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Raise at work
Posted by on March 2, 2026 at 1:06 amI work as an SEO Consultant. I manage over 30 clients right now. Mostly legal. I get paid roughly 44k a year. 1300 per check.
Ive been seeing so many positions for way more. I also have been interviewing, but I honestly don’t want to leave my job, I just want more money. Ive been there 3 years. I got a tiny raise after my 1st year. None after.
Is asking for 50k a reasonable leap? Or too big?
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1 Reply
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What country do you live in?
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Please reach out to me if you live in the US
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Yes that’s a reasonable ask.
If you’re agency side with this pay, it’s because you’re likely junior and relatively easy to replace.
I never made more than 50k as an agency analyst.
When you have the right skills, go in-house, that’s the path to 100k+
Source: I am a marketing manager doing a lil under 140k — with decent upside to be had.
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Where do you live? (And why do you want to stay?)
I was in the same boat and ended up leaving, and honestly it was a great move. I was getting recruiter messages where I’d be offered a 20-40% (!) raise so knew I was getting massively underpaid but felt so loyal to the business and my clients.
The agency just couldn’t afford to pay me more though. Sometimes moving is the only way to boost your paycheck unfortunately.
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Way too low for 5 years of experience
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SEOs at my agency are making $70-$80k in the midwest. If you’re directly managing those clients, you’re being severely underpaid. That’s for approximately 5 years of experience.
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30 clients is kind of crazy.
Asking for more is definitely reasonable. Or go in-house. You’d make more and then only have 1 client (but lots of stakeholders).
My bar for switching is typically 30% better. That includes pay, lifestyle, growth opportunities, etc. But you can definitely find better – both in terms of pay and I’m terms of lifestyle. I’d ask for a raise, but would also look elsewhere. $44k is basically entry-level.
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DM me, I may have a remote opportunity worth pursuing.
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stuck at making decision?
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I’ve had 30 clients. Run. I’m at 95k with 1-3 clients depending on spend. Been in marketing a long time and SEO specifically a little over 4 years.
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>I work as an SEO Consultant. I manage over 30 clients right now. Mostly legal. I get paid roughly 44k a year. 1300 per check.
>Ive been seeing so many positions for way more. I also have been interviewing, but I honestly don’t want to leave my job, I just want more money. Ive been there 3 years. I got a tiny raise after my 1st year. None after.
>Is asking for 50k a reasonable leap? Or too big?
US, EU or UK?
US? You’re like earning 40% of what you should be
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You’re at a shit tier agency – you will have to leave to make more money. Their model doesn’t support paying employees decently – they have lots of clients which pay very little, then they make you manage tons of them.
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Managing over 30 clients sounds like a lot. I know some agencies pay based on retention so I’m not sure if that is factored in. Either way, I would say you are definitely making less than average in Ohio. I’d tell you to apply at my agency but we probably won’t be hiring again for a few months.
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What does an SEO consultant do? Is it worth more than 44k a year?
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44k is working at the grocery store money in the USA these days. You should be making 65-70 at minimum with the duties you’ve outlined. Get that resume spruced up pal
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