So you’ve been scrolling through LinkedIn, watching brands collaborate with creators, and thinking… “Wait, people get PAID to do this?”
Yep. Influencer marketing jobs are legit—and they’re growing fast.
The influencer marketing industry hit $21.1 billion in 2023 and shows no signs of slowing down. That means brands need people to manage it all. People like you, potentially.
Let’s break down everything you need to know about landing an influencer marketing job in 2025.
What Are Influencer Marketing Jobs?
Influencer marketing jobs involve connecting brands with content creators to promote products and services. But that’s the oversimplified version.
In reality, these roles span a wide range of responsibilities:
- Finding and vetting influencers (this is where it gets interesting)
- Negotiating contracts and rates
- Managing campaigns from start to finish
- Tracking performance metrics
- Building long-term creator relationships
- Ensuring FTC compliance
- Analyzing ROI and reporting to stakeholders
Some people specialize in one area. Others do it all. The industry is still young enough that roles are constantly evolving.
Types of Influencer Marketing Jobs
1. Influencer Marketing Manager
The most common title you’ll see. These folks own the entire influencer strategy for a brand or agency.
Average salary: $65,000 - $95,000/year
What you’ll do:
- Develop influencer marketing strategies
- Manage budgets (often $50K - $500K+ annually)
- Oversee campaign execution
- Report on performance to leadership
2. Influencer Marketing Coordinator
Entry-level position. Perfect for breaking into the field.
Average salary: $45,000 - $60,000/year
What you’ll do:
- Research and identify potential influencers
- Handle outreach and communication
- Coordinate product shipments
- Track deliverables and deadlines
3. Influencer Marketing Specialist
Mid-level role focusing on execution.
Average salary: $55,000 - $75,000/year
What you’ll do:
- Execute campaigns across multiple platforms
- Analyze campaign performance
- Manage influencer relationships
- Create campaign briefs
4. Talent Manager / Creator Partnerships Manager
You work FOR the influencers, not the brands.
Average salary: $60,000 - $100,000+/year (often commission-based)
What you’ll do:
- Negotiate brand deals for creators
- Manage creator schedules and deliverables
- Build relationships with brands and agencies
- Handle contracts and payments
5. Influencer Marketing Director/VP
Senior leadership role. You’re setting the vision.
Average salary: $120,000 - $200,000+/year
What you’ll do:
- Own the entire influencer marketing function
- Manage teams of coordinators and managers
- Set strategy and KPIs
- Report to C-suite
Skills You Need for Influencer Marketing Jobs
Here’s what hiring managers actually look for:
Hard Skills
- Social media platform expertise — You need to LIVE on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube
- Data analysis — Understanding engagement rates, CPM, and ROI calculations
- Project management — Juggling 20+ influencer partnerships simultaneously
- Influencer discovery tools — Knowing how to find creators efficiently (platforms like Gemz make this way easier with AI-powered discovery)
- Contract negotiation — Getting fair rates for both parties
- Content strategy — Understanding what performs on each platform
Soft Skills
- Relationship building — Influencers are people, not billboards
- Communication — Clear briefs = better content
- Trend awareness — Spotting what’s next before it blows up
- Flexibility — Campaigns change. Influencers flake. You adapt.
- Creativity — Coming up with campaign concepts that don’t feel like ads
Where to Find Influencer Marketing Jobs
Job Boards
- LinkedIn — Filter by “influencer marketing” in marketing roles
- Indeed — Search “influencer” + “marketing”
- Built In — Great for startup roles
- We Work Remotely — Many influencer marketing roles are remote-friendly
Company Types Hiring
Brands (In-House)
- DTC companies (Glossier, Warby Parker, etc.)
- CPG brands (Unilever, P&G, L’Oreal)
- Tech companies (Adobe, Salesforce, HubSpot)
- Fashion and beauty brands
Agencies
- Influencer-specific agencies (Viral Nation, Obviously, etc.)
