Search engine marketers are receiving “healthy” salaries in line with experience levels, according to the Search Engine Marketing Professional Organization’s (SEMPO) first job salary compensation survey for in-house search engine marketers working in paid search or organic search.
However, the report indicates that those seeking salaries in the $100,000-$200,000 range will probably need to put in five to seven years in the industry first.
In terms of salaries, more than 26% of respondents identified themselves as managers with compensation between $60,000 and $90,000. However, although they had the title “manager,” almost 50% of respondents with this title indicated that they did not directly manage people. In addition, about 20% of respondents said they were senior managers and directors with salaries in the $70,000 to $100,000 range.
According to said Rob Crigler, co-chair of the SEMPO in-house committee, search marketing is still forming as a career path as more companies are accepting the fact that they need SEM and SEO as part of their marketing mix. Sixty-four percent of respondents said they had five years or less of search engine marketing experience.
“You can’t find guys with 15 years of search marketing experience,” he said.
