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    HR Remuneration & Payroll

    Annual Ad Talent Salary Survey: Know your worth

    25 Jan 2024
    25 Jan 2024
    Ad Talent has officially released the results of its annual talent survey, providing a glimpse into the 2023 remuneration packages for various positions in the advertising, digital, creative, IT, marketing and communications industries, as well as the media sector.
    Image source: wirestock –
    Image source: wirestock – 123RF.com

    "There were many interesting observations in Ad Talent work space in 2023," says Stacey Bossenger, MD of Ad Talent. "While there was not a great deal to reflect on in terms of salary changes, the trends in the industry were particularly interesting. Remote and hybrid working has been a key driver in the narrowing of the gap between salaries in Johannesburg, Cape Town and other centres."

    General observations from the Ad Talent team are:

    1. The salary gap between Johannesburg and Cape Town is closing. Hybrid working has contributed to the flattening of the salary curve across the country, especially in the tech space. The Covid pandemic introduced work from home on a large scale and it seems that despite many employers wanting their employees to return to the office, this has met with more resistance than many anticipated.

      Being paid what the job is worth, irrespective of where you physically reside, has flattened the curve. Technology, flexibility, commuter costs and time, load shedding and demand for a more balanced work–life have been factors that have strongly influenced working environments.

      "It will be interesting to see how organisations and the workforce embrace this in 2024 and beyond," Bossenger continues.

    2. Job descriptions and titles have become less rigid than in previous surveys, and roles are becoming more hybridised. Employers expect candidates to have more than one core skill and contribute to the company in a variety of ways. Skills before qualifications are becoming more top of mind for hiring as the tech and digital space expand.

      This has become evident in the tech and digital job descriptions which are less binary than before. Many job descriptions for Gen Z candidates, for example, expect them to have a level of these skills as a standard tool in their box.

    3. International markets have come to South Africa. "We have seen more candidates accept work from overseas companies (who value the work ethic, skills and cost-effectiveness of employing South Africans) that give them the flexibility and lifestyle they are looking for," Bossenger notes. "Skilled candidates are in demand, as has always been the case, but now there is serious competition from pound and dollar-based countries."

    4. Skills shortage remains a problem. Skills, experience and slow decision-making have been key observations in the hiring process this year. Continued economic uncertainty along with the challenges to replace skills have strongly influenced hiring decisions.

      "Ad Talent has seen an increase in counter-offers from employers when resignations are tended as a result of the skills shortage and the loss of experience that comes with resignations," Bossenger continues. "The counter-offer generally implies a salary increase, but employee flexibility is also a strong factor that influences the decision."

    5. Temporary employment services have gained traction amongst some employers, especially in tech and creative sectors. The flexibility it gives them to hire on fixed contracts, assignments or a non-permanent basis has created a freelance salary band that is steadily growing. More and more candidates are freelancing as a way to create the lifestyle and revenue that gives them the flexibility for which they are looking.

    Survey info

    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 2023 to December 2023
    • 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 to medium and heavyweight. 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 – R100 000R100 000 – R140 000R140 000+
    Deputy MD
    JohannesburgR85 000 – R94 000R94 000 – R100 000R100 000+
    Cape TownR75 000 – R90 000R90 000 – R100 000R100 000+
    Client Service/Business Unit Director
    JohannesburgR60 000 – R70 000R70 000 – R85 000R85 000+
    Cape TownR50 000 – R55 000R55 000 – R80 000R80 000+
    Group Account Director
    JohannesburgR49 000 – R54 000R54 000 – R60 000R60 000+
    Cape TownR45 000 – R50 000R50 000 – R55 000R55 000+
    Account Director
    JohannesburgR40 000 – R45 000R45 000 – R50 000N/A
    Cape TownR38 000 – R42 000R42 000 – R48 000N/A
    Account Manager
    JohannesburgR25 000 – R27 000R27 000 – R36 000N/A
    Cape TownR20 000 – R25 000R25 000 – R32 000N/A
    Account Executive
    JohannesburgR18 000 – R20 000R20 000 – R25 000N/A
    Cape TownR12 000 – R15 000R15 000 – R17 000N/A
    Project Manager
    JohannesburgR27 000 – R40 000R40 000 – R45 000R45 000+
    Cape TownR23 000 – R34 000R34 000 – R43 000R43 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 – R22 000R22 000 – R40 000R40 000+
    Cape TownR15 000 – R20 000R20 000 – R37 000R37 000+
    Strategic Planning Director
    JohannesburgR63 000 – R70 000R70 000 – R89 000R89 000+
    Cape TownR58 000 – R68 000R68 000 – R85 000R85 000+
    Strategic Planner
    JohannesburgR18 000 – R30 000R30 000 – R47 000R47 000+
    Cape TownR18 000 – R30 000R30 000 – R47 000R47 000+

