What is the average SEO Specialist salary in the US?

The national median SEO Specialist salary is $65,000 per year. Entry-level positions start around $48,000, while senior professionals earn $118,000 or more.

Which city pays SEO Specialists the most?

San Francisco offers the highest median SEO Specialist salary at $98K per year among the cities we track. However, high-cost cities like San Francisco and New York often have lower purchasing power once cost of living is factored in.

How fast are SEO Specialist salaries growing?

SEO Specialist salaries are growing at 5.8% annually, above the national average wage growth rate.

Business72% remote-eligible+5.8% YoY growth

SEO Specialist Salary
by City (2026)

Optimize websites and content to rank higher in search engine results. National median: $65K/year. See how your city compares.

National median

$65K

Top 10% earn

$118K

Entry level

$48K

Salary growth

+5.8%/yr

SEO Specialist salary by city

Sorted by median salary

City	Entry	Median	Senior	COL	Tax
San Francisco, CA	$72K	$98K	$132K	224	9.3%
San Jose, CA	$70K	$94K	$128K	210	9.3%
Oakland, CA	$66K	$90K	$121K	185	9.3%
Washington, DC	$66K	$90K	$121K	152	8.5%
Jersey City, NJ	$65K	$88K	$119K	162	10.75%
Los Angeles, CA	$62K	$85K	$114K	163	9.3%
Seattle, WA	$62K	$85K	$114K	150	None ✓
Boston, MA	$62K	$85K	$114K	162	5%
Arlington, VA	$62K	$85K	$114K	148	5.75%
Newark, NJ	$61K	$83K	$113K	155	10.75%
San Diego, CA	$60K	$81K	$110K	148	9.3%
Long Beach, CA	$59K	$79K	$107K	155	9.3%
Sacramento, CA	$57K	$77K	$104K	128	9.3%
Portland, OR	$57K	$77K	$104K	130	9.9%
Austin, TX	$55K	$75K	$101K	110	None ✓
Chicago, IL	$55K	$75K	$101K	107	4.95%
Scottsdale, AZ	$55K	$75K	$101K	118	2.5%
Denver, CO	$55K	$75K	$101K	118	4.55%
Miami, FL	$54K	$73K	$99K	123	None ✓
Tacoma, WA	$54K	$73K	$99K	128	None ✓
Worcester, MA	$54K	$73K	$99K	120	5%
Philadelphia, PA	$54K	$73K	$99K	110	3.07%
Baltimore, MD	$54K	$73K	$99K	115	5.75%
Honolulu, HI	$54K	$73K	$99K	192	11%
Dallas, TX	$53K	$72K	$97K	96	None ✓
Plano, TX	$53K	$72K	$97K	105	None ✓
Atlanta, GA	$53K	$72K	$97K	99	5.75%
Minneapolis, MN	$53K	$72K	$97K	106	6.8%
Salt Lake City, UT	$53K	$72K	$97K	105	4.85%
Hartford, CT	$53K	$72K	$97K	118	6.99%
McKinney, TX	$52K	$70K	$95K	108	None ✓
Fort Lauderdale, FL	$52K	$70K	$95K	118	None ✓
Aurora, CO	$52K	$70K	$95K	112	4.55%
Raleigh, NC	$52K	$70K	$95K	102	4.75%
Durham, NC	$52K	$70K	$95K	100	4.75%
St. Paul, MN	$52K	$70K	$95K	104	6.8%
Anchorage, AK	$52K	$70K	$95K	128	None ✓
Houston, TX	$50K	$68K	$92K	91	None ✓
Irving, TX	$50K	$68K	$92K	97	None ✓
Tampa, FL	$50K	$68K	$92K	102	None ✓
Phoenix, AZ	$50K	$68K	$92K	100	2.5%
Chandler, AZ	$50K	$68K	$92K	105	2.5%
Charlotte, NC	$50K	$68K	$92K	100	4.75%
Nashville, TN	$50K	$68K	$92K	102	None ✓
Provo, UT	$50K	$68K	$92K	100	4.85%
Fort Worth, TX	$49K	$66K	$90K	93	None ✓
Orlando, FL	$49K	$66K	$90K	100	None ✓
Reno, NV	$49K	$66K	$90K	108	None ✓
