While remote work is now standard, London weightings persist. An SEO Manager in Manchester or Leeds might earn £40,000, while the same role in Shoreditch or Central London advertises at £52,000. However, fully remote US-based tech companies hiring UK talent are disrupting this, offering US-level compensation (adjusted) which can reach £80k for Manager-level roles.
1. Junior / Executive (0-2 Years): Learning the ropes. Link building, keyword research, basic on-page.
Salary: £24k-£32k.
2. Manager (3-5 Years): Owns the strategy for accounts or a specific channel. Client facing.
Salary: £38k-£55k.
3. Senior Manager / Account Director (5-8 Years): Manages a team of SEOs. Responsible for P&L or Departmental growth.
Salary: £50k-£75k.
4. Head of SEO / Director (8+ Years): Strategic direction, integration with other channels (PPC, PR), board-level reporting.
Salary: £70k-£120k+.
The average salary for an SEO Manager in the UK typically falls between £38,000 and £55,000. London-based roles typically offer a premium, pushing the average closer to £50,000 - £60,000.
A Head of SEO in the UK can expect to earn between £65,000 and £90,000+. In large FinTech or eCommerce organisations, this can rise significantly above £100,000, especially when including bonuses and stock options.
AI has shifted the value from execution to strategy. While entry-level salaries have remained stagnant due to automation of basic tasks, senior strategic roles have seen salary growth as companies navigate the complexity of Generative Search Experiences (SGE).
Using 2025/26 rates (Tax Code 1257L, 8% NI): A gross salary of £45,000 results in an approximate annual take-home of £35,390. This equates to roughly £2,949 per month. *Subject to specific circumstances.
Agency roles often have lower base salaries at the junior/mid-level compared to in-house corporate roles. However, agencies often offer faster promotion tracks. At the Director level, agency roles with profit-sharing can be very lucrative.
Technical SEO skills (JavaScript, Python, Log Analysis) and Data Analytics (GA4, SQL, BigQuery) are the highest value boosters. Soft skills like client management and sales support are also critical for senior salary bands.
Absolutely. While the "10 blue links" era is fading, the need for Organic Growth and visibility in LLMs and platforms like TikTok and Amazon ensures that adaptable SEO professionals remain in high demand.
Mustafa is a Financial Analyst and Web Developer with over a decade of experience in digital markets. He specializes in UK tax modelling and salary forecasting for the digital sector.