The AI Search Hiring Report
Updated 2026-08-17. What 48 companies are paying for answer engine optimization, GEO and AI search work, calculated from every open role on this board: 60 hand-reviewed listings, refreshed weekly.
- Median published range: $100,000 to $150,000 (n=17)
- 27% of listings publish a salary
- Remote: 21 roles (35%)
- Hybrid: 24 roles (40%)
- On-site: 15 roles (25%)
Pay by seniority
| Director & above | $157,500 median midpoint | $95,000 – $190,000 | n=3 |
| Lead, principal & senior | $169,500 median midpoint | $76,000 – $209,000 | n=4 |
| Manager | $92,500 median midpoint | $70,000 – $174,000 | n=7 |
Where the roles are
- New York: 20 roles
- San Francisco Bay Area: 7 roles
- London: 5 roles
- Chicago: 2 roles
- Austin: 2 roles
- Seattle: 1 roles
- Boston: 1 roles
Seniority mix
- Director & above: 13
- Lead, principal & senior: 16
- Manager: 16
- Specialist & associate: 3
- Other: 12
Highest published ranges
- Lead Product Manager, Organic & AI Discovery — A Place for Mom: $165,000 – $195,000
- Principal Growth Manager - SEO/AEO — Achieve: $140,000 – $200,000
- Sr. Manager, SEO, AEO, GEO — Chamberlain Group: $129,000 – $209,000
- VP, AI/SEO Content Optimization Strategy — JPMorgan Chase: $133,000 – $190,000
- VP/Director, Search & AI Visibility — Sosemo: $140,000 – $175,000
- AI Search & SEO Manager — Vagaro: $140,000 – $174,000
What employers ask for
- AI Search: 50 roles (83%)
- AEO: 46 roles (77%)
- SEO: 45 roles (75%)
- GEO: 38 roles (63%)
- AI: 1 roles (2%)
- Web: 1 roles (2%)
Frequently asked
Where does this data come from?
Role counts, locations and work models describe the 60 roles open right now, each reviewed by hand. Salary statistics pool every listing this board has carried, open or closed, that published an annual USD range: 17 of 68. Nothing is estimated or modelled.
How often is it updated?
The page is regenerated from the live board every week, so the numbers move with the market rather than freezing at publication.
Can I cite these numbers?
Yes. Please link to this page as the source.