Arlington, TX	$48K	$65K	$88K	94	None ✓
Garland, TX	$48K	$65K	$88K	91	None ✓
Amarillo, TX	$48K	$65K	$88K	82	None ✓
Grand Prairie, TX	$48K	$65K	$88K	90	None ✓
Frisco, TX	$48K	$65K	$88K	118	None ✓
Brownsville, TX	$48K	$65K	$88K	75	None ✓
Pasadena, TX	$48K	$65K	$88K	88	None ✓
Mesquite, TX	$48K	$65K	$88K	88	None ✓
Killeen, TX	$48K	$65K	$88K	80	None ✓
Midland, TX	$48K	$65K	$88K	92	None ✓
Waco, TX	$48K	$65K	$88K	82	None ✓
Abilene, TX	$48K	$65K	$88K	78	None ✓
Beaumont, TX	$48K	$65K	$88K	85	None ✓
Round Rock, TX	$48K	$65K	$88K	108	None ✓
Denton, TX	$48K	$65K	$88K	100	None ✓
Odessa, TX	$48K	$65K	$88K	85	None ✓
Carrollton, TX	$48K	$65K	$88K	102	None ✓
Tyler, TX	$48K	$65K	$88K	85	None ✓
Bakersfield, CA	$48K	$65K	$88K	95	9.3%
Anaheim, CA	$48K	$65K	$88K	148	9.3%
Santa Ana, CA	$48K	$65K	$88K	150	9.3%
Riverside, CA	$48K	$65K	$88K	118	9.3%
Stockton, CA	$48K	$65K	$88K	105	9.3%
Chula Vista, CA	$48K	$65K	$88K	138	9.3%
Irvine, CA	$48K	$65K	$88K	172	9.3%
San Bernardino, CA	$48K	$65K	$88K	100	9.3%
New York City, NY	$48K	$65K	$88K	187	6.85%
Yonkers, NY	$48K	$65K	$88K	165	6.85%
Syracuse, NY	$48K	$65K	$88K	88	6.85%
Albany, NY	$48K	$65K	$88K	98	6.85%
St. Petersburg, FL	$48K	$65K	$88K	105	None ✓
Hialeah, FL	$48K	$65K	$88K	115	None ✓
Port St. Lucie, FL	$48K	$65K	$88K	98	None ✓
Cape Coral, FL	$48K	$65K	$88K	100	None ✓
Tallahassee, FL	$48K	$65K	$88K	90	None ✓
Pembroke Pines, FL	$48K	$65K	$88K	112	None ✓
Hollywood, FL	$48K	$65K	$88K	115	None ✓
Gainesville, FL	$48K	$65K	$88K	88	None ✓
Aurora, IL	$48K	$65K	$88K	95	4.95%
Joliet, IL	$48K	$65K	$88K	90	4.95%
Naperville, IL	$48K	$65K	$88K	118	4.95%
Rockford, IL	$48K	$65K	$88K	80	4.95%
Vancouver, WA	$48K	$65K	$88K	118	None ✓
Bellevue, WA	$48K	$65K	$88K	175	None ✓
Kirkland, WA	$48K	$65K	$88K	162	None ✓
Mesa, AZ	$48K	$65K	$88K	98	2.5%
Glendale, AZ	$48K	$65K	$88K	95	2.5%
Gilbert, AZ	$48K	$65K	$88K	108	2.5%
Tempe, AZ	$48K	$65K	$88K	108	2.5%
Peoria, AZ	$48K	$65K	$88K	100	2.5%
Fort Collins, CO	$48K	$65K	$88K	112	4.55%
Lakewood, CO	$48K	$65K	$88K	115	4.55%
Thornton, CO	$48K	$65K	$88K	108	4.55%
Pueblo, CO	$48K	$65K	$88K	82	4.55%
Columbus, GA	$48K	$65K	$88K	82	5.75%
Augusta, GA	$48K	$65K	$88K	82	5.75%
Athens, GA	$48K	$65K	$88K	92	5.75%
Macon, GA	$48K	$65K	$88K	80	5.75%
Springfield, MA	$48K	$65K	$88K	105	5%
Cambridge, MA	$48K	$65K	$88K	185	5%
Lowell, MA	$48K	$65K	$88K	118	5%
Greensboro, NC	$48K	$65K	$88K	88	4.75%
Winston-Salem, NC	$48K	$65K	$88K	85	4.75%
Fayetteville, NC	$48K	$65K	$88K	82	4.75%
Cary, NC	$48K	$65K	$88K	112	4.75%
Norfolk, VA	$48K	$65K	$88K	95	5.75%
Chesapeake, VA	$48K	$65K	$88K	98	5.75%
Richmond, VA	$48K	$65K	$88K	98	5.75%
Newport News, VA	$48K	$65K	$88K	95	5.75%
Alexandria, VA	$48K	$65K	$88K	145	5.75%
Chattanooga, TN	$48K	$65K	$88K	88	None ✓
Clarksville, TN	$48K	$65K	$88K	82	None ✓
Columbus, OH	$48K	$65K	$88K	90	3.99%
Toledo, OH	$48K	$65K	$88K	78	3.99%
