29/07/2025
Why Are We Undervaluing Social Media Talent?
This has hit me hard.
Not because of envy, but because of the stark disparity in value placed on the same role across borders.
I’ve worked in the digital space in Kenya and Afrika for nearly seven years now.
And if we’re being honest, the average gross pay for a social media marketer here ranges from Ksh 15,000 to 50,000, and that’s if you’re lucky enough to land a “good” job.
Yet the expectations are massive.
You’re not just managing a page.
You're:
A content strategist
A graphic designer
A copywriter
A video editor
A community manager
A media buyer
A data analyst
Sometimes, you’re all that and more, yet paid less than the monthly cost of the software and internet you use to get the job done.
So, how are we as a country(Afrika) expecting to break the ceiling?
How are we preparing to compete in the global digital economy when we undervalue the very minds driving our online presence?
We want brands to trend.
We want creatives to innovate.
We want Gen Zs to lead the way online.
Yet we’re still clinging to outdated pay structures and job scopes from a decade ago.
Here’s the truth:
Globally, digital marketers earn anywhere between Ksh 150K – 500K/month, depending on niche and specialization.
Locally, we normalize paying less than Ksh 1,000/day to professionals juggling 5–6 skillsets.
What Needs to Change
It’s time for serious reflection and action.
✅ Employers must be educated on the real value of digital professionals. Social media is not a “side hustle.” It’s a business driver.
✅ Digital creatives must begin positioning themselves for global work upskilling, niching, and building international portfolios.
✅ Policy makers and industry leaders must begin developing wage standards for emerging digital roles.
We are sitting on an ocean of creative potential in Kenya. The talent is not the problem; the system is.
Until we build an economy that values creators, storytellers, and digital leaders, we’ll keep losing them to burnout or brain drain.
This model is broken.
Let’s fix it for our future, and for those who are building it one post, one story, one campaign at a time.
Would love to hear your thoughts. Are you in digital marketing in Kenya or Afrika? What’s your experience with pay, expectations, and recognition?