How much can you earn in SEO roles?

I would completely flip this question and ask: "How much value can you offer in an SEO role?". Then you can calculate the salary you want.

If someone asked the question “how much money does an SEO make?” why would you put a section that says “what is SEO?” at the top? Bad bot.

SEO is one of the main ways of growing leads and exposure to your website. In simple words, it helps you to bring more organic traffic to your website just by having your pages rank on the first page. Compared with PPC, it’s much cheaper and targeted, and ROI is enormous if the right strategy is tailored and implemented. SEO is the very first step to creating a customer/user’s marketing funnel journey.

Well, After being in the Indian industry for around 12 years. SEOs Roles and salaries are extremely diversified. I have seen some of the lowest pay scales to folks who has just started their career. SEO executives in a tier 2-4 cities will start in a range of 10-30k Tier1 : 30-50k Senior SEOs in tier 2–4 : 30-50k Tier1: 50-70k / month Pay scales in agencies are also typically lower than product based companies. Seo managers in a product based company can make around 10-18 LPA tier 1, 8-12lpa in tier 2-4 Senior SEO managers or Group heads will make around 15-22 LPA in tier 1, but this payscale will be very difficult in a tier 2-4 unless the role is remote. Unfortunately 90% of Indian SEO roles don’t go beyond that payscale.

Based on my experience in the SEO industry for the last 8 years in Chennai. SEO salaries vary depending on several factors, such as the number of projects handled, the ROI generated, and the size of clients (for agencies). Here it is:- SEO Intern: ₹10,000–15,000 per month (mostly available in product companies) SEO Executive: ₹15,000–25,000 per month (product/agencies) Senior SEO Associate: ₹25,000–50,000 per month (product/agencies) SEO Lead: ₹50,000–₹1 lakh per month (product/agencies) SEO Manager: ₹1–2 lakh per month (product/agencies) SEO Director: ₹2–3 lakh per month (product) In agencies, salaries rarely exceed ₹2 lakh per month in Chennai.

SEO feels like a constantly evolving puzzle, with new strategies and algorithms emerging all the time. It's a great fit for someone who enjoys a challenge and staying on top of the latest trends. While the salary ranges are interesting, for me, the most rewarding part is seeing that "Waoo!" moment when a website's ranking jumps thanks to a well-executed SEO strategy.

I have spent more then 16 years in ahmedabad as a digital marketer. Let me share the salary structures for seo roles in ahmedabad SEO Interns: Kickstart your SEO journey with a monthly stipend between ₹10,000 to ₹15,000 Content Strategists: Craft compelling narratives and strategies for a generous reward of ₹25,000 to ₹45,000 pm SEO Team Lead: Lead the charge and steer your team to success, earning a substantial ₹50,000 to ₹80,000 pm Digital Marketing Manager: Manage, strategize, and watch your career soar with salaries ranging from ₹70,000 to ₹1,30,000 pm. 🌟 VP of Marketing: Reach the pinnacle of your career & get ₹1,00,000 to ₹3,00,000 pm 🌟 Digital Marketing Consultant: Experience the thrill of earning ₹2,00,000 to ₹5,00,000 pm

How many no-context Google Search Console screenshots you can send to potential clients. The more you have the more you can get paid.

To simplify it - your expertise, added value, and ability to execute and deliver would greatly contribute to your earning potential. Stay current with all the new information in the space, try and test new things, measure results, and be confident with your teammates, colleagues and higher leadership. Pick and sharpen a skill: technical SEO, content SEO, digital pr/e-commerce SEO, Outreach and digital PR specialist. Be vocal. If you're building a career in NA, this is roughly what you can expect in each role: -SEO Entry level (40) -SEO Junior (45-60) -SEO Middle (60-75) -SEO Supervisor (75-90) -SEO Director (100+) Alternatively, there's a path to do SEO consultancy, side hustles, affiliate marketing, Upwork, and Fiverr—freelancing etc.

Location is a HUGE factor in SEO salaries. I used to work in a team where a junior (starting with zero SEO experience) on-shore SEO earned nearly 5 times more than senior SEOs in the team who did more and BETTER work. No wonder some companies in countries like the UK, the USA, and Australia outsource some of their SEO work offshore.

Several factors impact your earning potential in SEO. Your skillset and expertise, experience and track record, industry knowledge, networking and reputation, continuous learning, location and demand, and having an entrepreneurial mindset all play a role. Staying updated, specializing, building a strong reputation, and adapting to industry changes are essential for maximizing your earnings.

Several factors can influence your earning potential in SEO roles, including: Experience: More experience typically leads to higher earnings. Location: Salaries can vary by city, with major metropolitan areas offering higher pay. Education and Certifications: Relevant qualifications can boost earning potential. Specialization: Specialized skills such as technical SEO or e-commerce SEO can command higher salaries. Company Size and Industry: Larger companies and competitive industries may offer higher pay.

