{"id":150945,"date":"2023-12-17T08:34:20","date_gmt":"2023-12-17T13:34:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/?p=150945"},"modified":"2025-07-08T07:27:51","modified_gmt":"2025-07-08T12:27:51","slug":"seo-pricing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/seo-pricing\/","title":{"rendered":"SEO Pricing: How Much Does SEO Cost? 439 People Polled"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"recommendation\"><div class=\"recommendation-title\">Key takeaways<\/div><div class=\"recommendation-content\">\n<ul>\n<li>SEO costs $2,917 per month on average.<\/li>\n<li>23% of SEOs charge $500-$1,000 per&nbsp;month.<\/li>\n<li>Local SEO costs $1,557 per month on average.<\/li>\n<li>78.2% of SEOs charge a monthly retainer.<\/li>\n<li>Agencies charge 138% more than freelancers.<\/li>\n<li>SEOs with 2+ years of experience charge 33%&nbsp;more.<\/li>\n<li>Consultants charge $3,250 per month on average.<\/li>\n<li>The average hourly rate for SEO is $111.<\/li>\n<li>1 in 10 charge more than $150\/hour.<\/li>\n<li>SEOs in India, Central, and South America charge the&nbsp;least.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"sidenote\"><div class=\"sidenote-title\">Sidenote.<\/div> We polled 439 SEO service providers for the data in this post. We even reviewed all their websites manually to make sure they really did offer SEO services.&nbsp;<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"intro-tok\" id=\"intro_tok\" style=\"display:none;\"><div class=\"intro-title\">Contents<\/div><a href=\"#\" class=\"expand-dots\"><span><\/span><span><\/span><span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<p><span data-sheets-root=\"1\"><\/span><\/p><div class=\"post-nav-link clearfix\" id=\"section1\"><a class=\"subhead-anchor\" data-tip=\"tooltip__copielink\" rel=\"#section1\"><svg width=\"19\" height=\"19\" viewBox=\"0 0 14 14\" style><g fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\"><path d=\"M0 0h14v14H0z\" \/><path d=\"M7.45 9.887l-1.62 1.621c-.92.92-2.418.92-3.338 0a2.364 2.364 0 0 1 0-3.339l1.62-1.62-1.273-1.272-1.62 1.62a4.161 4.161 0 1 0 5.885 5.884l1.62-1.62L7.45 9.886zM5.527 5.135L7.17 3.492c.92-.92 2.418-.92 3.339 0 .92.92.92 2.418 0 3.339L8.866 8.473l1.272 1.273 1.644-1.643A4.161 4.161 0 1 0 5.897 2.22L4.254 3.863l1.272 1.272zm-.66 3.998a.749.749 0 0 1 0-1.06l2.208-2.206a.749.749 0 1 1 1.06 1.06L5.928 9.133a.75.75 0 0 1-1.061 0z\" style \/><\/g><\/svg><\/a><div class=\"link-text\" data-anchor=\"How much does SEO cost?\" data-section=\"seo-cost\">\n<h2>How much does SEO&nbsp;cost?<\/h2>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<p>SEO costs usually range from $250 to $10,000 per month, with most businesses (63%) spending between $500 and $5,000. On average, agencies charge $3,209 per month, while freelancers charge $1,348.<\/p>\n<p>The most common hourly rate for SEO is $100-$150, with 25% of SEOs charging this amount.<\/p>\n<p><span data-sheets-root=\"1\"><\/span><\/p><div class=\"post-nav-link clearfix\" id=\"section1\"><a class=\"subhead-anchor\" data-tip=\"tooltip__copielink\" rel=\"#section1\"><svg width=\"19\" height=\"19\" viewBox=\"0 0 14 14\" style><g fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\"><path d=\"M0 0h14v14H0z\" \/><path d=\"M7.45 9.887l-1.62 1.621c-.92.92-2.418.92-3.338 0a2.364 2.364 0 0 1 0-3.339l1.62-1.62-1.273-1.272-1.62 1.62a4.161 4.161 0 1 0 5.885 5.884l1.62-1.62L7.45 9.886zM5.527 5.135L7.17 3.492c.92-.92 2.418-.92 3.339 0 .92.92.92 2.418 0 3.339L8.866 8.473l1.272 1.273 1.644-1.643A4.161 4.161 0 1 0 5.897 2.22L4.254 3.863l1.272 1.272zm-.66 3.998a.749.749 0 0 1 0-1.06l2.208-2.206a.749.749 0 1 1 1.06 1.06L5.928 9.133a.75.75 0 0 1-1.061 0z\" style \/><\/g><\/svg><\/a><div class=\"link-text\" data-anchor=\"Local SEO cost\" data-section=\"local-seo-cost\">\n<h3>How much does local SEO&nbsp;cost?<\/h3>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<p>Local SEO is more affordable, averaging $1,557 per month. Agencies typically charge $1,819, while freelancers charge around $1,150.<\/p>\n<p>The most common hourly rate for local SEO services is $75-$100.<\/p>\n<div class=\"post-nav-link clearfix\" id=\"section1\"><a class=\"subhead-anchor\" data-tip=\"tooltip__copielink\" rel=\"#section1\"><svg width=\"19\" height=\"19\" viewBox=\"0 0 14 14\" style><g fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\"><path d=\"M0 0h14v14H0z\" \/><path d=\"M7.45 9.887l-1.62 1.621c-.92.92-2.418.92-3.338 0a2.364 2.364 0 0 1 0-3.339l1.62-1.62-1.273-1.272-1.62 1.62a4.161 4.161 0 1 0 5.885 5.884l1.62-1.62L7.45 9.886zM5.527 5.135L7.17 3.492c.92-.92 2.418-.92 3.339 0 .92.92.92 2.418 0 3.339L8.866 8.473l1.272 1.273 1.644-1.643A4.161 4.161 0 1 0 5.897 2.22L4.254 3.863l1.272 1.272zm-.66 3.998a.749.749 0 0 1 0-1.06l2.208-2.206a.749.749 0 1 1 1.06 1.06L5.928 9.133a.75.75 0 0 1-1.061 0z\" style \/><\/g><\/svg><\/a><div class=\"link-text\" data-anchor=\"Small business SEO cost\" data-section=\"small-business-seo-cost\">\n<h3>How much does SEO cost for small businesses?