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    2022 Ad Talent Salary Survey: What are you worth?

    3 Feb 2022
    3 Feb 2022
    Ad Talent has released its latest annual salary survey, reflecting the remuneration information obtained from all candidates interviewed by the company from January 2021 to December 2021.
    Image source: © Ion Chiosea –
    Image source: © Ion Chiosea – 123RF.com

    Through its collected data, the recruitment agency found that Covid-19 and the resultant crisis continued to severely impact employment statistics with a downturn in hiring during 2021. "Employers were cautious about employing new staff with a strong message to maintaining cash flow and consolidating their core business," Ad Talent said in its statement. "We noticed a trend to employ on short term contracts with a view to permanent employment at a later stage. There was a lack of confidence to commit to long term projects with a conservative approach to hiring."

    The agency found that this resulted to salary stagnation in most categories with a few exceptions.

    "Salary progression in the form of increases was largely on hold with little or no movement and in some instances, salary cuts were applied. We found that many candidates who were previously looking for a career change, put a halt on their search because of the instability in the job market," said the recruiter.

    It did however see a slight increase in salaries and more benefits at senior level, and attributed this to the retention of top talent.

    As in previous years, Ad Talent's Salary 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 2021 to December 2021
    • 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 we, Ad Talent, (not the entire industry) has experienced in the past 12 months

    See the full results of the Ad Talent Salary Survey 2022 below:

    Advertising Agencies
    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)
    Strategist
    JohannesburgR20 000 – R34 000R34 000 – R50 000R50 000+
    Cape TownR20 000 – R30 000R30 000 – R50 000R50 000+
    Project Manager
    JohannesburgR27 000 – R35 000R35 000 – R48 000R48 000+
    Cape TownR25 000 – R30 000R30 000 – R42 000R42 000+
    Social Media Manager
    JohannesburgR22 000 – R30 000R30 000 – R45 000R45 000+
    Cape TownR17 000 – R20 000R20 000 – R30 000R30 000+
    Social Media and Analytics Specialist
    JohannesburgR24 000 – R33 000R33 000 – R50 000R50 000+
    Cape TownR19 000 – R28 000R28 000 – R42 000R42 000+
    Social Media Community Manager
    JohannesburgR15 000 – R22 000R22 000 – R38 000N/A
    Cape TownR15 000 – R18 000R18 000 – R30 000N/A
    Content Manager
    JohannesburgR18 000 – R25 000R25 000 – R38 000R38 000+
    Cape TownR13 000 – R18 000R18 000 – R30 000R30 000+
    Account Executive
    JohannesburgR17 000 – R20 000R20 000 – R23 000N/A
    Cape TownR13 000 – R18 000R18 000 – R20 000N/A
    Account Manager
    JohannesburgR26 500 – R30 000R30 000 – R40 000N/A
    Cape TownR19 000 – R25 000R25 000 – R35 000N/A
    Account Director
    JohannesburgR40 000 – R45 000R45 000 – R50 000N/A
    Cape TownR35 000 – R42 000R42 000 – R47 000N/A
    Group Account Director
    JohannesburgR49 000 – R54 000R54 000 – R58 000R58 000+
    Cape TownR47 000 – R52 000R52 000 – R55 000R55 000+
    Client Service Director
    JohannesburgR56 000 – R60 000R60 000 – R67 000R67 000+
    Cape TownR48 000 – R50 000R50 000 – R60 000R60 000+
    SEO Specialist
    JohannesburgR18 000 – R25 000R25 000 – R35 000R35 000+
    Cape TownR15 000 – R20 000R20 000 – R28 000R28 000+
    PPC Specialist
    JohannesburgR18 000 – R23 000R23 000 – R35 000R35 000+
    Cape TownR15 000 – R20 000R20 000 – R30 000R30 000+
    E-Commerce Manager
    JohannesburgR25 000 – R35 000R35 000 – R55 000R55 000 – R90 000+
    Cape TownR20 000 – R30 000R30 000 – R45 000R45 000 – R85 000+
    Brand Manager
    JohannesburgR28 000 – R40 000R40 000 – R50 000R50 000+
    Cape TownR25 000 – R35 000R35 000 – R45 000R45 000+
    Analyst
    JohannesburgR20 000 – R25 000R25 000 – R40 000R40 000+
    Cape TownR18 000 – R23 000R23 000 – R36 000R36 000+

