Freelance Social Media Manager Rate Calculator (Retainer)

Community manager monthly retainer: hours and calculation

The simulator first estimates monthly workload (1.5 h per post, 2 h per reel, daily moderation, reporting, plus 15% for client exchanges and revisions), then multiplies it by an hourly rate of €30, €45 or €65 depending on experience. For 4 posts and 2 reels a week with 20 minutes of moderation a day, it counts 65 hours and suggests €2,950 a month at the experienced level.

How hours are counted

• Posts: number per week × 1.5 h (copy and visual) × 4.33 weeks per month.
• Reels: number per week × 2 h (editing, subtitles, hook) × 4.33.
• Moderation: minutes per day ÷ 60 × 30 days.
• Reporting and strategy meeting: 4 h a month if ticked.
• A 15% buffer for client exchanges and revisions, applied to posts, reels and moderation.

Retainer = rounded total hours × hourly rate, rounded to the nearest €50. Rates used: €30/h (junior), €45/h (experienced), €65/h (senior).

Worked example

4 posts and 2 reels a week, 20 minutes of moderation a day, reporting included: 25.98 h of posts, 17.32 h of reels, 10 h of moderation, 4 h of strategy and 7.99 h of buffer, or 65 hours a month, about 15 hours a week. At the experienced level, 65 × 45 = €2,925, shown as €2,950 a month for 26 pieces of content. The same workload gives €1,950 at junior level and €4,250 at senior level.

Assumptions and limits

• The number of networks appears in the proposal text but does not change the calculation: for an extra network, raise the post count or moderation time.
• Unit times and hourly rates are indicative values set by the tool, not checked against a market survey.
• The retainer is a price billed to the client, in euros: your social charges, scheduling tools, stock images and paid ads are not deducted.

The simulator helps you build a retainer quote line by line, whereas the site's other freelance calculators start from a target income or a day rate.

Frequently Asked Questions

What monthly retainer for 4 posts and 2 reels a week?

With 20 minutes of moderation a day and monthly reporting, the tool counts 65 hours of work a month. At the experienced rate of €45/h, that is €2,925, rounded to €2,950 a month. The same workload costs €1,950 at junior level (€30/h) and €4,250 at senior level (€65/h).

How much time per post, per reel and for moderation?

The tool uses 1.5 hours per post (copy and visual), 2 hours per reel (editing, subtitles, hook) and converts daily moderation over 30 days: 20 minutes a day is 10 hours a month. It adds 15% for exchanges and revisions, plus 4 hours if reporting is included.

Does the number of social networks change the price?

No, in the tool that number is only used in the proposal text. If an extra network means adapted content or more messages to handle, raise the post count or the moderation minutes: each weekly post adds about 7.5 hours a month, buffer included.

Is the retainer what I actually earn?

No, it is the price billed to the client. Your social charges, subscriptions (scheduling, stock images) and any ad budget come on top or are deducted from it. The €30, €45 and €65 hourly rates are indicative values of the tool, to be adjusted to your market.

Is this tool really free?

Yes, all tools on Kristools are 100% free and accessible without registration.

Is my data protected?

Yes. All processing is performed directly and securely inside your browser. No personal data is sent to our servers.