The True Cost of Hiring an SEO Employee [INFOGRAPHIC]
Category: Search Engine Optimization | Tags: SEO, business ideas, infographic
So you know you need SEO, and you know that you don’t currently have anyone on staff that knows anything about that. Maybe you’re thinking it’s time to hire an SEO Specialist. Before you write up that job description, you might want to think again.
The average base salary for an entry level full-time SEO Specialist in the U.S. is around $45,000 according to Salary.com. But of course, that’s not all you’ll spend.
- You’ll have to pay employer taxes, which will be upwards of $4,000, depending on where you live.
- You’ll have to provide benefits, which can vary widely, but average around $7.57 per hour for the median private industry worker, or around $15,000 per year.
- Then you’ll have to provide them with a desk, computer, phone, software subscriptions, and any other equipment. Plus, don’t forget the cost of staff perks and team development. Let’s tack another $2,500 for the first year.
- Most likely, they won’t be walking in as an SEO expert instructing you on best practices and latest trends, so you’ll have to pay for training and professional development. This will probably add on another $1,000 or so not counting the lost work time.
An entry level SEO Specialist will easily cost a minimum of $67,500 (or $5,625 per month) to your company.
Hiring an SEO agency offers you the opportunity to bring in experts who know the ins and outs of SEO, stay up to date on the latest news and trends, have access to the best software and know how to use it, and will build a strategy customized to your business – without the extra costs that come with hiring an employee.
An SEO agency will drive decision-making versus an entry level employee who will need your direction. Even if you intend on bringing on an SEO employee in the long run, it makes sense to contact an agency and work with industry experts to help lay out your strategy. If you’re looking for the perfect SEO agency, we’d love to chat.
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