Social media moderators play a crucial role in keeping online platforms safe and constructive for users. Their job is to review user-generated content like posts, comments, images, and videos to ensure they comply with the platform’s community guidelines. But despite their importance, moderators often work under difficult conditions and for low pay. So do these frontline content reviewers actually make decent money?
What do social media moderators do?
Social media moderators typically perform the following tasks:
- Reviewing posts, comments, photos, videos, and other user-generated content on social platforms like Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok
- Deleting or hiding content that violates platform policies, such as hate speech, nudity, harassment, spam, and terrorism
- Escalating complex cases to more senior moderators or legal teams
- Providing feedback to users whose content gets removed to explain why
- Documenting decisions and case details thoroughly for internal records
- Suggesting improvements to moderation policies and procedures
It’s a demanding job that requires making difficult judgment calls on inappropriate or objectionable content quickly and consistently. Moderators must also have good communication skills to provide explanations to upset users.
Who employs social media moderators?
There are several types of companies that employ social media moderators:
- Social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube have in-house moderation teams
- Social networks outsource moderation to third-party contracting firms
- Outsourcing/staffing agencies provide moderators on a contract basis
- Independent moderation centers review content for multiple clients
In-house moderators at social platforms work directly on the company payroll. Contract moderators work for outsourcing vendors or staffing agencies that serve social networks. Some moderators work remotely, while others work in office settings.
What qualifications do moderators need?
Here are common requirements and qualifications for social media moderators:
- High school diploma or GED
- Fluency in languages needed for the region they serve
- Strong communication and writing skills
- Ability to understand cultural contexts of content
- Critical thinking and nuanced judgment
- Detail-oriented and consistent decision making
- Basic computer and social media literacy
- Emotional resilience to handle troubling content
Moderators must have the discernment to identify policy violations in all types of user content quickly and accurately. Language skills are crucial since moderators must serve different geographic regions. They don’t need a college degree, but a high school education demonstrates literacy and communication abilities.
What do social media moderator job postings require?
Here are typical requirements found in job listings for social media moderators:
- 1+ years experience with social platforms
- Availability to work flexible hours
- Excellent attention to detail
- Calm and patient disposition
- Ability to work independently or on a team
- Comfortable using computers and web tools
- Willingness to follow strict confidentiality policies
- Openness to feedback and quality assurance checks
- Patience and resilience for emotionally taxing content
Moderators are expected to have experience using major social platforms and good computer skills. Flexible availability is often required since moderating needs to happen around the clock. Confidentiality is also key due to the sensitive nature of content.
What is the work environment like?
Working conditions for social media moderators can often be difficult:
- Tight quotas of posts/cases to review per hour
- Frequent, closely monitored performance evaluations
- Little flexibility or autonomy
- Repetitive, high-paced work on screens
- Restricted internet and computer access
- Viewing disturbing/upsetting content regularly
- Working overnight and weekend shifts
Moderators must meet high review quotas while following strict rules and oversight. They have little control over their schedules and work hours. The nature of the content also takes an emotional toll over time.
What is the average pay for social media moderators?
According to job site listings, moderators earn:
- In-house moderators at tech firms: $20-30 per hour
- Contract moderators: $15-25 per hour
- Outsourced offshore moderators: $2-4 per hour
In-house moderators at the tech platforms themselves tend to make the highest hourly wages. But contract and outsourced moderators earn much less, especially if based overseas. Annual incomes can range from $30,000 for lower-paid moderators to $60,000 for in-house roles.
How do moderator salaries compare to other fields?
Compared to other jobs, social media moderators are low paid considering their role. Here’s how their average earnings stack up:
| Job | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Social Media Moderator | $30,000 – $60,000 |
| Customer Service Representative | $35,000 |
| Medical Assistant | $36,000 |
| Web Developer | $77,000 |
| Registered Nurse | $82,000 |
| Software Engineer | $110,000 |
Moderators make less than many other jobs requiring similar education levels. Their pay lags behind correlated roles like customer service representatives. The gap is even more noticeable compared to nursing and engineering careers.
How has moderator pay changed over time?
Moderator wages have grown slightly in recent years:
- 2010: $15-17 per hour
- 2015: $18-22 per hour
- 2020: $20-30 per hour
Pay rates have increased as the moderator profession has grown and evolved. But hourly earnings still remain relatively low. With inflation, moderators’ real wages have barely budged over the past decade.
What are the pros and cons of moderator pay and benefits?
Here are some key advantages and disadvantages of moderator compensation:
Pros
- No specialized education required
- Stable in-demand work
- Gain social media and online community experience
- Flexible work-from-home options
- Health insurance and other basics benefits
Moderation provides a relatively accessible career path without needing a college degree. And demand for moderators continues to grow. Moderators can gain valuable experience interacting with online communities.
Cons
- Low pay compared to similar roles
- Repetitive, high-stress job
- Lack of autonomy
- Minimal upward mobility
- Limited paid time off and extras
The pay is below average and raises are limited for moderators. It’s also rigid, high-pressure work with little flexibility. Most moderators have few opportunities for promotions or career development.
Why is moderator pay relatively low?
There are several key reasons why moderator salaries are low:
- Labor supply exceeds demand – more people need jobs than positions
- Automation limits bargaining power – AI handles more basic tasks
- Offshoring drives cost competition – overseas labor is cheaper
- High focus on efficiency to meet volume – maximizing reviews per worker
- Treated as low-skill and expendable labor – minimal qualifications needed
The oversupply of labor reduces moderators’ negotiating leverage. Automation and offshoring also constrain pay. And moderators are viewed as easily replaceable low-skill workers, rather than specialists.
Do moderators receive any extra benefits?
Some additional benefits offered to moderators include:
- Mental health support – counseling to cope with distressing content
- Wellness stipends – allowances for self-care activities
- Paid time off – sick leave and minimal vacation time
- Career training – skills-building and education opportunities
- Tuition assistance – help paying for college courses
Due to the challenges of content moderation, some companies provide psychological counseling and wellness benefits. But other perks like paid leave and training are still limited.
What are the main criticisms of moderator pay?
Here are the primary complaints about moderator compensation:
- Wages are too low for the difficult work
- Few salary increases or bonuses
- Lack of paid time off
- No appreciation or recognition
- Minimal investment in career development
Critics argue moderators are undervalued and undercompensated by social media companies. Their pay and benefits lag behind comparable quality assurance roles in other industries.
How could moderator pay and benefits improve?
Here are some ways advocate argue moderator compensation could be enhanced:
- Higher hourly wages and annual salaries
- Expanded health insurance and retirement benefits
- Paid vacation, sick time, and personal leave
- Bonus pay for tenure and performance
- Education stipends and career advancement initiatives
Better pay, improved benefits, paid time off, and career investment could make moderator jobs more sustainable and appealing. Some argue collective bargaining agreements or regulations are needed to require these improvements industry-wide.
Conclusion
Social media moderators undoubtedly have a tough, demanding, and crucial job on today’s internet. But they are not compensated particularly well for their efforts. Moderator annual salaries tend to range from $30,000 to $60,000, with hourly pay of $15 to $25. This lags behind many comparable careers. The oversupply of labor, use of automation, and offshoring keep moderator pay relatively low. While they provide essential services, moderators are treated by tech companies more as expendable contractors than as valued professionals. Critics argue social media firms should invest more in moderators’ wages, benefits, and career development given their importance. But for now, the economics of content moderation seem unlikely to enable this vital workforce to be compensated much more fairly.