working. Most of the brands we see struggling spread a small budget across five platforms and get nothing from any of them.
If you want to know what paid spend on top of that might cost, our post on how much Instagram ads cost explains how the ad side works, and our social media management service page lists what is included.
Questions people ask
How much does a social media manager cost per month?
Our social media management starts from $1,500 a month, on top of your ad spend. The exact fee depends on how many platforms you need, how much new video is involved and how much community work sits behind it. We confirm the number after a free audit.
Is a freelance social media manager cheaper?
Often, for publishing alone. A freelancer can keep a feed moving for less. The gap narrows once you need strategy, filming, editing and reporting, because those are the parts that take the most hours. Compare what each option actually delivers, not just the monthly figure.
Do I pay the agency for my ads too?
Your ad spend goes straight to Meta or Google from your own account, never through us. Our management fee is separate from that. Be wary of any agency that wants to take a cut of your ad budget and calls it a management fee.
How many posts a month do I need?
Fewer, better posts beat a flood of weak ones. The right number depends on the platform and your audience, and we set it in the plan rather than promising a fixed count. What matters more is that every post has a reason to exist.
What should I ask before I hire a social media manager?
Ask what the content will be, who does the work, how success is measured and what happens if the plan is not working after three months. Clear answers to those four questions tell you more than any price list.
Can social media management work alone without ads?
Yes, and for some brands it is the right place to start. Organic social builds an audience and proof over time. It is slower than paid spend, and it works best when the content is strong enough that people share it and come back.
Let's talk
If you want a clear quote for social media management in Los Angeles, tell me what you sell, which platforms your buyers use and what you are doing now. Email me at info@robbp.com or book through the contact page, and I will tell you honestly what it would cost and whether it is worth it.
