In some markets a social media hire costs about the same as BusySeed, or less. So this comparison is mostly about what you get: who makes the content, who handles the rest of your marketing, and what tools come with it.
Strategy, content, design, video, community and reporting in one job post
See the breakdown belowAverage social media manager pay in the US
Glassdoor, October 2026Average social media manager salary in the US
Salary.com, October 2026People reached by one Dalby Farm post
BusySeed case studyThe price can be close. What sits behind it is not.
| Hiring in-house | BusySeed | |
|---|---|---|
| Who does the work | One person who plans, shoots, edits, posts and replies | BusySeed's senior in-house team, including graphic design |
| Beyond social | Not their job | SEO, AI search, paid ads, email, web design, CRO and automation are on the same team |
| Design and video | Depends on what that one person can make | Graphic design is one of our core services |
| Yearly cost | $95,117 to $149,072 in year one. Less in some markets. | From $35,988 a year ($2,999 a month) |
| Payroll taxes and benefits | About 30% on top of salary, often more | None. You pay one monthly fee. |
| Software | You pay for scheduling and design tools, about $1,284 a year | Our proprietary Seed suite (SeedGEO, SeedLanding, LeadChaser and more) is included in every engagement |
| Day to day | Inside your company, able to capture content on site every day | An outside partner. You share context with us and we report on results. |
| If someone leaves | The work pauses and the search starts over | You work with BusySeed's senior in-house team, the team that has grown 550+ businesses since 2013 |
National averages from two salary sites. In smaller markets, or for a junior hire, the in-house number can be close to ours or lower. That is why we lead with coverage.
Year one. Every line is sourced below.
| Cost | Lower | Typical |
|---|---|---|
| SalaryGlassdoor and Salary.com averages | $71,256 | $112,760 |
| Payroll taxes and benefits30% of salary | $21,377 | $33,828 |
| RecruitingSHRM median cost per hire | $1,200 | $1,200 |
| Software stackBuffer Essentials, 4 channels, Canva Pro, Adobe Creative Cloud Pro | $1,284 | $1,284 |
| Total | $95,117 | $149,072 |
Pay for this title varies a lot by market and seniority. A junior or part-time hire can cost much less than these averages.
Year one. One monthly fee.
| Line | Monthly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|
| Starting priceSocial comparison | $2,999 | $35,988 |
| Payroll taxes, benefits, recruiting | $0 | $0 |
| Seed suiteIncluded in every engagement | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $2,999 | $35,988 |
Your exact price depends on your goals and channels. See your price in about a minute.
Left out of both sides on purpose: paid social ad spend, which goes to the platforms whoever runs it, and photo or video shoots, which cost extra either way.
This is the real difference. A social media manager covers social. BusySeed is a full marketing team.
Every service in the BusySeed column is one we list on our services page. What your program includes is set with you when you start.
A typical social media manager is expected to do all of this, every week.
Deciding what to post, where, and why it matters to sales.
Graphics, carousels and brand templates.
Short-form video for Reels, TikTok and Shorts.
Captions and hooks that sound like your brand.
Replies, comments and messages, often after hours.
Reporting on what worked and what to change.
Dalby Farm, a local farm raising awareness of rare livestock breeds, had little online traction. BusySeed built a social strategy aimed at shareability rather than bought reach. One post reached 8.5 million people. For Copley House, a furnished apartment brand in Boston, Instagram following grew 179% in one year.
Plenty of brands should hire for this. Here is when.
Restaurants, retail, events and venues often need someone there with a phone, every day.
If the founder or a creator is the face of the account, someone close to them may need to run it.
Big audiences with constant comments and messages can need a dedicated person, seven days a week.
In some markets a capable hire costs the same as BusySeed or less. If social is all you need, that can be the right call.
Checked October 30, 2026.
Social media pay varies more by market than most roles. National averages can overstate what a hire costs where you are.
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