SEO writer pay ranges widely: many full-timers earn $55k–$85k yearly; freelancers charge $0.12–$0.50 per word or $30–$80 hourly.
What This Guide Covers
You came here to make sense of pay ranges, not wade through fluff. This guide shows what in-house staffers earn, what freelancers charge, how rates convert across per-word, hourly, day, and project pricing, and how to nudge offers higher.
Quick Pay Snapshot
Pay varies with location, niche, speed, deliverables, and proof of results. In-house jobs sit inside salary bands and perks. Independent writers trade a steadier check for higher upside. Both paths can clear a livable income once you line up the right clients or a team that values search traffic and brand voice.
| Role Or Mode | Typical Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| In-House Staff Writer | $55k–$85k salary | Base plus health, PTO, bonus bands vary by company size. |
| Senior Or Lead | $80k–$115k salary | Strategy duties raise pay; equity can appear at startups. |
| Freelance Hourly | $30–$80 per hour | Deep briefs, research, and CMS work push rates up. |
| Per-Word Pricing | $0.12–$0.50 per word | Long assets and subject depth sit at the upper end. |
| Per-Project | $400–$2,500+ | Ranges hinge on scope, links, and conversion goals. |
In-House Salaries
Staff roles bring steady checks, benefits, and clearer growth paths. Titles include content writer, SEO copywriter, content strategist, and managing editor. Bands vary by city and industry. Tech, SaaS, and agencies tend to pay more than small local firms. Remote roles widen the pool and let strong candidates land bigger bands without a move. Annual reviews and internal leveling frameworks shape raises, so track outcomes: indexed pages, ranking gains, organic leads, and revenue influenced.
How The Public Data Fits
Two public datasets help you anchor numbers. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics lists a national median wage in the low-$70k range for writers and authors (see the writers and authors wage tables). That umbrella spans books, journalism, technical writing, and marketing prose. Glassdoor’s crowd-sourced pages for SEO titles place midpoints near the mid-$60s to low-$70s for content roles with search duties (see the SEO content writer salary page). Both sets are national snapshots; your rate sits above or below based on skill stacking, sector, and proof of outcomes.
Freelance Rates
Independents price a mix of hourly, per-word, and per-project. Hourly works well for audits, research blocks, and CMS fixes. Per-word suits newsy updates and product roundups with tight scope. Per-project fits guides, landing pages, and long briefs that touch design or CRO. Many pros blend a monthly retainer with a per-project add-on for spikes. Retainers smooth cash flow and help the client plan a content calendar.
Per-Word Pricing Without Guesswork
Per-word can feel random. Tie it to time. Track the hours it takes to research, outline, draft, revise, source images, and publish. Divide your target hourly by average words produced in that time window. If a 1,800-word guide takes seven hours end-to-end and your target is $60 per hour, the per-word lands near $0.23. Add a buffer for interviews, extra rounds, or subject-matter reviews.
Hourly, Day, And Project Conversions
Keep a simple sheet with three conversions: hourly rate, words per hour for different asset types, and typical revision time. Update the sheet each quarter as your speed improves. That way you can quote any format on the fly and still hit your floor. Clients care about outcomes; a fast writer who ships pages that rank can charge project rates tied to value rather than minutes.
What Do SEO Writers Earn By Experience Level?
Pay starts modestly and grows with proof. A new entrant building clips might land $22–$30 per hour or $0.08–$0.15 per word. Mid-level pros with two to four years and a track record of search wins often command $35–$60 per hour or $0.18–$0.35 per word. Senior hands who set strategy and own results push past $70 per hour, with per-word rates at $0.30–$0.50 and project quotes above $1,500 for large assets.
How Location And Niche Move The Needle
Big metros with tech and finance clusters pay more than small towns. Remote bands narrow that gap but do not erase it. Niche lifts matter too. A crypto wallet explainer with compliance review pays more than a fashion lookbook. Regulated sectors need precise sourcing and careful wording, which adds hours and risk. That risk shows up in the quote.
In-House Titles And Typical Bands
Titles vary, yet patterns show up. “Content writer” tends to sit in the $55k–$75k span. “SEO copywriter” and “content marketing writer” trend closer to $65k–$90k. “Content strategist” stretches into six figures at larger firms, especially when paired with ownership of content ops, briefs, and measurement. Equity and bonus pools sweeten the top end at high-growth companies.
