MEDIA, COMMUNICATION AND THE ARTS

Social Media Manager

Plans and runs a brand's social media pages, posts, campaigns and audience engagement.

Any stream after Class 12 After Class 12 Private sector

Facts checked 29/10/2026

Is this for me?

People in this work enjoy

Writing short, clear posts and seeing people respond to them
Following trends, culture and what audiences are talking about
Working on quick, varied tasks and seeing results in days, not years

It may not suit you if you dislike

Work often runs into evenings and weekends when a post goes viral or a crisis hits
Results can swing with algorithm changes that you cannot control
Entry pay can be modest, and you may need to prove yourself for a few years before getting more responsibility

Class 11–12 subjects: Class 12 in any stream (Arts, Commerce or Science) from a recognised board. Most colleges ask for around 50% aggregate, though the cut-off differs by college and can be 40% to 60%. Maths is not needed.
First degree: BMM (Bachelor of Mass Media) or BA Mass Communication, usually 3 years and 6 semesters. Many people add a short digital marketing certificate on top.
Entrance exams: Some colleges admit on Class 12 marks alone. Others use their own entrance test or an interview, and central universities often use CUET UG. Check each college's notice.
Licence or registration: None needed to start working.

Open to every streamAny stream after Class 12.Check your subjects against every career

What the work is like

Planning a brand's posts and content calendar, writing captions, choosing images and video, running paid ad campaigns, replying to comments and messages, and reporting on reach and engagement. Works with designers, writers and the brand's business team.

A day in the work
The morning often begins with checking overnight comments, messages and how the last post did. You then plan or write captions, pick images or short videos with the design team, and check them against the brand's tone. The afternoon goes on replies, a review of ad performance, and a short meeting with the business team about next week's campaign.

The path, step by step

Step 1 · Class 10–12Build English writing and a habit of making short photos or videos. Keep a simple folder of your best work, because colleges and employers look at what you can show.
Step 2 · Class 12Aim for the minimum marks your target colleges set. Check whether they also need an entrance test such as CUET UG, and watch their admission dates. (reported — check with the official body)
Step 3 · 3 yearsStudy BMM or BA Mass Communication. Courses usually run for six semesters and include projects, and many suggest internships in agencies, newsrooms or brand teams.
Step 4 · During collegeTake free courses to learn ad tools, analytics and content planning. The Skill India Digital Hub digital marketing certificate is free and runs for 140 hours. Run a real page for a club, a college event or a small local business, and keep the numbers.
Step 5 · First jobStart as a social media executive or assistant in an agency or an in-house team. Move to managing accounts and campaigns once you can show results.

Ways in

Degree routeBMM or BA Mass Communication after Class 12, then an entry job with a portfolio.
Skills routeany Class 12 stream and a bachelor's in another subject, plus a free or low-cost digital marketing certificate and a strong portfolio of your own work.

Time and money

Stage	Time	Government college or body	Private college	Help available
Class 11–12 (your school's fees; build portfolio, aim for minimum marks)	2 years	Your school's fees	—	—
Entrance test or admission (some colleges use Class 12 marks alone; central universities often use CUET UG)	Check the notice	Check the notice for exam fees	Check the college's fee page	—
Degree route: BMM or BA Mass Communication	3 years	Check the college's fee page	Check the college's fee page	—
Skills route: Skill India Digital Hub digital marketing certificate (during college or alone)	140 hours	Free	—	Free online course

Total timeAbout 3 years after Class 12 for the degree route, plus time to find a first job

Total costDepends mostly on the college you choose — compare fee pages.

Good to knowNo official fee figures for BMM or BA Mass Communication were found, so check each college's fee page; the Skill India digital marketing course is free.

Fees from: SNDT Women's University: BMM programme page (course details, no fee figures) · Skill India Digital Hub: Certificate Course in Digital Marketing (free). Fees change every year — check the college's own fee page before you pay.

What people earn

Pay starts modestly for entry-level executives and grows with experience, the size of the brand you manage, and whether you work in an agency, a startup or a large company, with big-city jobs usually paying more.

Myth and fact

Myth: ~~You need a fancy degree or a digital marketing diploma from a expensive institute to get a job.~~

Fact: Employers mostly look at a portfolio of work and proof of results. A free course and real projects from your college or a local business can count for a lot.

Try it now

Class 7–9Pick one brand or school club you follow and note how it posts over one week: the time, the format, and what gets the most comments. Write a half-page summary in your own words.
Class 10–12Start the free Certificate Course in Digital Marketing on the Skill India Digital Hub and finish the first module this month. Keep notes on the social media part.Open link ↗
College or afterEnrol in the free NPTEL course on Fundamentals of Digital Marketing and watch the social media weeks. Skip the paid exam unless you want a certificate.Open link ↗

Good to know

BMM is a degree course and does not need Maths, so students from Arts, Commerce or Science can apply.
Admission rules differ a lot between colleges, so read each college's notice rather than relying on a general rule.
Platforms, tools and rules change quickly, so keep learning after you start working.

Sources: Skill India Digital Hub: Certificate Course in Digital Marketing (140 hours, free) · SNDT Women's University: Bachelor of Mass Media (BMM) programme page · Jain University: BA Journalism and Mass Communication eligibility page · NPTEL: Fundamentals of Digital Marketing course page (free to enrol; paid optional exam)