If you’ve been wondering whether it’s smarter to hire in-house or outsource your SEO efforts in 2025, you’re not alone.
With digital marketing budgets on the rise and SEO more critical than ever for business growth, hiring managers everywhere are scrambling to find the right talent.
So let’s answer the big question first: What is the average salary for a SEO specialist in 2025?
According to recent data from sources like ZipRecruiter and Built In, the average SEO specialist salary in 2025 falls between $58,000 to $85,000 per year, depending on years of experience for SEO specialists, skills, and location.
Top earners — especially those who focus on technical SEO or global SEO — can make well over $100,000 annually.
Here’s a quick peek:
| Experience Level | Average Salary (USD) |
|---|---|
| Entry-Level (0–2 years) | $45,000 – $55,000 |
| Mid-Level (3–5 years) | $60,000 – $80,000 |
| Senior-Level (6+ years) | $85,000 – $120,000 |
The 2025 SEO specialist salary isn’t just about a paycheck; it’s about the experience, skills, and even gender (yes, sadly) that can affect SEO specialist salaries.
SEO Specialist Salaries: Much Does a SEO Specialist Make?
When we break it down further, how much does a SEO specialist really make?
Besides base salary, there’s often additional cash compensation such as bonuses based on search rankings improvements, website traffic increases, or successful SEO strategies.
On average:
- Base salary: $60,000 – $80,000
- Additional cash compensation: $3,000 – $8,000 annually
- Average total compensation: $63,000 – $88,000
The reality is, the more responsibilities a SEO specialist job involves — like managing content creation, keyword research, on-page optimisation, or local SEO campaigns — the higher the total earnings.
The Role of Skills That Affect SEO Specialist Salaries
Specific skills that affect SEO specialist salaries in 2025 include:
- Technical SEO (think: site audits, crawling issues, indexing problems)
- Content optimisation (making pages irresistible to search engines and humans)
- Link-building expertise
- Global SEO (optimising for multiple languages and countries)
- Local SEO (getting your business on the map… literally)
The deeper the understanding of search engine optimisation, the more valuable a SEO specialist works in today’s market.
Salary Insights: Pay by Gender and Years of Experience
Unfortunately, there’s still a gap when it comes to pay by gender and years of experience in SEO roles.
- Men with 5+ years of experience tend to earn 8-10% more than women with similar backgrounds.
- Entry-level salaries show less of a gap, but the difference widens with seniority.
The good news? Many companies are now more aware of the need for pay equity — but hiring managers still need to prioritise skills over stereotypes.
Global SEO Salaries
Cities for SEO specialists and countries around the world show huge salary differences:
| Country | Average SEO Specialist Salary |
|---|---|
| United States | $65,000 – $90,000 |
| United Kingdom | £30,000 – £45,000 |
| Australia | AU$65,000 – AU$90,000 |
| India | ₹400,000 – ₹900,000/year |
| Philippines | ₱350,000 – ₱700,000/year |
| Eastern Europe | $20,000 – $40,000 |
Surprising? This global salary variance explains why many businesses tap into remote SEO specialist talent across different countries, particularly SEO specialists in Philippines, for SEO efforts.
Thinking about outsourcing your SEO to the Philippines?
In-House vs Outsourcing: Optimisation of SEO Costs
You might think: “Why not just hire someone full-time and call it a day?”
Let’s run the numbers:
| Cost Factor | In-House SEO Specialist | Outsourced SEO Agency |
|---|---|---|
| Base Salary | $65,000 – $90,000 | — |
| Benefits (Health, 401k, etc.) | +$20,000 | — |
| SEO Tools & Training | +$5,000 | Included |
| Total Annual Cost | $90,000 – $115,000 | $18,000 – $36,000 |
That’s a cost savings of up to 75% when outsourcing your search engine optimisation needs!
Think of it this way: “Hiring in-house is like buying a private jet to commute… amazing, but overkill when a first-class ticket will do!”
Company Size and How it Affects SEO Salaries
Company size matters too:
- Startups (1-50 employees): Lower salaries, broader responsibilities
- Mid-sized companies (50-500 employees): Better salaries, more specialised SEO roles
- Large enterprises (500+ employees): Highest salaries and career advancement opportunities
SEO jobs are expanding everywhere, but experience for SEO specialists still reigns supreme when negotiating offers.
Career Info: How to Grow in SEO
Want to rise fast in SEO? Focus on:
- Building technical skills (site architecture, speed optimisation)
- Mastering local and global SEO
- Getting certified (Google Analytics, Google Search Console mastery)
- Understanding content strategy and digital marketing fundamentals
The better you optimise your understanding of search engine optimisation, the faster your average salary will climb.
Remote SEO Specialist: The New Normal
Remote work is no longer a perk — it’s an expectation.
Remote SEO specialists are earning competitive salaries while working from anywhere — coffee shop, coworking space, or their couch.
Hiring managers increasingly prioritise results over physical office presence — a trend that’s boosting job openings for remote SEO roles.
Highest Salaries and Best Cities for SEO
Want to chase the highest paychecks? Here are the highest paying cities for SEO specialists:
| City | Average Salary (USD) |
|---|---|
| San Francisco | $95,000 |
| New York | $90,000 |
| Seattle | $85,000 |
| Boston | $83,000 |
| Los Angeles | $80,000 |
Highest average salaries are found in cities with booming tech scenes and massive competition for SEO visibility.
FAQ: Salary for SEO Specialists
Make Smart SEO Moves in 2025
The bottom line?
Hiring an in-house SEO specialist might seem tempting — but when you factor in the total compensation for a SEO role, outsourcing SEO often delivers way better ROI. You get a whole team of SEO pros — from content creators to technical wizards — without footing the $90k+ bill.
If you want better search visibility, higher rankings, and more traffic — without burning through your marketing budget — it might be time to think beyond the old hiring models.
(Psst… We know a team that can help. Let’s talk about your SEO goals. Contact us today!)
