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    HR Remuneration & Payroll

    Annual Ad Talent Salary Survey

    25 Jan 2023
    25 Jan 2023
    Ad Talent has released its latest salary survey following a year which has seen remote working, shifting work hours and the bid for scarce skills greatly impact remuneration structures.
    Image source: Denis Ismagilov –
    Image source: Denis Ismagilov – 123RF.com

    Among the observations, Brenda Bensted-Smith, owner of Ad Talent says, "We have seen more digital, more tech, more remote working, more contract employment and more global engagement."

    Key observations:

    • There was not much movement with regards to salary in 2022, except in tech and senior creative positions
    • There was a seismic shift in employer, employee relationships and working environments
    • In line with our 2021 survey, there is a continuing trend towards hiring on freelance, contract or short-term permanent basis with employers justifying this strategy by saying they are only dealing with tangible business in front of them
    • Hiring on contract with a view to go permanent is a common brief for us
    • Job descriptions became more blurred with hybrid skills high on the list of 'must haves' in the brief to us
    • Employers are demanding more work for the same pay. This doesn’t reflect in our survey as salary categories are quite binary and categorised into specific job descriptions
    • Despite the increase in opportunities in Cape Town and an increase in remote working the remuneration gap between Johannesburg and Cape Town is still evident
    • Remuneration in the tech space between the Johannesburg and Cape Town has closed and we have seen no difference between the two cities in most tech categories
    • We noticed an increase of approximately 10% in senior creatives
    • The difference between Johannesburg and Cape Town at junior to mid-level is significant at up to 20% in some categories
    • The “Events” category makes a comeback this year after missing the last two years because of Covid
    • Skilled candidates remain in high demand and their demands have shifted from strong financial rewards to flexibility around working hours and remote working. Lifestyle is a key factor for many when deciding to advance their careers
    • Sought-after skills such as social media and tech roles are well rewarded
    • Many candidates say they have taken on side hustles to make ends meet
    • The global workspace is open for South Africans and there are increasing opportunities for local talent to play on the world stage
    • The financial impact of Covid is still very evident and both employers and candidates are wary of risk
    • We have seen more counter-offers from employers upon resignation in 2022 than in any other year. Most counter-offers arise when employees resign because they want flexible work from home arrangements which the employer then grants
    • Skilled candidates are in demand and they know it!

    Survey parameters

    This survey was compiled:

    • using figures of actual placements made by Ad Talent
    • using figures from salary information obtained from all candidates interviewed by Ad Talent from January 2022 to December 2022
    • using figures from salary information obtained from candidates who have submitted their CVs to Ad Talent
    • using cost to company (CTC) figures
    • using the average salaries per sector

    Interpretation:

    • Salaries vary significantly depending on many factors, including size of the company, desirability to work for a particular company and status
    • Salaries for media sales roles vary significantly depending on the commission structure / incentives
    • 0-2 years (light) means 0 to 2 years experience in that particular position and NOT 0 to 2 years total working experience
    • The same applies for medium and heavy weight. It is experience in the particular position and NOT total working experience
    • This survey is not intended to be prescriptive, but is a report on what Ad Talent, (not the entire industry) has experienced in the past 12 months

    Advertising
    0-2 yrs (light)2 – 5 yrs (medium)5 – 9 yrs (heavyweight)
    Managing Director
    JohannesburgR90 000 – R100 000R100 000 – R150 000R150 000+
    Cape TownR75 000 – R90 000R90 000 – R130 000R130 000+
    Deputy MD
    JohannesburgR85 000 – R94 000R94 000 – R100 000R100 000+
    Cape TownR75 000 – R84 000R84 000 – R93 000R93 000+
    Client Service/Business Unit Director
    JohannesburgR56 000 – R60 000R60 000 – R66 000R66 000+
    Cape TownR48 000 – R55 000R55 000 – R60 000R60 000+
    Group Account Director
    JohannesburgR49 000 – R54 000R54 000 – R60 000R60 000+
    Cape TownR45 000 – R50 000R50 000 – R55 000R55 000+
    Account Director
    JohannesburgR36 000 – R41 000R41 000 – R50 000N/A
    Cape TownR35 000 – R40 000R40 000 – R46 000N/A
    Account Manager
    JohannesburgR24 000 – R27 000R27 000 – R36 000N/A
    Cape TownR18 000 – R20 000R20 000 – R30 000N/A
    Account Executive
    JohannesburgR15 000 – R18 000R18 000 – R21 000N/A
    Cape TownR12 000 – R15 000R15 000 – R17 000N/A
    Project Manager
    JohannesburgR27 000 – R40 000R40 000 – R45 000R45 000+
    Cape TownR23 000 – R30 000R30 000 – R40 000R40 000+
    Operations
    JohannesburgR49 000 – R60 000R60 000 – R80 000R80 000+
    Cape TownR45 000 – R57 000R57 000 – R70 000R70 000+
    Production
    JohannesburgR14 000 – R22 000R22 000 – R40 000R40 000+
    Cape TownR12 000 – R20 000R20 000 – R35 000R35 000+
    Traffic
    JohannesburgR15 000 – R20 000R20 000 – R37 000R37 000+
    Cape TownR15 000 – R17 000R17 000 – R35 000R35 000+
    Strategic Planning Director
    JohannesburgR63 000 – R70 000R70 000 – R89 000R89 000+
    Cape TownR55 000 – R68 000R68 000 – R85 000R85 000+
    Strategic Planner
    JohannesburgR18 000 – R30 000R30 000 – R47 000R47 000+
    Cape TownR15 000 – R25 000R25 000 – R40 000R40 000+

