Side-by-side distribution
Content Marketing
$133,016
median · per year, annualized USD
- Disclosing
- 39.9%
- Live roles
- 228
SEM
$95,250
median · per year, annualized USD
- Disclosing
- 37.4%
- Live roles
- 131
Highest-paying jobs
Principal Clinical Content- Physician (Clinical AI Strategist - UpToDate®) - Partnerships
Senior Marketing Manager, Content Excellence Engagement
Senior Marketing Manager, Content Excellence Execution
Content Strategist, Product
Senior Content Marketing Manager, Storytelling
Content Marketing Manager
Content Marketing Manager
Content Marketing Manager - Growth Marketing
Senior Manager, Sales Content Strategy, Ads Marketing
Sr. Content Marketing Manager
Highest-paying jobs
Senior Manager, Paid Search
Growth Marketing Manager, Web & Search
Principal Growth Marketing Manager - SEO/GEO
Global Paid Search Marketing Manager
Senior Digital Marketing Manager, Paid Search
Sr. Manager, Paid Search (SEM)
Senior Paid Search Manager (SEM)
SEM Manager
Paid Search Performance Marketing Manager
Manager of Marketing, Paid Search
Verkada
Legora AB
iCapital
Abbott
AeroVect
Top companies hiring
| Company | Median | Roles |
|---|---|---|
Monks
|
$75,000 | 7 |
Wpromote
|
$82,000 | 3 |
|
Ovative Group
|
$130,500 | 2 |
Omnicom Media
|
$92,500 | 2 |
| ZG Zeta Global | $85,000 | 2 |
Intellibright
|
$82,500 | 2 |
Pearmill
|
$76,250 | 2 |
Pavago
|
$30,000 | 2 |
SEM salary by location
| Location | Median | Roles |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco | $166,500 | 3 |
| New York | $105,500 | 12 |
| Chicago | $103,500 | 6 |
| Boston | $101,750 | 3 |
| Toronto | $72,593 | 3 |
Content Marketing vs SEM: which pays more?
The median for Content Marketing is $133,016 per year (typically $103,350–$165,000), versus $95,250 for SEM ($74,650–$117,888). That puts Content Marketing about 40% ahead at the median.
Both figures are computed live from active listings on JobsRadar and normalized to annualized USD, so Content Marketing and SEM are compared on equal terms regardless of the currency each role was originally posted in. Only roles that publish a salary range feed the medians; numbers refresh every few hours as new roles post and older ones close, so this comparison reflects the market right now rather than a fixed survey. Use it as a directional benchmark when weighing one path against the other.