How to become a Community Manager
Grow and look after the people who gather around a brand or product.
Part of the career change guide — A practical, step-by-step method for moving into a new occupation — how to pick the target, work out the real gap, and prove the missing skills without going back to university.
Get your free Community Manager roadmap
We turn these skills into a phased plan with free courses, checkpoints and proof you can show employers.
Skills a Community Manager needs
Ranked by how important employers rate each one. Every skill you prove is stored in your Skill Wallet and used to match you to live jobs.
Your Community Manager learning path, phase by phase
Phase 1 · Foundations
Weeks 1–6- Campaign management
- Critical thinking
Phase 2 · Core craft
Weeks 7–14- Data storytelling
- Stakeholder communication
Phase 3 · Applied practice
Weeks 15–22- Time management
- Written communication
Phase 4 · Proof & portfolio
Weeks 23–30- Presentation skills
- Problem solving
This is the shape of the plan. Your own roadmap is sequenced around what you already know — see a full sample roadmap.
Free and low-cost courses for this path
Courses are sequenced into a phased plan with checkpoints. Create a free account to unlock the full list.
Unlock for freeCommunity Manager jobs by location
Community Manager by experience level
Related roles in Marketing
Marketing Manager
Marketing
Digital Marketing Manager
Bright outlookMarketing
Plan and run paid and organic campaigns that bring in customers.
SEO Specialist
Bright outlookMarketing
Grow search traffic by improving content, structure and authority.
Performance Marketing Analyst
Bright outlookMarketing
Measure and optimise ad spend so every dollar works harder.
Content Marketing Manager
Bright outlookMarketing
Plan and produce content that attracts and keeps an audience.
Brand Manager
Marketing
Shape how a brand looks, sounds and is remembered.
Common questions about becoming a Community Manager
- How long does it take to become a Community Manager?
- Most people working through a focused plan cover the 8 core skills in roughly six to nine months part-time. Your roadmap shortens automatically for skills you can already evidence.
- Do I need a degree?
- Usually not. Employers in this occupation weight demonstrated skills and short credentials more heavily than formal degrees.
- What does a Community Manager earn?
- The benchmark median is $68,000, with entry-level roles below that and senior roles well above it. Pay varies substantially by market.
- Is Freecoursera free?
- Yes. Building your roadmap, tracking progress and applying to matched jobs costs nothing. Courses we recommend are free or low-cost wherever possible.
Start your Community Manager plan today
Free forever. No credit card. Your first phase is ready in under three minutes.
Occupation data from O*NET and ESCO. Attribution
Sector: Marketing