    Digital

    0-2 yrs (light)2 – 5 yrs (medium)5 – 9 yrs (heavyweight)
    Digital Strategist
    JohannesburgR27 000 – R38 000R38 000 – R55 000R55 000+
    Cape TownR25 000 – R38 000R38 000 – R55 000R55 000+
    Social Media Manager
    JohannesburgR23 000 – R35 000R35 000 – R48 000R48 000+
    Cape TownR20 000 – R30 000R30 000 – R40 000R40 000+
    Head of Social Media
    JohannesburgR45 000 – R50 000R50 000 – R65 000R65 000+
    Cape TownR40 000 – R48 000R48 000 – R62 000R62 000+
    Social Media Community Manager
    JohannesburgR18 000 – R28 000R28 000 – R40 000R40 000+
    Cape TownR15 000 – R25 000R25 000 – R35 000R35 000+
    Influencer Marketer
    JohannesburgR18 000 – R30 000R30 000 – R45 000R45 000+
    Cape TownR15 000 – R28 000R28 000 – R40 000R40 000+
    Campaign Manager
    JohannesburgR25 000 – R35 000R32 000 – R42 000R42 000+
    Cape TownR22 000 – R32 000R32 000 – R38 000R38 000+
    Content Manager
    JohannesburgR20 000 – R38 000R38 000 – R43 000R43 000+
    Cape TownR20 000 – R30 000R30 000 – R40 000R40 000+
    Digital Account Executive
    JohannesburgR18 000 – R22 000R22 000 – R28 000R28 000+
    Cape TownR16 000 – R20 000R20 000 – R25 000R25 000+
    Digital Account Manager
    JohannesburgR28 500 – R35 000R35 000 – R45 000R45 000+
    Cape TownR25 000 – R32 000R32 000 – R42 000R42 000+
    Digital Account Director
    JohannesburgR40 000 – R48 000R48 000 – R55 000R55 000+
    Cape TownR40 000 – R45 000R45 000 – R52 000R52 000+
    Digital Group Account Director
    JohannesburgR55 000 – R60 000R60 000 – R70 000R70 000+
    Cape TownR52 000 – R58 000R58 000 – R65 000R65 000+
    SEO Specialist/Manager
    JohannesburgR25 000 – R32 000R32 000 – R52 000R52 000+
    Cape TownR25 000 – R32 000R32 000 – R52 000R52 000+
    PPC Specialist/Manager
    JohannesburgR30 000 – R40 000R40 000 – R50 000R50 000+
    Cape TownR30 000 – R40 000R40 000 – R50 000R50 000+
    Digital / Media / Marketing Analyst
    JohannesburgR25 000 – R33 000R33 000 – R45 000R40 000+
    Cape TownR22 000 – R28 000R28 000 – R42 000R42 000+