<\/h3>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<p>It\u2019s likely around $1,557 per month on average, similar to local SEO costs, but for very small businesses with basic needs, it could be lower. About 42% of SEOs charge between $250 and $1,000 per&nbsp;month.<\/p>\n<p><span data-sheets-root=\"1\"><\/span><\/p><div class=\"post-nav-link clearfix\" id=\"section1\"><a class=\"subhead-anchor\" data-tip=\"tooltip__copielink\" rel=\"#section1\"><svg width=\"19\" height=\"19\" viewBox=\"0 0 14 14\" style><g fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\"><path d=\"M0 0h14v14H0z\" \/><path d=\"M7.45 9.887l-1.62 1.621c-.92.92-2.418.92-3.338 0a2.364 2.364 0 0 1 0-3.339l1.62-1.62-1.273-1.272-1.62 1.62a4.161 4.161 0 1 0 5.885 5.884l1.62-1.62L7.45 9.886zM5.527 5.135L7.17 3.492c.92-.92 2.418-.92 3.339 0 .92.92.92 2.418 0 3.339L8.866 8.473l1.272 1.273 1.644-1.643A4.161 4.161 0 1 0 5.897 2.22L4.254 3.863l1.272 1.272zm-.66 3.998a.749.749 0 0 1 0-1.06l2.208-2.206a.749.749 0 1 1 1.06 1.06L5.928 9.133a.75.75 0 0 1-1.061 0z\" style \/><\/g><\/svg><\/a><div class=\"link-text\" data-anchor=\"SEO pricing models\" data-section=\"seo-pricing-models\">\n<h2>SEO pricing models: a deeper breakdown of&nbsp;costs<\/h2>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<p>There are lots of pricing models used by SEO agencies and consultants, from subscription-based (like <a href=\"https:\/\/ninjapromo.io\/\">NinjaPromo<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.msplaunchpad.com\/\">MSP Launchpad<\/a>), to project-based (like <a href=\"https:\/\/builtvisible.com\">Builtvisible<\/a>), or even hourly (common for SEO consultants, like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.orainti.com\/\">Aleyda Solis<\/a>).<\/p>\n<p>Here are the three most common SEO pricing models:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Monthly retainer:<\/strong> 78.2% charge for services this&nbsp;way.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Hourly:<\/strong> 34.8% charge for services this&nbsp;way.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Per-project: <\/strong>48.9% charge for services this&nbsp;way.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Let\u2019s dive deeper into each pricing model.<\/p>\n<div class=\"post-nav-link clearfix\" id=\"section1\"><a class=\"subhead-anchor\" data-tip=\"tooltip__copielink\" rel=\"#section1\"><svg width=\"19\" height=\"19\" viewBox=\"0 0 14 14\" style><g fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\"><path d=\"M0 0h14v14H0z\" \/><path d=\"M7.45 9.887l-1.62 1.621c-.92.92-2.418.92-3.338 0a2.364 2.364 0 0 1 0-3.339l1.62-1.62-1.273-1.272-1.62 1.62a4.161 4.161 0 1 0 5.885 5.884l1.62-1.62L7.45 9.886zM5.527 5.135L7.17 3.492c.92-.92 2.418-.92 3.339 0 .92.92.92 2.418 0 3.339L8.866 8.473l1.272 1.273 1.644-1.643A4.161 4.161 0 1 0 5.897 2.22L4.254 3.863l1.272 1.272zm-.66 3.998a.749.749 0 0 1 0-1.06l2.208-2.206a.749.749 0 1 1 1.06 1.06L5.928 9.133a.75.75 0 0 1-1.061 0z\" style \/><\/g><\/svg><\/a><div class=\"link-text\" data-anchor=\"Monthly retainer pricing\" data-section=\"monthly-rates\">\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Monthly retainer pricing: How much does SEO cost per&nbsp;month?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>$501\u2013$1,000 per month is the most popular monthly retainer rate for SEOs, with 20.4% of respondents charging this&nbsp;rate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1485\" class=\"wp-image-151597\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/seo-monthly-retainer-pricing.png\" alt=\"Survey results: SEO monthly retainer pricing\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/seo-monthly-retainer-pricing.png 1600w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/seo-monthly-retainer-pricing-458x425.png 458w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/seo-monthly-retainer-pricing-768x713.png 768w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/seo-monthly-retainer-pricing-1536x1426.png 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\"><\/figure>\n<p>\n\n<\/p>\n<p>42.8% of respondents charge between $501 and $2,000 per&nbsp;month.<\/p>\n<p>\n\n<\/p>\n<p>68.8% charge $2,000\/month or less, meaning only 31.2% command retainers of $2,001+.<\/p>\n<p>\n\n<\/p>\n<p>Here\u2019s a breakdown of monthly retainer rates by region:<\/p>\n<p>\n\n<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2300\" height=\"2824\" class=\"wp-image-151598\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/seo-monthly-retainer-rates-by-region.png\" alt=\"Survey results: SEO monthly retainer pricing (by region)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/seo-monthly-retainer-rates-by-region.png 2300w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/seo-monthly-retainer-rates-by-region-346x425.png 346w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/seo-monthly-retainer-rates-by-region-768x943.png 768w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/seo-monthly-retainer-rates-by-region-1251x1536.png 1251w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/seo-monthly-retainer-rates-by-region-1668x2048.png 1668w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2300px) 100vw, 2300px\"><\/figure>\n<p>\n\n<\/p>\n<p>India is a clear outlier here, with 76% of India-based SEOs charging $1,000 or less per month. The remaining 24% charge between $2,001 and $10,000.