To maximize your earnings potential in SEO, do this: • Stay away from content creation. Unless you are extremely good at it! • Work for a large Enterprise. Software. Healthcare. Any industry that pays well in general. • Focus on strategy. • Do not become an expert in only one aspect of SEO. Or become the leading expert! • Try to build leadership skills. • Take on projects that give you Director/VP/C-Level exposure. • When talking about SEO to senior stakeholders, talk about P/L, ROI, and revenue - not keywords, rankings, and featured snippets. BUT please keep in mind that you will likely be doing this for the next 30+ years. Having fun at work is at least as important as the money you make. Follow your passion, not your paycheck!

Continuous Learning: Stay updated with SEO trends and algorithms. Specialize: Focus on areas like technical SEO, local SEO, or e-commerce SEO to stand out. Certifications: Earn industry-recognized certifications like Google Analytics or HubSpot. Build a Portfolio: Showcase your successful projects and results. Networking: Connect with professionals in the field to access better opportunities. Demonstrate ROI: Prove your ability to generate revenue and traffic for employers or clients. Negotiate: Don't be afraid to negotiate your salary based on your skills and experience. Consider Freelancing: Freelancers often charge higher rates for their expertise.

SEO is a field that rewards constant learning and a willingness to hustle. Building a strong portfolio that showcases real-world results is key. For me, the idea of creating a blog or social media profile to demonstrate expertise sounds like a fun way to network and establish myself as a thought leader in the SEO community. Who knows, maybe it could even lead to some freelance opportunities down the line!

Here's how I've gone from making 30K / year to 6 figures in 18 months: - Niche down and focus on building expertise in one area / industry. - Offer SEO services in multiple languages: You'll get more clients and can upsell existing customers. Learning a new language takes time but can bring you tons of new clients. - Find agencies to partner with and set up a finder's fee deal. I get 10% monthly on the clients I bring to the agency I've partnered with. - Offer 1-1 calls at a higher price: You can easily bill $100+ per hour If you already have a decent audience. - Have a side hustle: You can freelance on platforms like Upwork, Toptal, or Malt. Or start your own side project and get into affiliation, blogging, or drop shipping.

To excel in SEO, deepen your technical expertise, stay updated on emerging trends, and build strong industry connections. Demonstrate your knowledge through thought leadership to establish yourself as an authority and attract new opportunities.

How I got into SEO: → Led marketing at a startup → Experimented with multiple growth channels → SEO worked (and could be done with 0 budget) → I took those skills and expanded them → I started freelancing on the side → I went full-time freelancing With SEO, you can create one incredible piece of content and have 1,000s+ interested people read it every month w/o continuous distribution. That is incredibly powerful.

SEO specialists can pursue a variety of career paths and possibilities, including: 1. SEO Specialist/Analyst: This position focuses on on-page and off-page optimisation. 2. SEO Manager: In charge of SEO strategies and teams. 3. material Writer/Editor: Responsible for creating SEO-friendly material. 4. Technical SEO Analyst: Improving the structure and performance of websites. 5. Digital Marketing Manager: In charge of larger digital strategy. 6. SEO Consultant: Provides expertise to a variety of businesses. 7. E-commerce SEO Specialist: Increasing the visibility of an online store. 8. SEO Trainer/Educator: This person teaches SEO skills. 9. SEO Director/VP: Senior managerial positions.

The world of SEO is vast and offers a multitude of career paths. From being an in-house SEO professional to a consultant or even branching out to digital marketing, there's a path for everyone. Personally, I'm intrigued by the prospect of specializing in a specific area of SEO, like technical SEO or content SEO. The chance to become a deep expert in a particular niche is an exciting prospect!

SEO cannot be done by a single person or even a single team. Most of the time SEOs are providing recommendations that need to be approved and implemented by other teams. This makes it incredibly important to be able to work with other people and make a business case for your recommendations.

The salary for SEO roles can vary based on factors such as experience, location, and the specific company. However, according to data from Glassdoor, the average salary for an SEO Specialist in the United States is around $52,000 per year, while an SEO Manager can earn an average of $73,000 per year. These figures can be higher or lower depending on individual circumstances.

In SEO, I have seen people either hit it big or struggle to make anything. From my experience, growing your earnings in SEO means constantly adapting and testing. Staying updated with the latest trends is key. Its a game of staying one step ahead. Dealing with clients and Employers can be challenging. It is a tough crowd, and proving your value is a constant task. Even if you provide value, your interpersonal skills can be a challenge in your earning potential. It is a cruel world and no one wants to pay you. You need to trust yourself and build your value. Sometimes, results arent as important as how you present them. In this aspect, I have faced challenges too, struggling with effective presentation.

SEO opens up exciting career paths. You can be an in-house SEO pro, focusing on one company. Or go freelance, helping multiple clients. Joining an agency is an option too. You can dive deep into specialties like technical SEO or content. And, you can always explore related fields like digital marketing, web design, or data science for more opportunities.

It's not about how much you can earn but about how much you can help someone with your #SEO work. Knowing your action made the right impact and had an even broader positive effect always wins the day.