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What is a sem specialist and how to become one
SEM or search engine marketing specialists are responsible for manage search engine campaigns or pay-per-click marketing activities online. They are generally part of the marketing team, driving up web traffic on sites the company has invested in, contributing to increased revenues.
Your job will be to collect and analyze data to discern trends and insight into the habits of online users. You will track traffic on websites and analyze the metrics, drawing conclusions that will influence various aspects of your online marketing strategies. Managing the budget allocated for online marketing campaigns will be your job too, as well as optimizing landing pages and keyword use.
Experience in PPC and SEM marketing will be your greatest asset when applying for this position. A degree in marketing might be expected of professionals filling this role, but knowing your way around current trends in search engine marketing will beat formal education requirements to the punch. You can earn around $29.22 per hour working in this position, which adds up to an average yearly salary of $60,000.
What general advice would you give to a SEM Specialist?
Dr. Gail Hudson Ph.D.
Director, College of Business Internship Program, Arkansas State University
The need to differentiate yourself from others will always be necessary, so keep learning while you are in school and beyond.
I believe that technology and social media skills will continue to be necessary. Seek and achieve as many certifications as possible to hone these skills and differentiate yourself in the market.
Avg. Salary $61,808
Avg. Salary $59,228
Growth Rate 19%
Growth Rate 0.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native 0.13%
Asian 14.12%
Black or African American 4.82%
Hispanic or Latino 11.48%
Unknown 4.91%
White 64.54%
Genderfemale 36.76%
male 63.24%
Age - 34American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%
Asian 7.00%
Black or African American 14.00%
Hispanic or Latino 19.00%
White 57.00%
Genderfemale 47.00%
male 53.00%
Age - 34Stress level is manageable
7.1 - high
Complexity Level is challenging
7 - challenging
Work Life balance is fair
6.4 - fair
SEM Specialist career paths
Key steps to become a sem specialist
Explore sem specialist education requirements
Start to develop specific sem specialist skills
Skills 
Percentages Digital Marketing 15.40% Paid Search 9.76% Google Analytics 8.98% Keyword Research 8.04% Search Engine Marketing 7.68% Complete relevant sem specialist training and internships
Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New sem specialists learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a sem specialist based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real sem specialist resumes.Research sem specialist duties and responsibilities
- Spearhead and manage initial social media presence via Facebook.
- Optimize websites on multiple content management systems including flat HTML, WordPress, Drupal, etc.
- Administer website through moderating comments, updating news, sending newsletters, installing and configuring Wordpress plug-ins.
- Conduct reporting and analysis on the PPC program performance, including identifying business drivers and opportunities for improvement.
Apply for sem specialist jobs
Now it's time to start searching for a sem specialist job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:
- Browse job boards for relevant postings
- Consult your professional network
- Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
- Watch out for job scams
How Did You Land Your First SEM Specialist Job
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Average sem specialist salary
The average SEM Specialist salary in the United States is $61,808 per year or $30 per hour. Sem specialist salaries range between $46,000 and $81,000 per year.
What Am I Worth?
How do sem specialists rate their job?
SEM Specialist reviews
Remote work, pays good money
Fear to be unexposed to the marketplace, still vauge to me
Updated January 8, 2025
