🔍 Salary data · BLS OEWS 2025
SEO Specialist Salary in the US
A SEO Specialist earns a national median of $78,760 per year. Here is how pay breaks down across US metro areas.
In Brief
SEO Specialist (BLS occupation 13-1161) earns a national median of $78,760 and a mean of $89,490 per year as of 2025. The highest-paying metro is San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara at $141,960. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS.
National pay
Top-paying US metro areas
Ranked by median annual wage · BLS OEWS 2025
Core skills for SEO Specialist
About this data
All wages come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, 2025 release, mapped to occupation code 13-1161 (Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists). Figures are gross annual wages before tax and reflect employees only — self-employed and freelance earnings are not included.
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How much does a SEO Specialist earn in the US?▼
The national median wage for a SEO Specialist is $78,760 per year (mean $89,490), per the BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics for 2025.
Which US cities pay SEO Specialists the most?▼
The top-paying metro areas are San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara ($141,960), San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley ($123,250), Boston-Cambridge-Nashua ($102,390).
Where does this SEO Specialist salary data come from?▼
All figures are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, 2025 release, occupation code 13-1161. Wages are gross annual, before tax.
Is SEO Specialist a well-paid career?▼
At a median of $78,760/year, SEO Specialist pay sits above the US median for all occupations. Pay varies widely by metro — see the city table above.