Marketing

SEO Specialist Job Description Template (Free, 2026)

Copy-ready SEO Specialist JD. Customize in seconds and post directly to your ATS. Includes 2026 US salary benchmarks ($50,000-$95,000) and ATS-optimized formatting.

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Copy-ready template

Job Title: SEO Specialist [Junior / Mid-Level / Senior] Department: Marketing / Growth Location: [City, State] / Remote / Hybrid Reports To: Digital Marketing Manager / Head of Growth / VP of Marketing Employment Type: Full-Time About [Company Name] [Company Name] is a [industry] company based in [City, State]. Our website currently ranks for [X] keywords and receives [X] monthly organic visits. Organic search is a critical acquisition channel for us, and we need an SEO Specialist who can accelerate our ranking growth through a combination of technical optimization, content strategy, and link building. About the Role We are hiring an SEO Specialist to own our organic search strategy and execution. You will conduct keyword research, optimize on-page content, resolve technical SEO issues, and build the backlink profile needed to rank competitively in our space. You will work closely with our content writers, developers, and digital marketing manager to ensure SEO best practices are embedded in every piece of content we publish and every feature we ship. Key Responsibilities - Conduct comprehensive keyword research to identify high-value, high-intent keywords and map them to pages across the site and content calendar - Audit and optimize on-page SEO elements including title tags, meta descriptions, heading structure, image alt text, internal linking, and content quality - Perform regular technical SEO audits using tools such as Screaming Frog, Ahrefs, or Semrush to identify and resolve crawlability, indexation, and Core Web Vitals issues - Develop and execute a link-building strategy through digital PR, guest posting, resource page outreach, and broken link building - Monitor organic performance in Google Search Console and Google Analytics 4, producing weekly and monthly reports on rankings, traffic, and conversion trends - Collaborate with content writers to brief, review, and optimize blog posts, landing pages, and resource guides for target keywords - Implement and maintain structured data (schema markup) to improve rich snippet eligibility for product, FAQ, breadcrumb, and review content - Identify and pursue opportunities to expand into new topic clusters and build topical authority in [industry] subject areas - Coordinate with the development team to implement technical SEO recommendations promptly and verify changes after deployment - Track and analyze competitor SEO strategies, identifying keyword gaps, content opportunities, and backlink sources to target Required Qualifications - 2+ years of SEO experience with a demonstrable track record of organic ranking improvements - Proficiency in Google Search Console, Google Analytics 4, Ahrefs or SEMrush, and Screaming Frog - Strong understanding of on-page, off-page, and technical SEO best practices - Ability to conduct keyword research and develop content briefs that writers can execute effectively - Familiarity with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript sufficient to diagnose technical SEO issues - Strong written communication skills for outreach emails and SEO content recommendations - Analytical mindset with ability to interpret data and prioritize work by expected impact Nice to Have - Experience with WordPress, Webflow, or Shopify CMS SEO configuration - Background in link building outreach with a network of relevant publishers - Familiarity with schema markup implementation and rich result testing - Experience with international or multilingual SEO (hreflang, subdomain vs. subdirectory strategy) What We Offer - Competitive salary between $50,000 and $95,000 depending on experience - Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance - 401(k) with company match - Remote or hybrid work flexibility - Access to premium SEO tools (Ahrefs, SEMrush) and training budget - Visible impact on a growing organic channel with clear performance metrics Salary Range: $50,000 to $95,000 per year (US, 2026)

2026 SEO Specialist Salary Benchmarks (US)

Entry Level
$50,000
per year
Senior Level
$95,000
per year

Frequently asked questions

What does an SEO specialist do?

An SEO specialist improves a website's visibility in organic search by conducting keyword research, optimizing on-page content and metadata, building backlinks through outreach, resolving technical SEO issues (crawlability, site speed, schema markup), and analyzing performance via Google Search Console and tools like Ahrefs or SEMrush. They collaborate with content writers and developers to implement improvements across the site.

What is the average SEO specialist salary in the US in 2026?

SEO specialist salaries range from $50,000 for junior specialists to $95,000 for senior specialists and SEO managers. Mid-level specialists with 3-5 years of experience and demonstrated ranking improvements earn $62,000-$80,000. Senior SEO specialists and managers (6+ years, enterprise SEO) earn $80,000-$95,000. In-house roles at technology companies typically pay above agency roles.

What is the difference between on-page SEO and technical SEO?

On-page SEO involves optimizing content and page structure: title tags, meta descriptions, heading hierarchy, keyword placement, and internal linking. Technical SEO addresses website infrastructure: crawl budget, indexation, site speed (Core Web Vitals), mobile usability, structured data, canonical tags, hreflang, and XML sitemaps. Strong SEO specialists handle both, while large organizations may split these into specialized roles.

Can I use this SEO specialist job description in my ATS?

Yes. Paste this template into Treegarden, adjust the CMS and SEO tools to match your stack, and publish to LinkedIn and your career page. For SEO roles, add a screening question asking candidates to describe a keyword ranking improvement they achieved, including starting position, actions taken, and resulting organic traffic change.

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