What the Top 5% of SEOs Do Differently 💼

Turns out just 5% of SEO specialists make over $150K. How do they do it? Our salary survey breaks it down and the next facts might change how you see your SEO career. First of all, it’s all about what you do. Nearly 70 % of high earners don’t just ‘do tasks’—they lead strategy, manage big projects, and dive into data analytics, and technical SEO. Why? Because those areas drive business results—and salaries follow. Experience level matters too, but not always how you think. You’d think more senior title, more money. Not always. Seniors actually earn more than SEO leads. And unless you’re head of SEO or running your own agency, $75K can be tough to cross. Surprising, right? Subscribe if you want more data like this. And if you think working in-house gives you a better shot at hitting $150K+, we’ve got news for you. Freelancers are actually more likely to cross that line. Nearly 14% of freelancers

make over $150K, versus just 3% of employees. Leadership does pay—about 41% more. But it comes with a price. Managers are far more likely to work 50+ hours and carry more stress. More money, more pressure - same old story. And the final factor is location. Sure, we all know it matters, but the gap is huge. SEOs in the US are twice as likely to earn $150K: 7.70% versus just 3.75% in Europe. Not every path leads to six figures. Subscribe for more SEO insights to help you find the ones that do.