SEO Strategist / Analyst
What this job does:
Develops and executes strategies to improve a website's visibility in search engine results (Search Engine Optimization). Researches what questions audiences are searching for, optimizes written content and technical site structure to match search intent, and interprets performance data to drive organic traffic growth.
This job is similar to these lab/research tasks:
Conducting systematic searches to understand what questions a specific audience is asking; analyzing data to identify patterns and draw actionable conclusions; writing clear, well-structured content for specific audiences; designing and interpreting experiments to test what works.
Typical starting salary range
$65k to $115k
Salary estimate represented as 25th to 75th percentile. Gathered from recent job postings, Glassdoor.com, and Salary.com
Daily task breakdown
- Keyword research and search opportunity analysis (25%)
- Content strategy development and optimization (25%)
- Technical SEO auditing and implementation (20%)
- Performance tracking and analytics reporting (20%)
- Competitive analysis and link building strategy (10%)
Skills you'll use in this job:
Keyword research and search intent analysis; on-page and technical SEO; content strategy and optimization; analytics platforms (Google Analytics, Google Search Console, SEMrush, Ahrefs); A/B testing and conversion optimization; AI search optimization; HTML and web content basics; data interpretation and reporting; clear writing for specific audiences
Talk about these PhD skills in your resume and interview:
Talk about your experience communicating complex ideas clearly for specific audiences - SEO content is fundamentally about answering the exact questions people are asking. Highlight your data analysis instincts, your systematic approach to research, and your ability to test hypotheses and iterate based on results. Scientists make surprisingly strong SEO strategists.
Alternative job titles to search:
SEO Strategist; SEO Specialist; SEO Analyst; Search Engine Optimization Manager; Digital Marketing Analyst; Content SEO Strategist; Organic Search Specialist; SEO Content Strategist; Technical SEO Specialist; Growth Marketing Analyst
*Note:
-Job titles are inconsistent between companies. Try various keywords.
-PhDs tend to undershoot seniority level. Target higher than you think.