    Creative: Traditional
    0-2 yrs (light)2 – 5 yrs (medium)5 – 9 yrs (heavyweight)
    Chief Creative Officer
    JohannesburgN/AN/AR135 000+
    Cape TownN/AN/AR125 000+
    Group/Executive Creative Director
    JohannesburgN/AN/AR108 000+
    Cape TownN/AN/AR100 000+
    Creative Director
    JohannesburgR52 000 – R68 000R68 000 – R80 000R80 000+
    Cape TownR40 000 – R48 000R48 000 – R70 000R70 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 – R34 000R34 000+
    Cape TownR10 000 – R17 000R17 000 – R32 000R32 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 – R38 000R38 000 – R70 000
    Cape TownR10 000 – R17 000R17 000 – R30 000R30 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 – R35 000R35 000 – R50 000
    Cape TownN/AR20 000 – R33 000R33 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
    JohannesburgR12 000 – R17 000R17 000 – R30 000R30 000 – R48 000
    Cape TownR10 000 – R15 000R15 000 – R25 000R25 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

    Creative: Digital
    0-2 yrs (light)2 – 5 yrs (medium)5 – 9 yrs (heavyweight)
    Digital Creative Director
    JohannesburgR50 000 – R62 000R62 000 – R82 000R82 000+
    Cape TownR40 000 – R50 000R50 000 – R70 000R70 000+
    Digital Copywriter
    JohannesburgR13 000 – R19 000R19 000 – R39 000R39 000 – R70 000
    Cape TownR12 000 – R15 000R15 000 – R35 000R35 000 – R50 000
    Digital Art Director
    JohannesburgR15 000 – R20 000R20 000 – R40 000R40 000 – R68 000
    Cape TownR13 000 – R16 000R16 000 – R35 000R35 000 – R50 000
    Digital Designer/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 Interface (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
    JohannesburgR20 000 – R39 000R39 000 – R59 000R59 000+
    Cape TownR18 000 – R30 000R30 000 – R49 000R49 000+
    Back-end Developer
    JohannesburgR20 000 – R39 000R39 000 – R58 000R58 000+
    Cape TownR18 000 – R30 000R30 000 – R47 000R47 000+
    Full-stack Developer
    JohannesburgR25 000 – R34 000R34 000 – R44 000R44 000+
    Cape TownR20 000 – R32 000R32 000 – R40 000R40 000+
    QA / Test Engineers
    JohannesburgR32 000 – R46 000R46 000 – R58 000R58 000+
    Cape TownR30 000 – R44 000R44 000 – R52 000R52 000+
    Data Analysts
    JohannesburgR12 000 – R28 000R28 000 – R55 000R55 000 – R70 000
    Cape TownR12 000 – R27 000R27 000 – R55 000R55 000 – R69 000
    Product Owner
    JohannesburgR25 000 – R38 000R38 000 – R58 000R58 000 – R73 000
    Cape TownR25 000 – R38 000R38 000 – R58 000R58 000 – R73 000
    Scrum Masters
    JohannesburgR20 000 – R30 000R30 000 – R55 000R55 000 – R62 000
    Cape TownR18 000 – R30 000R30 000 – R54 000R54 000 – R62 000
    IT Manager
    JohannesburgR20 000 – R35 000R35 000 – R55 000R55 000+
    Cape TownR17 000 – R25 000R25 000 – R45 000R45 000+