- Full-service marketing agencies
- PR agencies with influencer divisions
Platforms and Tools
- Influencer marketing platforms
- Social media companies
- Analytics tools
How to Break Into Influencer Marketing (Even With No Experience)
Start Building Relevant Experience
Run your own social accounts. Seriously. Grow an Instagram or TikTok to 1,000+ followers. You’ll learn more from doing than any course.
Freelance for small brands. Offer to manage influencer outreach for a local business. You’ll build a portfolio fast.
Intern. Many agencies offer paid internships. It’s the classic foot-in-the-door approach.
Build Your Knowledge Base
- Follow industry newsletters (like Lia Haberman’s ICYMI)
- Listen to podcasts (Creator Upload, Earned by Traackr)
- Get certified (HubSpot, Meta, Google have free courses)
- Join communities (r/influencermarketing, LinkedIn groups)
Create a Standout Portfolio
Include:
- Case studies from any influencer work you’ve done
- Mock campaigns you’ve created
- Data showing results you’ve driven
- Your own social media growth story
Day in the Life: Influencer Marketing Manager
Here’s what a typical day might look like:
9:00 AM — Check emails. Three influencers need content approved. One needs a deadline extension. Handle it.
10:00 AM — Discovery time. Search for creators for Q2 campaigns using your influencer discovery platform. AI tools like Gemz help you find creators faster than manual scrolling.
11:00 AM — Team meeting. Review last week’s campaign performance. Engagement was up 23%—nice.
12:00 PM — Lunch. Scroll TikTok “for research.” (It counts.)
1:00 PM — Contract negotiations with a mid-tier creator. They want $5K; budget is $3.5K. Find middle ground.
2:30 PM — Brief creation for upcoming campaign. Write creative guidelines that are clear but not restrictive.
4:00 PM — Reporting. Pull metrics for the monthly exec presentation.
5:00 PM — Relationship maintenance. DM a few creators to check in. No ask—just building rapport.
Salary Expectations by Experience Level
Level
Years Experience
Salary Range
Entry
0-2 years
$40,000 - $55,000
Mid
2-5 years
$55,000 - $80,000
Senior
5-8 years
$80,000 - $120,000
Director
8+ years
$120,000 - $180,000
VP/Head
10+ years
$150,000 - $250,000+
Location matters too. NYC and LA pay 20-30% more than average. Remote roles are often pegged to lower cost-of-living rates.
The Future of Influencer Marketing Careers
The field is evolving fast. Here’s where it’s headed:
More specialized roles — We’re seeing titles like “TikTok Partnership Manager” and “Creator Economy Strategist” emerge.
AI integration — Tools that use AI for influencer discovery and campaign optimization are becoming standard. The best marketers know how to leverage them.
Performance focus — Brands want ROI. Roles increasingly require strong analytics skills.
Creator-side opportunities — More people are building careers helping creators monetize, not just brands find them.
Ready to Land Your Influencer Marketing Job?
Here’s your action plan:
- Audit your skills — What do you already have? What gaps need filling?
- Build your presence — Get active on LinkedIn and relevant platforms
- Start small — Take on freelance work or internships
- Learn the tools — Get familiar with influencer discovery platforms and analytics
- Network — Connect with people already in the industry
- Apply strategically — Focus on roles matching your current experience level
The influencer marketing industry needs smart, adaptable people. If you’re reading this, you’re probably already ahead of most candidates just by doing the research.
Now go get that job.
Finding the right influencers is a core skill for any influencer marketing role. Gemz uses AI to surface creators in real-time, making discovery faster and more efficient—exactly what hiring managers want to see you using.
Infographic Concepts
Infographic 1: “Influencer Marketing Career Path”
Visual showing the progression from Coordinator → Specialist → Manager → Director → VP, with salary ranges and years of experience at each level. Include icons representing key responsibilities at each stage.
Infographic 2: “Skills Needed for Influencer Marketing Jobs”
Circular diagram with “Influencer Marketing Professional” in the center, surrounded by skill categories: Platform Expertise, Data Analysis, Project Management, Relationship Building, Trend Awareness, and Contract Negotiation. Each section includes 2-3 specific skills.