<\/p>\n<p>\n\n<\/p>\n<p>\n\n<\/p>\n<p>Looking at U.S. and Canada data in isolation, 79.1% charge at least $1,001 per month\u2014some command as much as $25,001\u2013$50,000 per&nbsp;month!<\/p>\n<p>\n\n<\/p>\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Do SEO agencies charge more per month than freelancers?<\/h4>\n<p>\n\n<\/p>\n<p>Yes.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>\n\n<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2300\" height=\"1280\" class=\"wp-image-151599\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/seo-monthly-retainer-pricing-by-business-type.png\" alt=\"Survey results: SEO monthly retainer pricing (by business type)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/seo-monthly-retainer-pricing-by-business-type.png 2300w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/seo-monthly-retainer-pricing-by-business-type-680x378.png 680w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/seo-monthly-retainer-pricing-by-business-type-768x427.png 768w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/seo-monthly-retainer-pricing-by-business-type-1536x855.png 1536w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/seo-monthly-retainer-pricing-by-business-type-2048x1140.png 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2300px) 100vw, 2300px\"><\/figure>\n<p>\n\n<\/p>\n<p>57.4% of SEO agencies command $1,001+\/month, compared to only 32.2% of freelancers.<\/p>\n<p>\n\n<\/p>\n<p>However, consultants earn the most, with 70.6% commanding $1,001+\/month.<\/p>\n<p>\n\n<\/p>\n<p>The most common monthly retainer range for SEO agencies is $500\u2013$1,000\/month. For consultants, it\u2019s $2,501\u2013$5,000.<\/p>\n<p>\n\n<\/p>\n<p>For freelancers, it\u2019s $251\u2013$500\/month and $101\u2013$500\/month.<\/p>\n<p>\n\n<\/p>\n<p>If we assume all surveyed SEOs charge the upper end of their pricing tier (e.g., $1,500, from $1,001\u2013$1,500), and then take the average monthly retainer rate for each subset (Agency, Freelance, Consultancy), here\u2019s what we&nbsp;get:<\/p>\n<p>\n\n<\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Agencies:<\/strong> $3,209\/month, on average.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Consultancies:<\/strong> $3,250\/month, on average.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Freelancers:<\/strong> $1,348.63\/month, on average.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>\n\n<\/p>\n<p>By these stats, the monthly retainer range charged by SEO agencies and consultants is almost double that of SEO freelancers.<\/p>\n<p>\n\n<\/p>\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Do more experienced SEOs charge a lot more per&nbsp;month?<\/h4>\n<p>\n\n<\/p>\n<p>Yes, they&nbsp;do.<\/p>\n<p>\n\n<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1328\" class=\"wp-image-151600\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/seo-monthly-retainer-rates-by-time-in-business.png\" alt=\"Survey results: SEO monthly retainer pricing (by time in business)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/seo-monthly-retainer-rates-by-time-in-business.png 1600w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/seo-monthly-retainer-rates-by-time-in-business-512x425.png 512w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/seo-monthly-retainer-rates-by-time-in-business-768x637.png 768w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/seo-monthly-retainer-rates-by-time-in-business-1536x1275.png 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\"><\/figure>\n<p>\n\n<\/p>\n<p>$1,540.52 is the average retainer rate for SEOs who have been in business for two years or&nbsp;less.<\/p>\n<p>\n\n<\/p>\n<p>This jumps to $2,023.13 for those who\u2019ve been in business for 2+ years. That\u2019s around 33% more than those who\u2019ve been in business for two years or&nbsp;less.<\/p>\n<p>\n\n<\/p>\n<p>But the big jump comes after five years in business. The average retainer for those in business for 5\u201310 years is $3,648.28\u2014more than double the rate of those in business for two years or&nbsp;less.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>\n\n<\/p>\n<p>After this, things level off somewhat. In fact, we saw a decline in earnings for those who\u2019ve been in business for 10+ years. However, this is probably due to us not having a lot of data for this subset.<\/p>\n<p>\n\n<\/p>\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Do those offering services worldwide charge more per month than those serving local markets?