Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Director of search engine optimization salary
Average director of search engine optimization salary
$103,538
Understanding the Salary of a Director of Search Engine Optimization
A Director of Search Engine Optimization plays a crucial role in shaping a company’s digital footprint. As of October 2025, the average salary stands at $103,538 per year, translating to approximately $50 per hour. Salaries can vary significantly based on factors such as location, years of experience, and the specific sector of employment.
Salary by Experience Level
Entry-level positions typically start lower, around $70,000, while those with over ten years of experience can earn upwards of $130,000. This growth illustrates the value of experience in optimizing search strategies and driving traffic.
Geographic Differences
Geographic location also plays a vital role in salary differences. States like California and New York often offer higher salaries due to the competitive market and cost of living. In contrast, directors in smaller markets may see lower average salaries but can benefit from a lower cost of living.
In summary, the salary of a Director of Search Engine Optimization is influenced by various factors, including experience and location, providing ample opportunity for career advancement.
Let Zippi find your next director of search engine optimization job
Let Zippi find your next director of search engine optimization job
Where can a Director Of Search Engine Optimization earn more?
Director of search engine optimization salaries by experience level
| Experience level | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level director of search engine optimization | $76,900 | $36.95 |
| Mid-level director of search engine optimization | $82,100 | $39.47 |
| Senior-level director of search engine optimization | $187,000 | $89.78 |
Average director of search engine optimization salary by state
The average director of search engine optimization salary in New York, Rhode Island, and California are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average director of search engine optimization salary states are Kansas, Wyoming, and South Dakota.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for directors of search engine optimization
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $128,012 | $61.54 |
| 2 | Rhode Island | $121,083 | $58.21 |
| 3 | Massachusetts | $118,317 | $56.88 |
| 4 | California | $119,391 | $57.40 |
| 5 | Washington | $116,353 | $55.94 |
| 6 | Connecticut | $114,382 | $54.99 |
| 7 | Oregon | $108,706 | $52.26 |
| 8 | New Jersey | $111,106 | $53.42 |
| 9 | District of Columbia | $118,177 | $56.82 |
| 10 | Pennsylvania | $104,111 | $50.05 |
| 11 | North Carolina | $102,012 | $49.04 |
| 12 | Maine | $111,170 | $53.45 |
| 13 | Texas | $103,897 | $49.95 |
| 14 | Delaware | $109,401 | $52.60 |
| 15 | New Mexico | $98,043 | $47.14 |
| 16 | West Virginia | $100,832 | $48.48 |
| 17 | Idaho | $95,198 | $45.77 |
| 18 | New Hampshire | $96,781 | $46.53 |
| 19 | Michigan | $99,102 | $47.65 |
| 20 | Iowa | $90,694 | $43.60 |
| 21 | Minnesota | $95,901 | $46.11 |
| 22 | Mississippi | $89,550 | $43.05 |
| 23 | Alabama | $89,531 | $43.04 |
| 24 | Indiana | $98,432 | $47.32 |
| 25 | Oklahoma | $89,686 | $43.12 |
| 26 | Georgia | $94,271 | $45.32 |
| 27 | Ohio | $94,483 | $45.42 |
| 28 | Vermont | $94,237 | $45.31 |
| 29 | Maryland | $100,636 | $48.38 |
| 30 | Wisconsin | $94,452 | $45.41 |
| 31 | Virginia | $97,084 | $46.67 |
| 32 | Nevada | $91,894 | $44.18 |
| 33 | Arizona | $92,587 | $44.51 |
| 34 | Arkansas | $84,658 | $40.70 |
| 35 | Utah | $88,110 | $42.36 |
| 36 | Louisiana | $84,230 | $40.50 |
| 37 | North Dakota | $88,976 | $42.78 |
| 38 | Alaska | $91,972 | $44.22 |
| 39 | Missouri | $92,774 | $44.60 |
| 40 | Illinois | $85,999 | $41.35 |
| 41 | South Carolina | $91,215 | $43.85 |
| 42 | Tennessee | $87,090 | $41.87 |
| 43 | Kentucky | $86,804 | $41.73 |
| 44 | Nebraska | $85,714 | $41.21 |
| 45 | Montana | $77,115 | $37.07 |
| 46 | Wyoming | $79,747 | $38.34 |
| 47 | Florida | $83,640 | $40.21 |
| 48 | South Dakota | $79,051 | $38.01 |
| 49 | Kansas | $79,976 | $38.45 |
| 50 | Colorado | $77,825 | $37.42 |
| 51 | Hawaii | $61,243 | $29.44 |
Highest paying cities for directors of search engine optimization
The highest-paying cities for directors of search engine optimization are San Francisco, CA, Port Chester, NY, and Boston, MA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $130,372 | $62.68 |
| 2 | Port Chester, NY | $128,516 | $61.79 |
| 3 | Boston, MA | $118,483 | $56.96 |
| 4 | Washington, DC | $118,232 | $56.84 |
| 5 | Seattle, WA | $116,927 | $56.21 |
| 6 | Bristol, CT | $114,476 | $55.04 |
| 7 | Portland, OR | $107,221 | $51.55 |
| 8 | Dallas, TX | $106,812 | $51.35 |
| 9 | Raleigh, NC | $103,601 | $49.81 |
| 10 | Detroit, MI | $99,612 | $47.89 |
| 11 | Alexandria, VA | $98,428 | $47.32 |
| 12 | Atlanta, GA | $94,597 | $45.48 |
| 13 | Columbus, OH | $94,192 | $45.28 |
| 14 | Scottsdale, AZ | $93,123 | $44.77 |
| 15 | Salt Lake City, UT | $87,752 | $42.19 |
| 16 | Chicago, IL | $86,342 | $41.51 |
| 17 | Kissimmee, FL | $84,899 | $40.82 |
| 18 | Denver, CO | $77,606 | $37.31 |
Director of search engine optimization salary details
A director of search engine optimization's salary ranges from $73,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $146,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a director of search engine optimization's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $146,000 | $12,167 | $70 |
| 75th Percentile | $124,000 | $10,333 | $60 |
| Average | $103,538 | $8,628 | $50 |
| 25th Percentile | $86,000 | $7,167 | $41 |
| 10th Percentile | $73,000 | $6,083 | $35 |
Highest paying director of search engine optimization jobs
The highest paying types of directors of search engine optimization are senior director of marketing, global director, and senior director.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Web Manager | $82,696 | $6,891 | $39.76 | 107,495 |
| Media Manager | $96,475 | $8,040 | $46.38 | 110,888 |
| Web Content Manager | $74,186 | $6,182 | $35.67 | 61,192 |
| Marketing Manager/Project Manager | $78,368 | $6,531 | $37.68 | 187,949 |
| Marketing Strategist | $80,033 | $6,669 | $38.48 | 89,543 |
| Marketing Director | $114,906 | $9,575 | $55.24 | 93,503 |
Top companies hiring directors of search engine optimization now:
Which companies pay directors of search engine optimization the most?
