Top Cities for SEO Classes & Training

Students interested in learning SEO at a dedicated training facility will find that almost all of their options are located in major metropolitan areas. Since this is also where many of the highest-paying jobs are located, it makes sense that students looking for a career change may want to consider looking at the kinds of cities that offer the most robust training options for aspiring SEO Specialists and Digital Marketers.

What is SEO?

Search engine optimization (SEO), is a way to increase website traffic and sales. SEO depends upon content, technical website optimization, link building, and keyword research to improve ranking on a Google results page. Professionals who work with SEO are called Website Optimization Specialists. One of the keys to SEO is building trust between your business and your user through high-quality content, making sure your website loads quickly, is easy to navigate and is optimized for new developments like voice search. 

Read more about what SEO is and why you should learn it. 

What Can You Do with SEO Skills?

SEO is used to determine search engine success in three important ways: technical SEO, on-page SEO, and off-page SEO. Technical SEO looks at the technical features of a website and how they affect search engine rankings. On-Page SEO means meeting the user’s needs with high-quality content. Off-page SEO involves building links and strengthening social media engagement. Additionally, building out social media presence across a variety of channels will further establish your internet presence and boost your SEO, and you can use different analytical tools to track SEO and conversion rates.

New York, NY

New York City is one of the top cities for digital marketing and SEO in the United States. The variety is wide, from tech businesses like SimpleReach, Squarespace, and Slack, to more traditional companies like Citigroup, American Express, and Time Warner. New York is also home to many arts and cultural organizations that also provide digital marketing opportunities. New York ranks first in the US in the number of people employed as Digital Marketers. The cost of living is high in New York, along with salaries. SEO Specialists in New York City earn an average annual salary of $76,000. 

New York is also a great place to find technology training courses if you want to learn SEO to change to a new career. New York-based company Noble Desktop offers in-person and live online training classes. Noble also created the Classes Near Me Tool to help people find training in skills like SEO closer to home.

Chicago, IL

Chicago has the second-highest number of digital marketing jobs in the US. Companies like Pangea Money Transfer, McDonald’s Global Technology, and Discover are based in Chicago. Public transit by bus or train is affordable and usually on time. Chicago is famous for jazz, great restaurants, and wonderful museums, but life on the lake can be cold and snowy. The average base salary for SEO Specialists in Chicago is $51,000 a year.

If you want to change to a career in digital marketing, you can find classes in SEO in your area here. Ledet Training, CTS Training, and Ascend Training all offer in-person classes in SEO in Chicago.

Los Angeles, CA

Los Angeles is home to many tech and financial companies, but there are also many jobs in digital marketing in the entertainment industry. Although Los Angeles has a high cost of living and a perennial traffic problem, it’s a good city for people who like warm, sunny weather and proximity to beaches. The annual average base salary for SEO Specialists in Los Angeles is $57,000.

If you are interested in in-person classes in SEO in Los Angeles, you can find them at Ledet Training, headTrix, Inc., and AcademyX.

Boston, MA

Not only is Boston a great city for people who love history, but it’s a good place to find a job as a Digital Marketer or SEO Specialist. Companies like Leyton, Sophia Genetics, and Stavvy are based in the area, as is Harvard University. The winter can be challenging, but the autumn leaves are amazing. The annual average base salary for SEO Specialists is $58,000. 

You can find in-person SEO classes in Boston at Ledet Training. Other programs offer live online training that you can access from anywhere if you want to learn SEO to change to a new career.

San Francisco, CA

San Francisco and nearby Silicon Valley are home to the tech industry, with companies like Apple, Google, and Meta based there. There are also digital marketing jobs with financial firms, healthcare groups, and cultural organizations. San Francisco is a tech-friendly city with a young population and is a good place for people to start tech-related careers. SEO Specialists in San Francisco earn an average yearly base salary of $75,000. 

You can sign up for in-person SEO training at AcademyX in San Francisco. Live online SEO classes are also available in San Francisco for people who want to change to a career in digital marketing. 

Houston, TX

Houston has a growing tech sector with companies like healthcare information analytics firm Optum, real estate technology company Entera, and financial services corporation Discover, and it offers more digital marketing opportunities every year. Some advantages of living in Houston are a low cost of living, affordable housing, and no state income tax. If you like hot weather, this could be a good place for you. SEO Specialists in Houston earn an average yearly base salary of $52,000.

Ledet Training and Bauer College of Business both offer in-person SEO classes in Houston.

Dallas, TX

Dallas is another growing market for people looking for SEO jobs. Some local tech companies include Origami Risk, Traffic Tech, Octane, and Boxed. Many people are moving to Dallas, especially young professionals and families, because it is considered one of the safest cities in the US. The weather is hot and humid, with mild winters. SEO Specialists in Dallas earn about the same as those in Houston.

If you are planning to change careers and looking to learn SEO, you can find a hybrid class at Certstaffix Training with a remote instructor and students in a local computer lab.

Atlanta, GA

Atlanta continues to grow in today’s software and tech markets. Atlanta is home to AptAmigo, Convoy, Mailchimp, Global Payments, and iMedX. The city is also a popular filmmaking and music production hub. Culturally diverse with mild winters, Atlanta is attracting many young professionals. SEO Specialists earn an annual average salary of $51,000 in Atlanta.

If you are looking for in-person SEO classes in Atlanta, Ledet Training and Emory Continuing Education, both offer courses.

Washington, DC

While Washington, D.C., is known as the seat of the US federal government, the city also has many tech companies, including Cavnue, Chainalysis, and Digital Turbine. There is also a lot to see in Washington, like historic buildings, great restaurants, and museums. SEO Specialists in the DC area earn a yearly average salary of $66,000. 

If you are planning to switch to a career in digital marketing and are looking for classes on SEO, you can take in-person classes from Ledet Training and hybrid classes from Certstaffix.

Seattle, WA

Seattle is a well-known tech hub and the home of companies like Amazon, Tableau, and Highspot, with Microsoft in nearby Bellingham. Seattle has a high cost of living and a shortage of affordable housing, but the scenery can’t be topped, and the area offers great hiking, windsurfing, and bike trails. SEO Specialists in Seattle earn an average of $74,000 a year.

If you are looking for SEO training classes in Seattle, you can take a hybrid course through Certstaffix Training, offering a remote instructor with students in a local computer lab.

Learn SEO Skills Online

If you can’t find any in-person classes in your city or if you prefer the convenience of live online instruction, you can find that, too. Live online courses usually run in conjunction with an in-person class in another city, with an instructor and students in a computer classroom, some students joining through a video conferencing platform like Zoom. Online students have the opportunity to interact with the instructor and other students and ask questions or get help with assignments. To find out more about live online SEO courses, check out your options with Noble’s “Classes Near Me Tool."

Learn SEO Skills with Noble Desktop

To change careers and become a Web Optimization/SEO Specialist, sign up for one of Noble Desktop’s bootcamp or certificate courses. SEO Bootcamp will teach you SEO strategies to get your website to the top of the page. In Google Analytics Bootcamp, learn how to set up an account, know which metrics to track, and understand the Google Analytics reports. Noble’s Digital Marketing Certificate includes digital marketing, SEO, and Google Analytics bootcamps, plus Google Ads and social media and content marketing classes. Use Noble Desktop’s Classes Near Me to find other courses in digital marketing in your area.