    Digital
    0-2 yrs (light)2 – 5 yrs (medium)5 – 9 yrs (heavyweight)
    Digital Strategist
    JohannesburgR20 000 – R34 000R34 000 – R50 000R50 000+
    Cape TownR20 000 – R30 000R30 000 – R50 000R50 000+
    Social Media Manager
    JohannesburgR22 000 – R30 000R30 000 – R45 000R45 000+
    Cape TownR17 000 – R20 000R20 000 – R30 000R30 000+
    Head of Social Media
    JohannesburgR40 000 – R47 000R47 000 – R65 000R65 000+
    Cape TownR38 000 – R45 000R45 000 – R60 000R60 000+
    Social Media Community Manager
    JohannesburgR15 000 – R22 000R22 000 – R38 000N/A
    Cape TownR15 000 – R18 000R18 000 – R30 000N/A
    Influencer
    JohannesburgR15 000 – R28 000R28 000 – R40 000R40 000+
    Cape TownR12 000 – R28 000R28 000 – R40 000R40 000+
    Campaign Manager
    JohannesburgR21 000 – R32 000R32 000 – R40 000R40 000+
    Cape TownR20 000 – R28 000R28 000 – R35 000R35 000+
    Content Manager
    JohannesburgR20 000 – R38 000R38 000 – R40 000R40 000+
    Cape TownR15 000 – R25 000R25 000 – R38 000R35 000+
    Digital Account Executive
    JohannesburgR17 000 – R20 000R20 000 – R23 000N/A
    Cape TownR14 000 – R18 000R18 000 – R20 000N/A
    Digital Account Manager
    JohannesburgR26 500 – R30 000R30 000 – R40 000N/A
    Cape TownR20 000 – R25 000R25 000 – R35 000N/A
    Digital Account Director
    JohannesburgR40 000 – R45 000R45 000 – R50 000N/A
    Cape TownR37 000 – R42 000R42 000 – R48 000N/A
    Digital Group Account Director
    JohannesburgR52 000 – R56 000R56 000 – R62 000R62 000+
    Cape TownR47 000 – R52 000R52 000 – R58 000R58 000+
    SEO Specialist
    JohannesburgR20 000 – R28 000R28 000 – R38 000R38 000+
    Cape TownR18 000 – R25 000R25 000 – R30 000R30 000+
    PPC Specialist / Manager
    JohannesburgR20 000 – R23 000R23 000 – R35 000R35 000+
    Cape TownR15 000 – R20 000R20 000 – R30 000R30 000+
    Data Insights Specialist
    JohannesburgR25 000 – R35 000R35 000 – R50 000R50 000+
    Cape TownR25 000 – R35 000R35 000 – R50 000R50 000+
    Head of Data Insights and Analytics
    JohannesburgR50 000 – R80 000R80 000 – R120 000R120 000+
    Cape TownR50 000 – R80 000R80 000 – R120 000R120 000+
    Digital / Media / Marketing Analyst
    JohannesburgR20 000 – R30 000R30 000 – R40 000R40 000+
    Cape TownR18 000 – R25 000R25 000 – R38 000R38 000+

