by MarkLives (@marklives) Recruitment agency, Ad Talent, has released its 2020 salary survey for the communications industry. This annual survey is not intended to be prescriptive but is a report on what this specific recruiter has experienced over the course of the last year.
It was compiled using: 
- figures of actual placements made by Ad Talent
- figures from monthly salary information obtained from all candidates interviewed by Ad Talent from January 2019 to December 2019
- figures from monthly salary information obtained from candidates who have submitted their CVs to Ad Talent
- monthly cost to company (CTC) figures, and
- the average monthly salaries per sector.
The survey notes that 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. Years of experience references time spent in that particular position and NOT total working experience. This survey is not intended to be prescriptive but a report on what Ad Talent, not the entire industry, has experienced in the past 12 months. MarkLives republishes it with permission.
Advertising agencies |
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0–2 yrs (light) |
2–5 yrs (medium) |
5–9 yrs (heavyweight) |
|
Managing director |
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| Johannesburg | R90 000–R100 000 | R100 000–R150 000 | R150 000+ |
| Cape Town | R75 000–R90 000 | R90 000–R130 000 | R130 000+ |
Deputy MD |
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| Johannesburg | R85 000–R94 000 | R94 000–R100 000 | R100 000+ |
| Cape Town | R75 000–R84 000 | R84 000–R93 000 | R93 000+ |
Client service/business unit director |
|||
| Johannesburg | R56 000–R60 000 | R60 000–R66 000 | R66 000+ |
| Cape Town | R48 000–R55 000 | R55 000–R60 000 | R60 000+ |
Group account director |
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| Johannesburg | R49 000–R54 000 | R54 000–R60 000 | R60 000+ |
| Cape Town | R45 000–R50 000 | R50 000–R55 000 | R55 000+ |
Account director |
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| Johannesburg | R36 000–R41 000 | R41 000–R50 000 | N/A |
| Cape Town | R35 000–R40 000 | R40 000–R46 000 | N/A |
Account manager |
|||
| Johannesburg | R24 000–R27 000 | R27 000–R36 000 | N/A |
| Cape Town | R18 000–R20 000 | R20 000–R30 000 | N/A |
Account executive |
|||
| Johannesburg | R15 000–R18 000 | R18 000–R21 000 | N/A |
| Cape Town | R12 000–R15 000 | R15 000–R17 000 | N/A |
Project manager |
|||
| Johannesburg | R27 000–R40 000 | R40 000–R45 000 | R45 000+ |
| Cape Town | R23 000–R30 000 | R30 000–R40 000 | R40 000+ |
Operations |
|||
| Johannesburg | R49 000–R60 000 | R60 000–R80 000 | R80 000+ |
| Cape Town | R45 000–R57 000 | R57 000–R70 000 | R70 000+ |
Production |
|||
| Johannesburg | R14 000–R22 000 | R22 000–R40 000 | R40 000+ |
| Cape Town | R12 000–R20 000 | R20 000–R35 000 | R35 000+ |
Traffic |
|||
| Johannesburg | R15 000–R20 000 | R20 000–R37 000 | R37 000+ |
| Cape Town | R15 000–R17 000 | R17 000–R35 000 | R35 000+ |
Strategic planning director |
|||
| Johannesburg | R63 000–R70 000 | R70 000–R89 000 | R89 000+ |
| Cape Town | R55 000–R68 000 | R68 000–R85 000 | R85 000+ |
Strategic planner |
|||
| Johannesburg | R18 000–R30 000 | R30 000–R47 000 | R47 000+ |
| Cape Town | R15 000–R25 000 | R25 000–R40 000 | R40 000+ |
Digital |
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Strategist |
|||
| Johannesburg | R20 000–R34 000 | R34 000–R50 000 | R50 000+ |
| Cape Town | R20 000–R30 000 | R30 000–R50 000 | R50 000+ |
Project manager |
|||
| Johannesburg | R27 000–R35 000 | R35 000–R45 000 | R45 000+ |
| Cape Town | R25 000–R30 000 | R30 000–R42 000 | R42 000+ |
Social media manager |
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| Johannesburg | R22 000–R30 000 | R30 000–R45 000 | R45 000+ |