Akron, OH	$48K	$65K	$88K	80	3.99%
Dayton, OH	$48K	$65K	$88K	80	3.99%
Warren, MI	$48K	$65K	$88K	85	4.25%
Sterling Heights, MI	$48K	$65K	$88K	90	4.25%
Ann Arbor, MI	$48K	$65K	$88K	115	4.25%
Lansing, MI	$48K	$65K	$88K	85	4.25%
Pittsburgh, PA	$48K	$65K	$88K	90	3.07%
Allentown, PA	$48K	$65K	$88K	95	3.07%
Erie, PA	$48K	$65K	$88K	80	3.07%
Springfield, MO	$48K	$65K	$88K	80	5.3%
Independence, MO	$48K	$65K	$88K	85	5.3%
Fort Wayne, IN	$48K	$65K	$88K	80	3.23%
Evansville, IN	$48K	$65K	$88K	78	3.23%
South Bend, IN	$48K	$65K	$88K	82	3.23%
Green Bay, WI	$48K	$65K	$88K	88	5.3%
Kenosha, WI	$48K	$65K	$88K	90	5.3%
Rochester, MN	$48K	$65K	$88K	100	6.8%
Duluth, MN	$48K	$65K	$88K	92	6.8%
Salem, OR	$48K	$65K	$88K	105	9.9%
Eugene, OR	$48K	$65K	$88K	110	9.9%
Gresham, OR	$48K	$65K	$88K	118	9.9%
Las Vegas, NV	$48K	$65K	$88K	102	None ✓
Henderson, NV	$48K	$65K	$88K	105	None ✓
North Las Vegas, NV	$48K	$65K	$88K	98	None ✓
West Valley City, UT	$48K	$65K	$88K	98	4.85%
West Jordan, UT	$48K	$65K	$88K	100	4.85%
Orem, UT	$48K	$65K	$88K	98	4.85%
Lexington, KY	$48K	$65K	$88K	88	5%
Bowling Green, KY	$48K	$65K	$88K	80	5%
Montgomery, AL	$48K	$65K	$88K	80	5%
Mobile, AL	$48K	$65K	$88K	82	5%
Charleston, SC	$48K	$65K	$88K	105	6.5%
North Charleston, SC	$48K	$65K	$88K	95	6.5%
Greenville, SC	$48K	$65K	$88K	92	6.5%
Norman, OK	$48K	$65K	$88K	80	4.75%
Broken Arrow, OK	$48K	$65K	$88K	82	4.75%
Shreveport, LA	$48K	$65K	$88K	78	6%
Lafayette, LA	$48K	$65K	$88K	85	6%
Frederick, MD	$48K	$65K	$88K	115	5.75%
Rockville, MD	$48K	$65K	$88K	148	5.75%
Paterson, NJ	$48K	$65K	$88K	140	10.75%
Elizabeth, NJ	$48K	$65K	$88K	145	10.75%
Edison, NJ	$48K	$65K	$88K	138	10.75%
Bridgeport, CT	$48K	$65K	$88K	118	6.99%
New Haven, CT	$48K	$65K	$88K	122	6.99%
Stamford, CT	$48K	$65K	$88K	158	6.99%
Cedar Rapids, IA	$48K	$65K	$88K	85	4.82%
Davenport, IA	$48K	$65K	$88K	82	4.82%
Overland Park, KS	$48K	$65K	$88K	100	5.7%
Kansas City, KS	$48K	$65K	$88K	85	5.7%
Lincoln, NE	$48K	$65K	$88K	85	5.84%
Las Cruces, NM	$48K	$65K	$88K	80	5.9%
Rio Rancho, NM	$48K	$65K	$88K	85	5.9%
Boise, ID	$48K	$65K	$88K	108	5.8%
Meridian, ID	$48K	$65K	$88K	105	5.8%
Nampa, ID	$48K	$65K	$88K	98	5.8%
Billings, MT	$48K	$65K	$88K	98	6.75%
Missoula, MT	$48K	$65K	$88K	102	6.75%
Great Falls, MT	$48K	$65K	$88K	88	6.75%
Cheyenne, WY	$48K	$65K	$88K	92	None ✓
Casper, WY	$48K	$65K	$88K	88	None ✓
Fargo, ND	$48K	$65K	$88K	90	2.5%
Bismarck, ND	$48K	$65K	$88K	88	2.5%
Sioux Falls, SD	$48K	$65K	$88K	88	None ✓
Rapid City, SD	$48K	$65K	$88K	88	None ✓
Jackson, MS	$48K	$65K	$88K	78	5%
Gulfport, MS	$48K	$65K	$88K	80	5%
Fort Smith, AR	$48K	$65K	$88K	75	4.9%
Fayetteville, AR	$48K	$65K	$88K	85	4.9%
Charleston, WV	$48K	$65K	$88K	78	6.5%
Huntington, WV	$48K	$65K	$88K	75	6.5%
Portland, ME	$48K	$65K	$88K	115	7.15%
Lewiston, ME	$48K	$65K	$88K	98	7.15%
Manchester, NH	$48K	$65K	$88K	118	None ✓
Nashua, NH	$48K	$65K	$88K	120	None ✓
Concord, NH	$48K	$65K	$88K	115	None ✓