<\/h4>\n<p>\n\n<\/p>\n<p>Yes.<\/p>\n<p>\n\n<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1601\" height=\"1016\" class=\"wp-image-151601\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/seo-monthly-retainer-rates-local-vs-worldwide.png\" alt=\"Survey results: SEO monthly retainer pricing (local vs. worldwide)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/seo-monthly-retainer-rates-local-vs-worldwide.png 1601w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/seo-monthly-retainer-rates-local-vs-worldwide-670x425.png 670w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/seo-monthly-retainer-rates-local-vs-worldwide-260x166.png 260w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/seo-monthly-retainer-rates-local-vs-worldwide-768x487.png 768w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/seo-monthly-retainer-rates-local-vs-worldwide-1536x975.png 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1601px) 100vw, 1601px\"><\/figure>\n<p>\n\n<\/p>\n<p>Those offering their services locally charge $1,557.08\/month, on average. Whereas those serving the worldwide market earn $3,473.74\/month.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>\n\n<\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s a significant difference of 123.1%.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"post-nav-link clearfix\" id=\"section1\"><a class=\"subhead-anchor\" data-tip=\"tooltip__copielink\" rel=\"#section1\"><svg width=\"19\" height=\"19\" viewBox=\"0 0 14 14\" style><g fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\"><path d=\"M0 0h14v14H0z\" \/><path d=\"M7.45 9.887l-1.62 1.621c-.92.92-2.418.92-3.338 0a2.364 2.364 0 0 1 0-3.339l1.62-1.62-1.273-1.272-1.62 1.62a4.161 4.161 0 1 0 5.885 5.884l1.62-1.62L7.45 9.886zM5.527 5.135L7.17 3.492c.92-.92 2.418-.92 3.339 0 .92.92.92 2.418 0 3.339L8.866 8.473l1.272 1.273 1.644-1.643A4.161 4.161 0 1 0 5.897 2.22L4.254 3.863l1.272 1.272zm-.66 3.998a.749.749 0 0 1 0-1.06l2.208-2.206a.749.749 0 1 1 1.06 1.06L5.928 9.133a.75.75 0 0 1-1.061 0z\" style \/><\/g><\/svg><\/a><div class=\"link-text\" data-anchor=\"Hourly pricing\" data-section=\"hourly-rates\">\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Hourly pricing: What rates do SEOs charge?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>$75\u2013$100 per hour is the most popular hourly rate for SEOs, with 24% of respondents charging this&nbsp;rate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1448\" class=\"wp-image-151592\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/seo-hourly-pricing.png\" alt=\"Survey results: SEO hourly pricing\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/seo-hourly-pricing.png 1600w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/seo-hourly-pricing-470x425.png 470w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/seo-hourly-pricing-768x695.png 768w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/seo-hourly-pricing-1536x1390.png 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\"><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>47% of respondents charge between $75 and $200 per&nbsp;hour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>90% charge $150\/hour or less, and only 4.1% command an hourly rate of $201+.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here\u2019s a breakdown of hourly rates by region:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2300\" height=\"2828\" class=\"wp-image-151593\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/seo-hourly-rates-by-region.png\" alt=\"Survey results: SEO hourly pricing (by region)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/seo-hourly-rates-by-region.png 2300w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/seo-hourly-rates-by-region-346x425.png 346w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/seo-hourly-rates-by-region-768x944.png 768w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/seo-hourly-rates-by-region-1249x1536.png 1249w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/seo-hourly-rates-by-region-1666x2048.png 1666w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2300px) 100vw, 2300px\"><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>There is one clear outlier here:&nbsp;India.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We found 85.7% of India-based SEOs charge an hourly rate of $30 or less. The remaining 14.3% are in the $51\u2013$60 range.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"sidenote\"><div class=\"sidenote-title\">Sidenote.<\/div> We didn\u2019t have much data for some regions, so take the results with a pinch of salt. Also, the reason for grouping Germany, France, Italy, Netherlands, and Spain together is that they\u2019re the only European countries (besides the U.K.) with <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/List_of_sovereign_states_in_Europe_by_GDP_(nominal)\">a GDP of 1 trillion or more<\/a>. I thought it would be interesting to see if the numbers for those countries were different from the rest of Europe.