Freelance Deliverables And What They Pay
Short news updates, 500–800 words: $150–$350. Evergreen blog posts, 1,200–2,000 words: $400–$1,200. Long guides, 2,500+ words with original graphics: $1,200–$3,000+. Product or category pages with conversion copy: $600–$2,000. Content audits with a roadmap: $1,000–$4,000. The spread reflects scope, depth, and proof that your pages move rankings, clicks, and revenue.
What Clients Value And Pay For
Rates rise when clients see less risk and more upside. Clear briefs, clean drafts, crisp structure, and fact-checked claims reduce back-and-forth. Writers who pair keyword intent with brand voice save editors time. Add a simple content design eye, and you become a one-stop shop. That convenience earns higher quotes and steady retainers.
Where The Data Comes From
Public wage data sets one anchor. Salary sites that collect anonymous reports set another. Agency rate cards and job posts fill in the edges. Each has bias. National medians hide location effects. Crowd-sourced reports skew to larger markets. Job ads show bands, not negotiated outcomes. Treat every number as a map, not a ceiling.
| Deliverable | Typical Price | Calculation Example |
|---|---|---|
| 1,500-Word Evergreen Guide | $600–$1,200 | 8–14 hours × $50–$85 per hour |
| Product Category Page | $700–$1,800 | 6–12 hours × $60–$100 per hour |
| Content Audit + Roadmap | $1,500–$4,000 | 20–40 hours × $75–$100 per hour |
How To Set Your Floor
Pick a monthly income target that covers rent, savings, and a buffer. Divide by billable hours you can maintain without burnout. That gives a floor for hourly quotes. Convert it into per-word and project prices using your tracking sheet. When demand outstrips your calendar, raise rates on new work first, then old retainers at renewal.
Proven Ways To Nudge Pay Higher
Bundle outcomes, not tasks. Pitch a package: briefs, outlines, drafts, internal links, and CMS publish. Anchor the value: what one ranking page could add in organic leads or sales. Offer a pilot with a clear win metric and a check-in after 45 days. Present three tiers so the middle looks easy to green-light. Keep a swipe file of before-and-after graphs and wins you can share on calls.
Negotiation Lines You Can Use
“I can meet that base with a $5k sign-on, a review at month six, and a title aligned to the scope.” “For freelance, that scope lands at $1,400. If we reduce research calls and keep one revision round, I can bring it to $1,150.” “If we add internal linking and publish in the CMS, the quote is $1,900, and the handoff is cleaner for your team.” Short lines, clear trade-offs, steady tone.
Benefits That Change Total Pay
Staff roles bundle health care, retirement match, paid time off, learning budgets, and bonus. Those perks add real value. Freelancers build their own stack: health plan, tax set-asides, home office, AI tools, style guides, and a set roster of peer editors. When you compare a salary to solo work, price these items in your math so the choice is fair.
Monthly Income Scenarios
A full-time staffer at $70k brings home a steady check and bonus based on targets. A part-time freelancer billing 60 hours a month at $55 per hour clears $3,300 before costs, plus project add-ons. A full-time solo writer with two agency retainers and two direct clients might bill 100 hours a month at $65 per hour, then pad with two guides at $1,200 each. That stack can land near $9,000 gross in a healthy month.
Where To Find Better-Paying Work
Pitch sectors with money on the line: SaaS, fintech, cybersecurity, B2B data tools, and high-end e-commerce. Study ranking pages, then pitch gaps: missed intent, thin benefit copy, or dated screenshots. Offer a small audit with two quick wins and one big bet. Strong samples and clear outcomes beat long resumes.
Quality Signals That Raise Your Rate
Editors love clean drafts, tight heads, and fact-based claims with links to sources. Include alt text, internal links, and a short meta description in your handoff. Align H2s to search intent so the page can win a featured snippet. Keep paragraphs short and tables easy to scan. Your craft is the best sales pitch for a raise.
Simple Rate Calculator
Start with your floor. Add a scope factor for research load, subject depth, and design asks. Add a rush factor when needed. Voice the number with confidence. Then pause. Silence helps the quote land. Use it.
Method And Sources
Numbers in this guide blend federal wage data with current compensation pages that track content roles tied to search. National medians for writers and authors provide a baseline. Crowd-sourced pages for SEO content roles add a more targeted view. Together they frame the ranges you can expect in the U.S. market across staff roles and independent work.
Final Pointers
Track your speed and outcomes. Show proof. Package your work. Ask for clear briefs. Quote with a calm voice. Decline red-flag scopes. Steady craft wins.