Short answer: in the Miami area, a marketing specialist on payroll averages $82,060 a year (about $6,840 a month) before payroll taxes, benefits and tools, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. An agency typically charges a monthly fee per channel; at PeakFlint that starts at $900 to $1,300 a month. A freelancer usually costs less than either, but everything depends on one person. For most local businesses spending a few thousand dollars a month on ads, an agency or a good freelancer costs less than a hire.
“Should I hire someone or pay an agency?” usually comes up once ads start to matter to the business. The fair way to answer it is to compare the full monthly cost of each option against what you actually need done.
Want a straight answer for your situation? Tell us what you spend and what you need, and we’ll tell you which option makes sense, even if it isn’t us.
What a marketing hire costs in Miami
| Role (Miami–Fort Lauderdale–West Palm Beach) | Average annual wage | Median annual wage | About per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Market research analysts and marketing specialists | $82,060 | $78,990 | $6,840 |
| Marketing managers | $155,840 | $135,870 | $12,990 |
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025 estimates for the Miami–Fort Lauderdale–West Palm Beach metro area (series OEUM003310000000013116104, …13116113, …11202104, …11202113), retrieved October 2026. Monthly figures are the annual average divided by 12. Wages only: payroll taxes, benefits, equipment and software come on top.
The three options side by side
| In-house hire | Freelancer | Agency | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly cost | About $6,840 in wages for a specialist, plus taxes, benefits and tools | Varies widely; get a written monthly quote | A fee per channel (PeakFlint: from $900–$1,300 a month) |
| Skills covered | Whatever one person knows | Usually one or two specialties | Depends on the agency: from a founder who does the work personally to a large team. Ask who will actually work on your account. |
| Availability | Full time, but holidays and sick days | Depends on their other clients | Set in the contract; ask who covers when your contact is out |
| Time to start | Weeks to months to hire and train | Days to weeks | Days to weeks |
| Main risk | Paying a salary before the channel has proven itself | One person leaves and takes the know-how with them | Being one client among many; check who does the work |
| Best when | Ads are a large, steady budget across several channels, and you need someone every day | One channel, a modest budget and a clear brief | You want several channels and tracking run together without managing a team |
The costs people forget
- Tools. Call tracking, analytics, design and reporting software are paid by whoever runs the work. With an in-house hire, that’s you.
- Management time. Someone has to brief, review and check the work. An in-house marketer still needs a manager who understands the numbers.
- Gaps in skills. Google Ads, Meta Ads, landing pages and conversion tracking are different skills. Whoever you hire, check that they cover the ones you actually need, and what happens with the rest.
- Ownership. With any option, the ad accounts, pixels and analytics should be in your name. If a freelancer or an employee leaves, you keep everything.
When each one makes sense
Start with an agency or a freelancer while you find out which channels pay for themselves. You avoid a salary before there’s proof, and you can stop or change month to month.
Hire in-house when ad spend is large and steady, several channels need daily attention, and the work justifies a full salary plus benefits. Many businesses at that stage keep an agency for specialist work and give the in-house person ownership of strategy and coordination.
Whichever you choose, ask the same questions before you sign: whose name the accounts are in, how they charge, what the reports show. Our list of eight questions works for freelancers and hires too.
What PeakFlint costs
PeakFlint is a one-person agency: you work directly with Nicolás Menalled, the founder, who does the work personally. There are no account managers in between and no hand-offs to juniors, and because every account, pixel and report stays in your name, nothing leaves with anyone if we stop working together.
Management starts at $1,000 a month for Google Ads, $900 a month for Meta Ads and $1,300 a month for SEO and AEO, with a one-time setup. Ad spend is separate and paid by you directly. Three months to start, then month to month, and every account stays in your name.
Common questions
Is an agency always cheaper than hiring?
Not always. With a large, steady budget across several channels, a full-time person can be worth it. For most local businesses starting out, an agency or freelancer costs less than a specialist’s salary in Miami and can be stopped month to month.
How do I compare freelancer quotes?
Ask for a written monthly price, what’s included (ads, tracking, reports, landing pages), how often they review the account, and confirm the accounts stay in your name.
Can an agency work with my in-house person?
Yes, and it often works well: your person owns the business context and priorities, the agency brings the specialist work and the tools.
Can you tell me which option fits my business?
Yes. Tell us your monthly ad spend and what you need, and we’ll send a short written recommendation for free. Ask here.