    Creative
    0-2 yrs (light)2 – 5 yrs (medium)5 – 9 yrs (heavyweight)
    Chief Creative Officer
    JohannesburgN/AN/AR150 000+
    Cape TownN/AN/AR135 000+
    Group/Executive Creative Director
    JohannesburgN/AN/AR120 000+
    Cape TownN/AN/AR105 000+
    Creative Director
    JohannesburgR52 000 – R68 000R68 000 – R95 000R95 000+
    Cape TownR40 000 – R48 000R48 000 – R90 000R90 000+
    Head of Design
    JohannesburgR38 000 – R52 000R52 000 – R62 000R62 000+
    Cape TownR35 000 – R40 000R40 000 – R55 000R55 000+
    Designer
    JohannesburgR10 000 – R18 000R18 000 – R45 000R45 000+
    Cape TownR10 000 – R17 000R17 000 – R40 000R40 000+
    Creative Group Head
    JohannesburgR38 000 – R45 000R45 000 – R55 000R55 000+
    Cape TownR30 000 – R40 000R40 000 – R50 000R50 000+
    Art Director
    JohannesburgR12 000 – R18 000R18 000 – R38 000R38 000 – R65 000
    Cape TownR10 000 – R18 000R18 000 – R35 000R35 000 – R50 000
    Copywriter
    JohannesburgR11 000 – R18 000R18 000 – R45 000R45 000 – R70 000
    Cape TownR10 000 – R17 000R17 000 – R38 000R38 000 – R60 000
    Proofreader
    JohannesburgR15 000 – R20 000R20 000 – R30 000R30 000 – R47 000
    Cape TownR10 000 – R15 000R15 000 – R25 000R25 000 – R40 000
    Creative Strategist
    JohannesburgN/AR23 000 – R38 000R38 000 – R50 000
    Cape TownN/AR20 000 – R35 000R35 000 – R45 000
    Studio Manager
    JohannesburgR33 000 – R36 000R36 000 – R42 000R42 000 – R55 000
    Cape TownR28 000 – R35 000R35 000 – R40 000R40 000 – R50 000
    DTP Operator
    JohannesburgR9 500 – R16 000R16 000 – R25 000R25 000 – R40 000
    Cape TownR8 000 – R15 000R15 000 – R24 000R24 000 – R36 000
    Promo Director/Producer
    JohannesburgR20 000 – R25 000R25 000 – R45 000R45 000 – R58 000
    Cape TownR15 000 – R20 000R20 000 – R35 000R35 000 – R40 000
    Animator
    JohannesburgR14 000 – R18 000R18 000 – R35 000R35 000 – R57 000
    Cape TownR12 000 – R16 000R16 000 – R26 000R26 000 – R45 000
    Video Editor
    JohannesburgR10 000 – R17 000R17 000 – R30 000R30 000 – R48 000
    Cape TownR10 000 – R15 000R15 000 – R25 000R25 000 – R40 000
    Multimedia Designer
    JohannesburgR13 000 – R20 000R20 000 – R38 000R38 000 – R52 000
    Cape TownR13 000 – R16 000R16 000 – R30 000R30 000 – R45 000
    User Experience (UX) Lead
    JohannesburgN/AN/AR78 000+
    Cape TownN/AN/AR65 000+
    User Experience (UX) Designers
    JohannesburgR18 000 – R27 000R27 000 – R48 000R48 000+
    Cape TownR15 000 – R20 000R20 000 – R40 000R40 000+
    User Experience (UI) Designers
    JohannesburgR19 000 – R28 000R28 000 – R44 000R44 000+
    Cape TownR17 000 – R22 000R22 000 – R35 000R35 000+
    Motion Designer
    JohannesburgR20 000 – R38 000R38 000 – R45 000R45 000+
    Cape TownR18 000 – R35 000R35 000 – R42 000R42 000+

    IT / Tech
    0-2 yrs (light)2 – 5 yrs (medium)5 – 9 yrs (heavyweight)
    Front-end Developer
    JohannesburgR25 000 – R35 000R35 000 – R59 000R59 000+
    Cape TownR25 000 – R35 000R35 000 – R59 000R59 000+
    Back-end Developer
    JohannesburgR28 000 – R50 000R50 000 – R70 000R70 000+
    Cape TownR28 000 – R50 000R50 000 – R70 000R70 000+
    Full-stack Developer
    JohannesburgR28 000 – R45 000R45 000 – R60 000R60 000+
    Cape TownR28 000 – R45 000R45 000 – R60 000R60 000+
    Web Engineer
    JohannesburgR36 000 – R50 000R50 000 – R90 000R90 000+
    Cape TownR36 000 – R50 000R50 000 – R90 000R90 000+
    Java Developer
    JohannesburgR25 000 – R35 000R35 000 – R70 000R70 000+
    Cape TownR25 000 – R35 000R35 000 – R70 000R70 000+
    Scrum Masters
    JohannesburgR24 000 – R34 000R34 000 – R55 000R55 000+
    Cape TownR24 000 – R34 000R34 000 – R55 000R55 000+
    IT Manager
    JohannesburgR25 000 – R35 000R35 000 – R55 000R55 000+
    Cape TownR25 000 – R38 000R38 000 – R58 000R58 000+
    Solutions Architect
    JohannesburgR35 000 – R45 000R45 000 – R70 000R70 000+
    Cape TownR35 000 – R45 000R45 000 – R65 000R65 000+