Director of search engine optimization salaries at PayPal and The Walt Disney Company are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average director of search engine optimization salary at companies like Macy's and Condé Nast are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | PayPal | $145,977 | $70.18 |
| 2 | The Walt Disney Company | $125,595 | $60.38 |
| 3 | Macy's | $125,156 | $60.17 |
| 4 | Condé Nast | $120,580 | $57.97 |
| 5 | Wpp Us Holdings Inc | $118,671 | $57.05 |
| 6 | Neiman Marcus Group | $114,684 | $55.14 |
| 7 | Expedia Group | $114,233 | $54.92 |
| 8 | Digitas | $101,980 | $49.03 |
| 9 | The Motley Fool | $98,390 | $47.30 |
| 10 | Horizon Media | $98,017 | $47.12 |
| 11 | GroupM | $96,308 | $46.30 |
| 12 | The Hillman Group | $95,984 | $46.15 |
| 13 | fuboTV | $93,026 | $44.72 |
| 14 | CoStar Group | $92,178 | $44.32 |
| 15 | Harvard University | $90,829 | $43.67 |
| 16 | Overstock.com | $85,924 | $41.31 |
| 17 | The Shade Store | $84,604 | $40.67 |
| 18 | SpectrumScience | $79,633 | $38.29 |
| 19 | Robert Half | $79,008 | $37.98 |
| 20 | Internet Brands | $78,748 | $37.86 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Director Of Search Engine Optimization salary by industry
The average director of search engine optimization salary varies across industries:
- The average director of search engine optimization salary in the manufacturing industry is $103,816, the highest of any industry.
- The average director of search engine optimization salary in the finance industry is $101,405.
- Directors of search engine optimization in the hospitality industry earn an average salary of $90,623, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for directors of search engine optimization
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Manufacturing | $103,816 | $49.91 |
| 2 | Technology | $101,405 | $48.75 |
| 3 | Professional | $98,561 | $47.39 |
| 4 | Internet | $98,476 | $47.34 |
| 5 | Media | $91,588 | $44.03 |
| 6 | Hospitality | $90,623 | $43.57 |
High paying director of search engine optimization jobs
Director of search engine optimization salary trends
The average director of search engine optimization salary has risen by $19,052 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average director of search engine optimization earned $84,486 annually, but today, they earn $103,538 a year. That works out to a 8% change in pay for directors of search engine optimization over the last decade.
Compare director of search engine optimization salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average director of search engine optimization salary over time
Compare director of search engine optimization salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Director of search engine optimization salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $104,000 | $49.78 | +3.7% |
| 2024 | $99,700 | $47.91 | +1.9% |
| 2023 | $97,800 | $47.02 | +1.5% |
| 2022 | $96,300 | $46.30 | +0.8% |
| 2021 | $95,500 | $45.93 | +1.9% |
Recently added director of search engine optimization salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Animalz | Director of SEO & AI Search | San Diego, CA | 06/23/2025 | $100,000 |
| Freshdesk | Director-SEO and Demand Generation Content | Bellevue, WA | 06/10/2025 | $168,000 |
| Ammazan Network | Arabic SEO/SMO Executive | Frewsburg, NY | 06/10/2025 | $20,000 |
| Sosemo LLC | Vice President/Director, SEO | Fine, NY | 05/28/2025 | $140,000 |
| Textbroker | Sales Director-B2B Digital Marketing and SEO Solutions | Las Vegas, NV | 05/23/2025 | $100,000 |
| Microsoft | Director, SEO Solutions | Redmond, WA | 05/22/2025 | $162,000 |
| Microsoft Corporation | Director, SEO Solutions | Atlanta, GA | 05/17/2025 | $162,000 |
| Microsoft Corporation | Director, SEO Solutions | New York, NY | 05/17/2025 | $162,000 |
| Microsoft Corporation | Director, SEO Solutions | Mountain View, CA | 05/17/2025 | $162,000 |
| Code and Theory | Director, Data & SEO | Fine, NY | 05/02/2025 | $160,000 |
Director of search engine optimization salary FAQs
Search for director of search engine optimization jobs