Content moderation is a crucial job at social media companies like Facebook. Moderators review user-generated content on platforms and take action if the content violates policies. This helps maintain the safety and quality of the user experience.
Facebook employs thousands of content moderators around the world, including in India. But moderation is complex and demanding work. Moderators must view large volumes of potentially disturbing content and make quick judgement calls based on company standards.
Salary for Content Moderators at Facebook in India
Facebook does not directly employ moderators in India. Instead, it contracts third-party vendor companies who provide moderation services. This gives Facebook more flexibility in staffing but has led to concerns over job quality for contractors.
Based on job listings and media reports, the average monthly salary for a Facebook content moderator in India is between Rs 20,000 – Rs 30,000. This translates to Rs 240,000 – Rs 360,000 per year. However, salaries can vary based on:
- Experience level
- Language skills
- Location
- Employer/vendor company
Junior moderators may start at around Rs 15,000 per month, while senior moderators can make up to Rs 50,000 monthly. Moderators proficient in English and Hindi are highly sought after and compensated better.
How Facebook Content Moderator Salaries Compare
Facebook content moderator salaries in India tend to be on the lower end globally. For comparison:
| Country | Average Monthly Salary |
|---|---|
| India | Rs 20,000 – Rs 30,000 |
| United States | $15-$25/hr (~Rs 1.2-2 lakh per month) |
| Ireland | €13.50/hr (~Rs 1.15 lakh per month) |
| Philippines | ₱10,000-₱20,000 (~Rs 15,000 – Rs 30,000) |
Lower wages in India allow Facebook to moderate content cheaply. However, the job is still considered relatively well-paying for fresh graduates in India given the minimal education requirements.
Why Content Moderator Salaries are Low in India
There are several reasons salaries for content moderators in India remain on the lower end:
Cost Savings
Facebook and other tech giants locate moderation operations in India primarily to save costs. Labor expenses are much lower than in the US or Europe. Hiring local vendors at competitive Indian wages provides huge savings.
Labor Supply
India has an abundance of young graduates with English language skills willing to do the job. The large labor pool means vendors can pay lower salaries.
Limited Experience/Education Needed
Complex moderation tasks require judgment, cultural knowledge, and language fluency. But since Facebook prefers contractors, it keeps education requirements minimal. This depresses wages.
Challenging Work Conditions
Moderators must view thousands of disturbing posts ranging from violence to pornography. Despite the psychological toll, wages remain low in India due to the ready labor supply.
How Much Do Content Moderators Make at Other Tech Companies?
Salaries for content moderators at other major tech companies are broadly similar to the rates at Facebook:
- Google – Rs 16,000 – Rs 35,000 per month
- Microsoft – Rs 15,000 – Rs 30,000 per month
- Twitter – Rs 20,000 – Rs 40,000 per month
- YouTube – Rs 18,000 – Rs 38,000 per month
Multilingual moderators and those with specialized skills tend to earn toward the higher end of these ranges.
Factors That Influence Content Moderator Salaries
Salaries for content moderators depend on several factors:
Experience Level
Entry-level moderators earn in the range of Rs 15,000-20,000 monthly. With 2-3 years experience, monthly salaries rise to Rs 25,000-35,000. Senior moderators can make Rs 40,000-50,000.
Language Skills
Fluency in English or other major languages is highly valued. Moderators proficient in English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, etc. can expect to be compensated better.
Work Hours
Moderators typically work 6 days a week in 8-12 hour shifts. Those working weekends and nights earn hourly premiums.
Location
Salaries are influenced by prevailing wages where the jobs are located. Moderators in metro cities earn more than those in small towns.
Vendor Company
Salaries vary across the outsourcing firms that provide moderators to Facebook. Large IT companies pay better than small, specialized BPOs.
Qualifications and Responsibilities
Here are the typical eligibility criteria and work responsibilities for a Facebook content moderator role in India:
Qualifications
- Graduate degree preferred but not required
- Fluency in English; knowledge of other languages advantageous
- Strong communication skills
- Detail-oriented and efficient at data entry
- Comfortable viewing sensitive/disturbing material
- Basic computer literacy
Key Responsibilities
- Review posts, images, videos, comments for policy violations
- Delete or flag content that is abusive, obscene, racist, etc.
- Monitor live streams for banned content or illegal activities
- Identify content that violates local laws and cultural norms
- Consult policy guidelines to make quick moderation decisions
- Provide feedback to improve moderation accuracy
- Escalate complex cases to supervisors
- Meet daily productivity quotas and quality targets
Pros and Cons of Working as a Facebook Content Moderator
Here are some potential advantages and downsides of the job:
Pros
- Competitive entry-level salary with bonuses
- Chance to work for a top technology company indirectly
- Gain experience in digital/social media operations
- Develop content policy and ethics expertise
- Opportunities for promotion with experience
Cons
- Exposure to extremely disturbing content
- High stress, fast-paced work environment
- Shift work, including nights and weekends
- Minimal benefits and job security as a contract worker
- Repetitive work viewing offensive posts and images
- Low prestige associated with the job
Career Advancement Prospects
Despite the challenges, a moderation role can provide a path to better opportunities, such as:
- Policy Specialist – Help craft and update content policies using insights from moderation.
- Trainer – Coach new moderators on policies, procedures, and tools.
- Quality Analyst – Audit moderator decisions and provide feedback to improve accuracy.
- Team Lead – Manage a team of moderators and handle escalations.
- Vendor Manager – Work for the tech company directly to oversee outsourced moderation teams.
With strong performance and upgraded skills, progression to consultancy or full-time roles with tech giants may also be possible.
Conclusion
Content moderation is a tough, often thankless job crucial to the functioning of platforms like Facebook. While moderator salaries in India remain on the lower end globally, the pay is competitive for fresh graduates given minimal education barriers to entry.
For tech giants like Facebook, outsourcing moderation to India at low cost makes economic sense. But there are ethical concerns around worker conditions and content exposure. As scrutiny of social media grows, we may see moderation emerge as a skilled career path rather than a temporary gig.