    Marketing
    0-2 yrs (light)2 – 5 yrs (medium)5 – 9 yrs (heavyweight)
    Head of Digital Marketing
    JohannesburgN/AR60 000 – R68 000R68 000+
    Cape TownN/AR50 000 – R58 000R58 000+
    CRM and Loyalty Manager
    JohannesburgN/AR40 000 – R50 000R50 000+
    Cape TownN/AR37 000 – R47 000R47 000+
    Digital Marketing Manager
    JohannesburgR28 000 – R38 000R38 000 – R48 000R48 000+
    Cape TownR20 000 – R30 000R30 000 – R40 000R40 000+
    Marketing Director
    JohannesburgR55 000 – R70 000R70 000 – R80 000R80 000+
    Cape TownR50 000 – R65 000R65 000 – R75 000R75 000+
    Group Marketing Head/Head of Brand
    JohannesburgR79 000 – R86 000R86 000 – R145 000R145 000+
    Cape TownR64 000 – R77 000R77 000 – R135 000R135 000+
    Marketing Manager
    JohannesburgR52 000 – R56 000R56 000 – R78 000R78 000+
    Cape TownR48 000 – R55 000R55 000 – R65 000R65 000+
    Brand Manager
    JohannesburgR28 000 – R33 000R33 000 – R52 000R52 000+
    Cape TownR22 000 – R30 000R30 000 – R48 000R48 000+
    E-Commerce Manager
    JohannesburgR25 000 – R35 000R35 000 – R55 000R55 000 – R90 000+
    Cape TownR20 000 – R30 000R30 000 – R45 000R45 000 – R85 000+
    Brand/Marketing Assistant
    JohannesburgR15 000 – R21 000R21 000 – R35 000N/A
    Cape TownR15 000 – R18 000R18 000 – R27 000N/A
    Martech (Marketing Technology Specialist)
    JohannesburgR35 000 – R45 000R45 000 – R55 000R55 000 – R75 000+
    Cape TownR30 000 – R40 000R40 000 – R50 000R50 000 – R70 000+
    Influencer Marketer
    JohannesburgR18 000 – R22 000R22 000 – R37 000R37 000 – R50 000+
    Cape TownR15 000 – R20 000R20 000 – R35 000R35 000 – R45 000+

    Corporate
    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 – R75 000R75 000 – R80 000R80 000 – R130 000
    Cape TownR55 000 – R65 000R65 000 – R70 000R70 000 – R130 000
    Account Director
    JohannesburgR35 000 – R41 000R41 000 – R55 000R55 000 – R68 000
    Cape TownR35 000 – R40 000R40 000 – R45 000R45 000 – R55 000
    Account Manager
    JohannesburgR25 000 – R32 000R32 000 – R38 000R38 000+
    Cape TownR22 000 – R26 000R26 000 – R31 000R31 000+
    Account Executive
    JohannesburgR16 000 – R21 000R21 000 – R24 000N/A
    Cape TownR14 000 – R19 000R19 000 – R21 000N/A
    Public Relations Assistant
    JohannesburgR10 000 – R16 000R16 000 – R19 000N/A
    Cape TownR9 000 – R15 000R15 000 – R18 000N/A

    Media
    0-2 yrs (light)2 – 5 yrs (medium)5 – 9 yrs (heavyweight)
    Media Director
    JohannesburgR40 000 – R50 000R50 000 – R55 000R55 000 – R85 000
    Cape TownR32 000 – R40 000R40 000 – R50 000R50 000 – R80 000
    Media Sales Executive
    JohannesburgR25 000 – R28 000R28 000 – R40 000R40 000+
    Cape TownR20 000 – R25 000R25 000 – R38 000R38 000+
    Media Sales Director
    JohannesburgR38 000 – R42 000R42 000 – R55 000R55 000+
    Cape TownR35 000 – R40 000R40 000 – R50 000R50 000+
    Media Sales Digital
    JohannesburgR27 000 – R35 000R35 000 – R45 000R45 000+
    Cape TownR25 000 – R28 000R28 000 – R38 000R38 000+
    Campaign Manager
    JohannesburgR22 000 – R32 000R32 000 – R42 000R42 000+
    Cape TownR20 000 – R28 000R28 000 – R35 000R35 000+

    Download a copy of the salary survey here.

    Read more: salary survey, remuneration trends, Ad Talent, salary survey results, remuneration packages, Ad Talent Salary Survey, remuneration levels, Ad Talent Survey
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