Professional SEO in the USA generally runs $1,500 to $10,000 monthly for retainer services, with the sweet spot around $2,500–$5,000 for mid-market companies working with competent agencies. Hourly consulting sits between $100–$300, and one-time projects range from $5,000 for a technical audit to $30,000+ for complete site migrations or extensive content overhauls. The wide range reflects what you're actually buying. A $1,500 package usually covers basic on-page optimization and maybe 2–4 pieces of content monthly. At $5,000, expect comprehensive technical work, competitor analysis, link acquisition, and 8–12 content pieces. Above $10,000 monthly, you're typically looking at enterprise-scale operations with dedicated teams, custom tooling, or highly competitive national keywords. Geography matters less than you'd think for remote work, but US-based agencies often charge 20–40% more than comparable Canadian or offshore providers because of higher operating costs. The tradeoff is timezone alignment, cultural fluency, and sometimes faster communication. At Ottawa SEO, we compete in US markets at Canadian rates, which gives our clients a cost advantage without sacrificing quality or accessibility. Avoid anyone promising page-one rankings for $500 monthly. That price point doesn't cover the labor for legitimate link acquisition, content production, or technical maintenance. You'll get templated reports and minimal actual work. Also watch out for long-term contracts with no performance clauses. Reputable agencies work month-to-month or quarterly after an initial onboarding period. Project-based pricing makes sense for defined deliverables like site audits ($2,000–$8,000), migration support ($10,000–$25,000), or penalty recovery ($5,000–$15,000). Monthly retainers suit ongoing competitive niches where you need sustained effort on content, links, and technical refinements. For local businesses targeting a single metro area, $1,500–$3,000 monthly often suffices. National or e-commerce plays defending against well-funded competitors typically require $5,000+ to move the needle consistently.