    Marketing
    0-2 yrs (light)2 – 5 yrs (medium)5 – 9 yrs (heavyweight)
    Head of Digital Marketing
    JohannesburgR45 000 – R60 000R60 000 – R80 000R80 000+
    Cape TownR40 000 – R55 000R55 000 – R75 000R75 000+
    Digital Marketing Manager
    JohannesburgR35 000 – R48 000R48 000 – R60 000R60 000+
    Cape TownR32 000 – R45 000R45 000 – R55 000R55 000+
    Group Marketing Head
    JohannesburgR79 000 – R86 000R86 000 – R145 000R145 000+
    Cape TownR64 000 – R77 000R77 000 – R135 000R135 000+
    Marketing Director
    JohannesburgR58 000 – R72 000R72 000 – R88 000R88 000+
    Cape TownR54 000 – R70 000R70 000 – R80 000R80 000+
    Marketing Manager
    JohannesburgR55 000 – R60 000R60 000 – R80 000R80 000+
    Cape TownR52 000 – R55 000R55 000 – R70 000R70 000+
    Brand Manager
    JohannesburgR35 000 – R50 000R50 000 – R70 000R70 000+
    Cape TownR30 000 – R45 000R45 000 – R60 000R60 000+
    E-Commerce Manager
    JohannesburgR30 000 – R40 000R40 000 – R60 000R60 000+
    Cape TownR30 000 – R38 000R38 000 – R55 000R55 000+
    Brand/Marketing Assistant
    JohannesburgR15 000 – R25 000R25 000 – R35 000N/A
    Cape TownR15 000 – R20 000R20 000 – R32 000N/A
    Martech (Marketing Technology Specialist)
    JohannesburgR38 000 – R52 000R52 000 – R65 000R65 000+
    Cape TownR35 000 – R45 000R45 000 – R60 000R60 000+
    Loyalty/CRM Manager
    JohannesburgR25 000 – R45 000R45 000 – R55 000R55 000+
    Cape TownR25 000 – R45 000R45 000 – R55 000R55 000+

    Corporate Communications
    0-2 yrs (light)2 – 5 yrs (medium)5 – 9 yrs (heavyweight)
    Communications Director
    JohannesburgR37 000 – R55 000R55 000 – R75 000R75 000 – R130 000
    Cape TownR32 000 – R42 000R42 000 – R62 000R62 000 – R100 000
    Communications Manager
    JohannesburgR30 000 – R40 000R40 000 – R68 000R68 000 – R90 000
    Cape TownR25 000 – R42 000R42 000 – R47 000R47 000 – R75 000
    Communications Officer/Consultant
    JohannesburgR20 000 – R30 000R30 000 – R40 000R40 000 – R45 000
    Cape TownR18 000 – R26 000R26 000 – R35 000R35 000 – R41 000
    Internal Communications Manager
    JohannesburgR27 000 – R35 000R35 000 – R48 000R48 000 – R78 000
    Cape TownR25 000 – R30 000R30 000 – R45 000R45 000 – R60 000

    PR Consultancies
    0-2 yrs (light)2 – 5 yrs (medium)5 – 9 yrs (heavyweight)
    Managing Director
    JohannesburgR65 000 – R80 000R80 000 – R100 000R100 000+
    Cape TownR60 000 – R70 000R70 000 – R90 000R90 000+
    Account Director
    JohannesburgR38 000 – R45 000R45 000 – R58 000R58 000+
    Cape TownR35 000 – R42 000R42 000 – R50 000R50 000 +
    Account Manager
    JohannesburgR28 000 – R35 000R35 000 – R40 000R40 000+
    Cape TownR28 000 – R33 000R33 000 – R38 000R38 000+
    Account Executive
    JohannesburgR22 000 – R26 000R26 000 – R28 000N/A
    Cape TownR19 000 – R25 000R25 000 – R28 000N/A

    Media
    0-2 yrs (light)2 – 5 yrs (medium)5 – 9 yrs (heavyweight)
    Media Sales Director
    JohannesburgR40 000 – R50 000R50 000 – R70 000R70 000+
    Cape TownR38 000 – R48 000R48 000 – R65 000R65 000+
    Media Sales Executive
    JohannesburgR25 000 – R30 000R30 000 – R40 000R40 000+
    Cape TownR20 000 – R28 000R28 000 – R38 000R38 000+
    Digital Sales Executive
    JohannesburgR27 000 – R35 000R35 000 – R45 000R45 000+
    Cape TownR25 000 – R30 000R30 000 – R42 000R42 000+
    Events Manager
    JohannesburgR15 000 – R25 000R25 000 – R45 000R45 000+
    Cape TownR12 000 – R20 000R20 000 – R40 000R40 000+

    Read more: salary survey, Ad Talent, salary survey results, Ad Talent Salary Survey, Ad Talent Survey, scarce skill
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