<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Looking at U.S. and Canada data in isolation, 66.7% charge $75\u2013200\/hour\u2014over two-thirds!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Do SEO agencies charge more per hour than freelancers?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Yes.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2300\" height=\"1232\" class=\"wp-image-151594\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/seo-hourly-rates-by-business-type.png\" alt=\"Survey results: SEO hourly pricing (by business type)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/seo-hourly-rates-by-business-type.png 2300w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/seo-hourly-rates-by-business-type-680x364.png 680w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/seo-hourly-rates-by-business-type-768x411.png 768w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/seo-hourly-rates-by-business-type-1536x823.png 1536w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/seo-hourly-rates-by-business-type-2048x1097.png 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2300px) 100vw, 2300px\"><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>58.7% and 58.8% of SEO agencies and consultants respectively command $75+\/hour, compared to only 36.6% of freelancers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, the most common hourly rate for SEO agencies and freelancers is the same: $75\u2013100\/hour.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For SEO consultants, it\u2019s $100\u2013150\/hour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If we assume all surveyed SEOs charge the upper end of their pricing tier (e.g., $150, from $100\u2013$150), then take the average hourly rate for each subset (Agency, Freelance, Consultancy), here\u2019s what we&nbsp;get:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Consultancies:<\/strong> $171.18\/hour, on average.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Agencies:<\/strong> $98.90\/hour, on average.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Freelancers:<\/strong> $71.59\/hour, on average.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>By these stats, the hourly rate charged by SEO consultants is more than double that of SEO freelancers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Do more experienced SEOs earn a lot more per&nbsp;hour?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Yes, they&nbsp;do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1278\" class=\"wp-image-151595\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/seo-hourly-rates-by-time-in-business.png\" alt=\"Survey results: SEO hourly pricing (by time in business)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/seo-hourly-rates-by-time-in-business.png 1600w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/seo-hourly-rates-by-time-in-business-532x425.png 532w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/seo-hourly-rates-by-time-in-business-768x613.png 768w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/seo-hourly-rates-by-time-in-business-1536x1227.png 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\"><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>$73.05 is the average hourly rate for SEOs who have been in business for two years or&nbsp;less.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This jumps to $97.11 for those who\u2019ve been in business for 2\u20134 years, $102.03 for 5\u201310 years, and $118.35 for 10+&nbsp;years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So it seems that experience and track record play a vital role when it comes to hourly earnings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Do those offering services worldwide charge more per hour than those serving local markets?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Yes, slightly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"997\" class=\"wp-image-151596\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/seo-hourly-rates-local-vs-worldwide.png\" alt=\"Survey results: SEO hourly pricing (local vs. worldwide)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/seo-hourly-rates-local-vs-worldwide.png 1600w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/seo-hourly-rates-local-vs-worldwide-680x425.png 680w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/seo-hourly-rates-local-vs-worldwide-768x479.png 768w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/seo-hourly-rates-local-vs-worldwide-1536x957.png 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\"><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>On average, those offering their services locally earn $93.89\/hour, whereas those serving the worldwide market earn $106.69\/hour.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That\u2019s a difference of 13.6%.