    Creative

    0-2 yrs (light)2 – 5 yrs (medium)5 – 9 yrs (heavyweight)
    Chief Creative Officer
    JohannesburgN/AN/AR150 000+
    Cape TownN/AN/AR150 000+
    Group/Executive Creative Director
    JohannesburgN/AR90 000 – R120 000R120 000+
    Cape TownN/AR90 000 – R120 000R120 000+
    Creative Director
    JohannesburgN/AR68 000 – R95 000R95 000+
    Cape TownN/AR55 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 – R25 000R25 000 – R45 000R45 000 – R65 000
    Cape TownR10 000 – R25 000R25 000 – R45 000R45 000 – R50 000
    Copywriter
    JohannesburgR18 000 – R25 000R25 000 – R52 000R52 000 – R70 000
    Cape TownR15 000 – R20 000R20 000 – R45 000R45 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/Content 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
    JohannesburgR22 000 – R32 000R32 000 – R60 000R60 000 – R80 000+
    Cape TownR22 000 – R32 000R32 000 – R60 000R60 000 – R80 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/3D
    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) Designer
    JohannesburgR18 000 – R27 000R27 000 – R48 000R48 000+
    Cape TownR15 000 – R20 000R20 000 – R40 000R40 000+
    User Interface (UI) Designer
    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 – R60 000R60 000+
    Cape TownR25 000 – R35 000R35 000 – R60 000R60 000+
    Back-end Developer
    JohannesburgR18 000 – R30 000R30 000 – R65 000R65 000 – R110 000
    Cape TownR18 000 – R30 000R30 000 – R65 000R65 000 – R110 000
    Full-stack Developer
    JohannesburgR25 000 – R40 000R40 000 – R70 000R70 000 – R125 000
    Cape TownR25 000 – R40 000R40 000 – R70 000R70 000 – R125 000
    Web Developer
    JohannesburgR36 000 – R50 000R50 000 – R90 000R90 000 – R140 000
    Cape TownR36 000 – R50 000R50 000 – R90 000R90 000 – R140 000
    Java Developer
    JohannesburgR20 000 – R38 000R38 000 – R70 000R70 000+
    Cape TownR20 000 – R38 000R38 000 – R70 000R70 000+
    Scrum Master
    JohannesburgR25 000 – R42 000R42 000 – R66 000R66 000 – R150 000
    Cape TownR25 000 – R42 000R42 000 – R66 000R66 000 – R150 000
    IT Manager
    JohannesburgR32 000 – R60 000R60 000 – R100 000R100 000+
    Cape TownR32 000 – R60 000R60 000 – R100 000R100 000+
    Solutions Architect
    JohannesburgR30 000 – R50 000R50 000 – R100 000R100 000+
    Cape TownR30 000 – R50 000R50 000 – R100 000R100 000+
    Data Engineer
    JohannesburgR25 000 – R50 000R50 000 – R85 000R85 000 – R120 000
    Cape TownR25 000 – R50 000R50 000 – R85 000R85 000 – R120 000
    Data Scientist
    JohannesburgR30 000 – R50 000R50 000 – R90 000R90 000 – R125 000
    Cape TownR30 000 – R50 000R50 000 – R90 000R90 000 – R125 000
    AI & ML Engineer
    JohannesburgR30 000 – R55 000R55 000 – R90 000R90 000+
    Cape TownR30 000 – R55 000R55 000 – R90 000R90 000+

    Marketing

    0-2 yrs (light)2 – 5 yrs (medium)5 – 9 yrs (heavyweight)
    Head of Digital Marketing
    JohannesburgR55 000 – R66 000R66 000 – R85 000R85 000+
    Cape TownR45 000 – R58 000R58 000 – R78 000R78 000+
    Digital Marketing Manager
    JohannesburgR35 000 – R48 000R48 000 – R60 000R60 000+
    Cape TownR32 000 – R45 000R45 000 – R55 000R55 000+
    Group Marketing Head
    JohannesburgR75 000 – R90 000R90 000 – R145 000R145 000+
    Cape TownR65 000 – R80 000R80 000 – R135 000R135 000+
    Marketing Director
    JohannesburgR60 000 – R75 000R75 000 – R90 000R90 000+
    Cape TownR55 000 – R72 000R72 000 – R82 000R82 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
    JohannesburgR35 000 – R45 000R45 000 – R65 000R65 000+
    Cape TownR35 000 – R45 000R45 000 – R65 000R65 000+
    Brand/Marketing Assistant
    JohannesburgR25 000 – R32 000R32 000 – R40 000N/A
    Cape TownR20 000 – R30 000R30 000 – R40 000N/A
    Martech (Marketing Technology Specialist)
    JohannesburgR38 000 – R55 000R55 000 – R70 000R70 000+
    Cape TownR35 000 – R50 000R50 000 – R65 000R65 000+

    Corporate Communications

    0-2 yrs (light)2 – 5 yrs (medium)5 – 9 yrs (heavyweight)
    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

    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+
    Digital Sales Executive
    JohannesburgR30 000 – R35 000R35 000 – R45 000R45 000+
    Cape TownR25 000 – R30 000R30 000 – R42 000R42 000+
    Media Sales Executive
    JohannesburgR25 000 – R35 000R35 000 – R45 000R45 000+
    Cape TownR25 000 – R28 000R28 000 – R38 000R38 000+
    Events Manager
    JohannesburgR20 000 – R25 000R25 000 – R45 000R45 000+
    Cape TownR18 000 – R22 000R22 000 – R40 000R40 000+

    Read more: salary survey, advertising salaries, salary advice, Ad Talent, remuneration packages, Ad Talent Salary Survey, salary benchmarking, executive remuneration
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