# Search Marketing Strategists

> Employ search marketing tactics to increase visibility and engagement with content, products, or services in Internet-enabled devices or interfaces. Examine search query behaviors on general or specialty search engines or other Internet-based content. Analyze research, data, or technology to understand user intent and measure outcomes for ongoing optimization.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/search-marketing-strategists
- SOC code: 13-1161.01
- Career family: Business and finance
- Median annual pay: $78,760 (10th percentile $43,390, 90th percentile $155,480)
- Projected growth: Faster than average, +7.0%
- Openings a year: 82,000
- Typical entry education: Bachelor's degree
- Bright outlook: yes
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections
- Pay and outlook are for the broader BLS group "Market research analysts and marketing specialists".

## Interest profile (code ECI)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 0 |
| Investigative (I) | 46 |
| Artistic (A) | 37 |
| Social (S) | 29 |
| Enterprising (E) | 76 |
| Conventional (C) | 61 |

## What you'd do

- Working with Computers (importance 96/100)
- Analyzing Data or Information (importance 91/100)
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge (importance 91/100)
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 90/100)
- Getting Information (importance 87/100)
- Processing Information (importance 87/100)
- Developing Objectives and Strategies (importance 86/100)
- Thinking Creatively (importance 84/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 83/100)
- Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others (importance 81/100)

## Skills

Complex Problem Solving, Reading Comprehension, Active Learning, Active Listening, Critical Thinking, Judgment and Decision Making, Speaking, Writing, Monitoring, Systems Analysis

## Knowledge

Sales and Marketing, Computers and Electronics, English Language, Communications and Media, Mathematics, Customer and Personal Service, Administrative, Psychology, Administration and Management, Education and Training

## Also called

Customer Experience Strategist, Digital Marketer, Digital Marketing Strategist, Digital Media Planner, Digital Strategist, E-commerce Strategist, Electronic Commerce Specialist (E-Commerce Specialist), Experience Planning Strategist, Experience Strategist, HTML Developer (HyperText Markup Language Developer)

## Majors that lead here (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, 4-digit CIP)

- [Marketing](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/5214) (CIP 5214, 1,126 colleges)
- [Economics](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/4506) (CIP 4506, 925 colleges)
- [Data Analytics](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/3071) (CIP 3071, 366 colleges)
- [Specialized Sales, Merchandising and  Marketing Operations](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/5219) (CIP 5219, 189 colleges)
- [Apparel and Textiles](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1909) (CIP 1909, 135 colleges)
- Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences Business Services (CIP 1902, 29 colleges)

## Colleges with strong outcomes (College Scorecard, 2025)

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [Williams College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/williams-college-3281) | Economics | $105,744 | $166,678 | $9,750 |
| [Duke University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/duke-university-837) | Economics | $124,433 | $161,149 | $13,000 |
| [Princeton University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/princeton-university-2154) | Economics | $108,471 | $160,763 | not reported |
| [University of Chicago](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-chicago-2895) | Economics | $98,564 | $159,578 | $12,500 |
| [Harvard University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/harvard-university-1157) | Economics | $120,683 | $155,592 | $14,000 |
| [Dartmouth College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/dartmouth-college-769) | Economics | $115,308 | $152,929 | $14,833 |
| [Claremont McKenna College CMC](https://www.collegesref.com/college/claremont-mckenna-college-cmc-557) | Economics | $99,125 | $146,524 | $11,750 |
| [Carnegie Mellon University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/carnegie-mellon-university-406) | Economics | $98,098 | $144,886 | $19,000 |

## Related careers

- [Web and Digital Interface Designers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/web-and-digital-interface-designers): $104,000 median pay
- [Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/market-research-analysts-and-marketing-specialists): $78,760 median pay
- [Marketing Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/marketing-managers): $166,790 median pay
- [Advertising and Promotions Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/advertising-and-promotions-managers): $133,660 median pay
- [Web Administrators](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/web-administrators): $116,580 median pay
- [Web Developers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/web-developers): $92,650 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.