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<div class=\"post-nav-link clearfix\" id=\"section1\"><a class=\"subhead-anchor\" data-tip=\"tooltip__copielink\" rel=\"#section1\"><svg width=\"19\" height=\"19\" viewBox=\"0 0 14 14\" style><g fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\"><path d=\"M0 0h14v14H0z\" \/><path d=\"M7.45 9.887l-1.62 1.621c-.92.92-2.418.92-3.338 0a2.364 2.364 0 0 1 0-3.339l1.62-1.62-1.273-1.272-1.62 1.62a4.161 4.161 0 1 0 5.885 5.884l1.62-1.62L7.45 9.886zM5.527 5.135L7.17 3.492c.92-.92 2.418-.92 3.339 0 .92.92.92 2.418 0 3.339L8.866 8.473l1.272 1.273 1.644-1.643A4.161 4.161 0 1 0 5.897 2.22L4.254 3.863l1.272 1.272zm-.66 3.998a.749.749 0 0 1 0-1.06l2.208-2.206a.749.749 0 1 1 1.06 1.06L5.928 9.133a.75.75 0 0 1-1.061 0z\" style \/><\/g><\/svg><\/a><div class=\"link-text\" data-anchor=\"Per-project pricing\" data-section=\"per-project-rates\">\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Per-project pricing: How much do one-off initiatives cost?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>$2,501\u2013$5,000 is the most popular per-project fee, with 21.2% of respondents charging this&nbsp;rate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1491\" class=\"wp-image-151602\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/seo-per-project-pricing.png\" alt=\"Survey results: SEO per-project rates\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/seo-per-project-pricing.png 1600w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/seo-per-project-pricing-456x425.png 456w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/seo-per-project-pricing-768x716.png 768w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/seo-per-project-pricing-1536x1431.png 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\"><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>60.6% of respondents charge $1,001 or&nbsp;more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>50.6% charge $2,000 or less, meaning that fewer than half of respondents command per-project fees of $2,001+.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here\u2019s a breakdown of per-project rates by region:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2300\" height=\"2825\" class=\"wp-image-151603\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/seo-per-project-pricing-rates-by-region.png\" alt=\"Survey results: SEO per-project rates (by region)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/seo-per-project-pricing-rates-by-region.png 2300w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/seo-per-project-pricing-rates-by-region-346x425.png 346w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/seo-per-project-pricing-rates-by-region-768x943.png 768w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/seo-per-project-pricing-rates-by-region-1251x1536.png 1251w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/seo-per-project-pricing-rates-by-region-1667x2048.png 1667w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2300px) 100vw, 2300px\"><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Yep, you guessed it\u2014India is the outlier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>93.75% of India-based SEOs charge $1,500 or less. The remaining 6.25% charge between $2,001 and $2,500.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Looking at the U.S. and Canada in isolation, 83.3% charge at least $1,001. Some even charge as much as $50,001\u2013$75,000 per project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Do SEO agencies charge more per project than freelancers?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Yes.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2300\" height=\"1282\" class=\"wp-image-151604\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/seo-per-project-pricing-rates-by-business-type.png\" alt=\"Survey results: SEO per-project rates (by business type)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/seo-per-project-pricing-rates-by-business-type.png 2300w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/seo-per-project-pricing-rates-by-business-type-680x379.png 680w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/seo-per-project-pricing-rates-by-business-type-768x428.png 768w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/seo-per-project-pricing-rates-by-business-type-1536x856.png 1536w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/seo-per-project-pricing-rates-by-business-type-2048x1142.png 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2300px) 100vw, 2300px\"><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>73.3% of SEO agencies command $1,001+ per project, compared to only 64% of consultants and 40.68% of freelancers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The most common per-project fee for freelancers is $101\u2013$250. For SEO agencies, it\u2019s $2,501\u2013$5,000. And for consultants, it\u2019s $5,001\u2013$10,000.