Photo via iStock.

Photo via iStock.

Is $32,000 a reasonable salary for a social media content director in the District? Messaging firm AlphaVu thought so, and posted the position to a D.C. social media Facebook group.

Affronted responses objecting to the pay began piling up. “I don’t mean to sound like a jerk, but that is an insultingly low salary for a position of that title/type,” wrote group member Miles Mawby.

The listing calls for candidates “capable of participation in all aspects of the business, including conducting pitches, generating product for clients, and participating in our systems development process … The ideal candidate will have completed his/her undergraduate degree with up to 3 years of relevant experience.”

According to Glassdoor.com, the national average for social media director salaries is $56,718. In D.C., this comes at a time when rent continues to rise, while incomes remain relatively stagnant. A report earlier this week found that a household needs to earn more than $119,000 to rent a two-bedroom in the District.

When one of the group’s moderators, Elliot Volkman, alerted AlphaVu Founder Scott Wilkinson to the heated reaction, this was the initial response. It has since been deleted.

Wilkinson changed his tack soon after, saying that the mistake was in calling the opening a director rather than associate position.

“For the successful candidate for this position, I promise you will learn a lot, and will be well positioned to either move up with our team, or to be a top prospect when you’r [sic] ready to move to a different company,” wrote Wilkinson in response to the comments.

But members of the group wondered whether that was enough. “I don’t think that kind of money can attract or retain good talent, even fresh out of (student-debt-loading) school. A financially insecure employee is not going to perform their best for you, or think of you and your company in the best light,” wrote Craig Plazure.

Nationally, social media associate positions make an average of $41,620, according to Glassdoor.

As of this morning, Wilkinson has further responded to the attention the listing garnered. In a statement he sent to DCist, he said that he initially took the comments personally. “I reacted poorly and should know better, and so for my initial outburst, I apologize.” (Perhaps a social media expert might have helped out there.)

Wilkinson said that this is the first time he’s hiring for this role, and learned from the commentary. “I have changed the job listing to hopefully make the description clearly entry level, and I have increased the salary range to $35,000-$40,000. If that’s still not market for a recent graduate, I’m open to being educated.”

Filed Under: d.c., help wanted, jobs, salary, social media,