Search Marketing Strategists Career, Salary and Skills
Search Marketing Strategists have a BLS-reported national median annual wage of $78,760 based on the 2025 OEWS dataset, with reported national employment of 899,580. Wage data is published for 442 locations.
Occupation description
Employ search marketing tactics to increase visibility and engagement with content, products, or services in Internet-enabled devices or interfaces. Examine search query behaviors on general or specialty search engines or other Internet-based content. Analyze research, data, or technology to understand user intent and measure outcomes for ongoing optimization.
O*NET code
13-1161.01
Job zone
4
Typical education
Bachelor's Degree
Experience
Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years
National salary and employment
Median annual
$78,760
Hourly median
$37.87
Employment
899,580
Data year
2025
National salary distribution
Top skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.88 | 4.12 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.88 | 4.12 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.75 | 3.75 |
| Active Learning | 3.75 | 3.88 |
| Active Listening | 3.75 | 4.00 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.75 | 3.88 |
| Speaking | 3.62 | 3.75 |
| Writing | 3.50 | 3.75 |
| Monitoring | 3.38 | 3.75 |
| Systems Analysis | 3.38 | 3.75 |
Typical tasks
- Optimize digital assets, such as text, graphics, or multimedia assets, for search engine optimization (SEO) or for display and usability on internet-connected devices.
- Collect and analyze Web metrics, such as visits, time on site, page views per visit, transaction volume and revenue, traffic mix, click-through rates, conversion rates, cost per acquisition, or cost per click.
- Participate in the development or implementation of online marketing strategy.
- Optimize Web site exposure by analyzing search engine patterns to direct online placement of keywords or other content.
- Coordinate with developers to optimize Web site architecture, server configuration, or page construction for search engine consumption and optimal visibility.
- Assist in setting up or optimizing analytics tools for tracking visitors' behaviors.
- Identify appropriate Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and report key metrics from digital campaigns.
- Manage tracking and reporting of search-related activities and provide analyses to marketing executives.
Technology
- Adobe Analytics
- Adobe Dreamweaver
- Adobe Photoshop
- Ahrefs Site Explorer
- AJAX
- Apache Solr
- Atlas Search
- Bing Ads
- BrightEdge
- Cascading style sheets CSS
- Conductor Searchlight
- Content management systems CMS
- Customer information databases
- Drupal
Search Marketing Strategists salary by location
Areas with the highest reported employment for this occupation.
- Search Marketing Strategists Salary in CAMedian $94,700 · Employment 119,070
- Search Marketing Strategists Salary in NYMedian $98,580 · Employment 80,500
- Search Marketing Strategists Salary in New York, NYMedian $100,520 · Employment 79,290
- Search Marketing Strategists Salary in TXMedian $72,520 · Employment 63,350
- Search Marketing Strategists Salary in FLMedian $75,450 · Employment 60,770
- Search Marketing Strategists Salary in ILMedian $79,120 · Employment 40,560
- Search Marketing Strategists Salary in MAMedian $101,810 · Employment 39,710
- Search Marketing Strategists Salary in Los Angeles, CAMedian $82,990 · Employment 39,390
- Search Marketing Strategists Salary in Boston, MAMedian $102,390 · Employment 32,310
- Search Marketing Strategists Salary in PAMedian $68,760 · Employment 31,040
- Search Marketing Strategists Salary in Chicago, ILMedian $80,400 · Employment 30,970
- Search Marketing Strategists Salary in NCMedian $78,410 · Employment 30,700
Related careers
- Document Management SpecialistsNational median $116,580
- Management AnalystsNational median $101,860
- Computer ProgrammersNational median $100,390
- Sales ManagersNational median $148,270
- Computer Systems AnalystsNational median $105,850
- Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelNational median $69,990
- Online MerchantsNational median $83,050
- Public Relations ManagersNational median $146,910
Career and skills data: O*NET 31.0 (onetcenter.org). Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, 2025 (bls.gov/oes). Figures are published survey estimates, not real-time market data.