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If we assume all surveyed SEOs charge the upper end of their pricing tier (e.g., $1,500, from $1,001\u20131,500), and then take the average per-project rate for each subset (Agency, Freelance, Consultancy), here\u2019s what we&nbsp;get:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Agencies: <\/strong>$9,507.84\/month, on average.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Consultancies: <\/strong>$8,685.53\/month, on average.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Freelancers: <\/strong>$2,348.63\/month, on average.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>By these stats, the per-project fee charged by SEO agencies is more than 4X that of SEO freelancers, on average.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Do more experienced SEOs charge a lot more per project?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Yes, they&nbsp;do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1447\" class=\"wp-image-151605\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/seo-per-project-pricing-rates-by-time-in-business.png\" alt=\"Survey results: SEO per-project rates (by time in business)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/seo-per-project-pricing-rates-by-time-in-business.png 1600w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/seo-per-project-pricing-rates-by-time-in-business-470x425.png 470w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/seo-per-project-pricing-rates-by-time-in-business-768x695.png 768w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/seo-per-project-pricing-rates-by-time-in-business-1536x1389.png 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\"><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>$1,881.73 is the average per-project fee charged by those who\u2019ve been in business for two years or&nbsp;less.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This jumps to $2,242.71 for those who\u2019ve been in business for 2+ years and then to $9,087.31 for those who\u2019ve been in business 5\u201310&nbsp;years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Do those offering services worldwide charge more per project than those serving local markets?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Yes\u2014significantly more!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"997\" class=\"wp-image-151606\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/seo-per-project-pricing-rates-local-vs-worldwide.png\" alt=\"Survey results: SEO per-project rates (local vs. worldwide)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/seo-per-project-pricing-rates-local-vs-worldwide.png 1600w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/seo-per-project-pricing-rates-local-vs-worldwide-680x425.png 680w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/seo-per-project-pricing-rates-local-vs-worldwide-768x479.png 768w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/seo-per-project-pricing-rates-local-vs-worldwide-1536x957.png 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\"><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>On average, those offering their services locally charge $5,723.53 per project, whereas those serving the worldwide market charge $8,056.56.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That\u2019s a significant difference of 40.80%.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Final thoughts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>My hope is that this data will help SEOs to stop undercharging for their services. Yes, the economic outlook may look bleak right now, but know that SEO is a valuable skill. Don\u2019t be afraid to charge what you\u2019re worth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Got questions? Ping me <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/joshuachardwick\">on Twitter<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>SEO costs usually range from $250 to $10,000 per month, with most businesses (63%) spending between $500 and $5,000. On average, agencies charge $3,209 per month, while freelancers charge $1,348. The most common hourly rate for SEO is $100-$150, with<span class=\"ellipsis\">\u2026<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"read-more\">Read more \u203a<\/div>\n<p><!-- end of .read-more --><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":114,"featured_media":151645,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"wp_typography_post_enhancements_disabled":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[414],"tags":[],"coauthors":[336],"class_list":["post-150945","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-data-studies","odd"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>SEO Pricing: How Much Does SEO Cost? 439 People Polled<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Did you know that 78.2% charge a monthly retainer? 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