The Search Engine Marketing Professional Organization (SEMPO), http://www.sempo.org/, today announced top line findings from its first-ever survey of in-house SEM job salary compensation. I had a chance to chat with Duane Forrester, co-chair of SEMPO's in house committee, about the findings from the survey.


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A cross section of global entry level, mid and upper level, in-house managers and in-house analysts completed the online survey during the fall of 2007. There were 656 completed surveys, a strong market response to this inaugural project.  The survey was open to all in-house SEM professionals - working in organic or paid search. SEMPO membership was not a requirement to take the survey.

Below are the questions I posed to Duane Forrester:

• What was the motivation behind doing the survey?
  
• Can you talk a little bit about the demographics of the survey: experience, position etc...
  
• Were you surprised to see individuals are already measuring budgets of over $200,000 monthly?
  
• Do you have any thoughts on what you see in future trends in-terms of in house SEO - specifically regarding salaries and the amount of companies bringing SEO in house?
  
• What is the likelihood of a person being able to get a 6 figure job in Search Marketing?