Burlington, VT	$48K	$65K	$88K	118	6.6%
Providence, RI	$48K	$65K	$88K	118	5.99%
Warwick, RI	$48K	$65K	$88K	115	5.99%
Wilmington, DE	$48K	$65K	$88K	108	6.6%
Dover, DE	$48K	$65K	$88K	100	6.6%
Pearl City, HI	$48K	$65K	$88K	185	11%
Hilo, HI	$48K	$65K	$88K	155	11%
Fairbanks, AK	$48K	$65K	$88K	138	None ✓
Bethesda, MD	$48K	$65K	$88K	165	5.75%
Virginia Beach, VA	$47K	$64K	$86K	98	5.75%
Cincinnati, OH	$47K	$64K	$86K	88	3.99%
Kansas City, MO	$47K	$64K	$86K	90	5.3%
Madison, WI	$47K	$64K	$86K	102	5.3%
Fresno, CA	$46K	$62K	$84K	102	9.3%
Rochester, NY	$46K	$62K	$84K	90	6.85%
Jacksonville, FL	$46K	$62K	$84K	93	None ✓
Colorado Springs, CO	$46K	$62K	$84K	102	4.55%
Detroit, MI	$46K	$62K	$84K	82	4.25%
St. Louis, MO	$46K	$62K	$84K	86	5.3%
Indianapolis, IN	$46K	$62K	$84K	88	3.23%
Milwaukee, WI	$46K	$62K	$84K	90	5.3%
Huntsville, AL	$46K	$62K	$84K	88	5%
Des Moines, IA	$46K	$62K	$84K	88	4.82%
San Antonio, TX	$45K	$60K	$82K	87	None ✓
Buffalo, NY	$44K	$60K	$81K	88	6.85%
Louisville, KY	$44K	$60K	$81K	85	5%
Omaha, NE	$44K	$60K	$81K	88	5.84%
Spokane, WA	$43K	$59K	$79K	95	None ✓
Cleveland, OH	$43K	$59K	$79K	82	3.99%
Grand Rapids, MI	$43K	$59K	$79K	90	4.25%
New Orleans, LA	$43K	$59K	$79K	92	6%
Corpus Christi, TX	$42K	$57K	$77K	84	None ✓
Tucson, AZ	$42K	$57K	$77K	90	2.5%
Savannah, GA	$42K	$57K	$77K	92	5.75%
Memphis, TN	$42K	$57K	$77K	82	None ✓
Knoxville, TN	$42K	$57K	$77K	85	None ✓
Birmingham, AL	$42K	$57K	$77K	82	5%
Columbia, SC	$42K	$57K	$77K	88	6.5%
Oklahoma City, OK	$42K	$57K	$77K	82	4.75%
Baton Rouge, LA	$42K	$57K	$77K	88	6%
Albuquerque, NM	$42K	$57K	$77K	88	5.9%
Tulsa, OK	$41K	$56K	$76K	80	4.75%
El Paso, TX	$41K	$55K	$75K	82	None ✓
Wichita, KS	$41K	$55K	$75K	82	5.7%
Lubbock, TX	$39K	$53K	$72K	78	None ✓
Little Rock, AR	$39K	$53K	$72K	82	4.9%
Laredo, TX	$37K	$51K	$69K	76	None ✓

COL-adjusted: where does your salary go furthest?

A $65K SEO Specialist salary in Houston (COL 91, no tax) has significantly more purchasing power than the same salary in San Francisco (COL 224, 9.3% state tax). Use our calculator to see the real numbers.

Try COL Calculator →

SEO Specialist Salary Guide (2026)

The national median salary for a SEO Specialist is $65,000 per year. Entry-level positions typically start at $48,000, while experienced professionals in the top 25% earn $88,000 or more. The highest-paid 10% of SEO Specialists nationally earn $118,000+.

Education and requirements

Bachelor's in Marketing or CS; Google Analytics certification. This role is 72% remote-eligible nationally, which significantly expands the geographic job market for workers in lower cost-of-living cities.

Salary growth outlook

SEO Specialist compensation is growing at 5.8% annually, well above the national average wage growth rate. Demand for qualified SEO Specialists significantly outpaces supply in most major metros.

SEO Specialist Salaryby City (2026)