| Cape Town | R17 000–R20 000 | R20 000–R30 000 | R30 000+ |
Social media and analytics specialist |
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| Johannesburg | R24 000–R33 000 | R33 000–R50 000 | R50 000+ |
| Cape Town | R19 000–R28 000 | R28 000–R42 000 | R42 000+ |
Social media community manager |
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| Johannesburg | R15 000–R22 000 | R22 000–R38 000 | N/A |
| Cape Town | R15 000–R18 000 | R18 000–R30 000 | N/A |
Content manager |
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| Johannesburg | R18 000–R25 000 | R25 000–R38 000 | R38 000+ |
| Cape Town | R13 000–R18 000 | R18 000–R30 000 | R30 000+ |
Account executive |
|||
| Johannesburg | R17 000–R20 000 | R20 000–R23 000 | N/A |
| Cape Town | R13 000–R18 000 | R18 000–R20 000 | N/A |
Account manager |
|||
| Johannesburg | R26 500–R30 000 | R30 000–R40 000 | N/A |
| Cape Town | R19 000–R25 000 | R25 000–R35 000 | N/A |
Account director |
|||
| Johannesburg | R40 000–R45 000 | R45 000–R50 000 | N/A |
| Cape Town | R35 000–R42 000 | R42 000–R47 000 | N/A |
Group account director |
|||
| Johannesburg | R49 000–R54 000 | R54 000–R58 000 | R58 000+ |
| Cape Town | R47 000–R52 000 | R52 000–R55 000 | R55 000+ |
Client service director |
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| Johannesburg | R56 000–R60 000 | R60 000–R67 000 | R67 000+ |
| Cape Town | R48 000–R50 000 | R50 000–R60 000 | R60 000+ |
SEO specialist |
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| Johannesburg | R18 000–R22 000 | R22 000–R30 000 | R30 000+ |
| Cape Town | R15 000–R20 000 | R20 000–R28 000 | R28 000+ |
PPC specialist |
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| Johannesburg | R18 000–R23 000 | R23 000–R35 000 | R35 000+ |
| Cape Town | R15 000–R20 000 | R20 000–R30 000 | R30 000+ |
Brand manager |
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| Johannesburg | R28 000–R40 000 | R40 000–R50 000 | R50 000+ |
| Cape Town | R25 000–R35 000 | R35 000–R45 000 | R45 000+ |
Analyst |
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| Johannesburg | R20 000–R25 000 | R25 000–R40 000 | R40 000+ |
| Cape Town | R18 000–R23 000 | R23 000–R33 000 | R33 000+ |
Creative: traditional |
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Chief creative officer |
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| Johannesburg | N/A | N/A | R135 000+ |
| Cape Town | N/A | N/A | R125 000+ |
Group/executive creative director |
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| Johannesburg | N/A | N/A | R108 000+ |
| Cape Town | N/A | N/A | R100 000+ |
Creative director |
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| Johannesburg | R52 000–R68 000 | R68 000–R80 000 | R80 000+ |
| Cape Town | R40 000–R48 000 | R48 000–R65 000 | R65 000+ |
Head of design |
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| Johannesburg | R38 000–R52 000 | R52 000–R62 000 | R62 000+ |
| Cape Town | R35 000–R40 000 | R40 000–R50 000 | R50 000+ |
Designer |
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| Johannesburg | R10 000–R18 000 | R18 000–R34 000 | R34 000+ |
| Cape Town | R10 000–R17 000 | R17 000–R30 000 | R30 000+ |
Creative group head |
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| Johannesburg | R38 000–R45 000 | R45 000–R55 000 | R55 000+ |
| Cape Town | R30 000–R40 000 | R40 000–R47 000 | R47 000+ |
Art director |
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| Johannesburg | R12 000–R18 000 | R18 000–R38 000 | R38 000–R65 000 |
| Cape Town | R10 000–R18 000 | R18 000–R35 000 | R35 000–R50 000 |
Copywriter |
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| Johannesburg | R11 000–R18 000 | R18 000–R38 000 | R38 000–R70 000 |
| Cape Town | R10 000–R17 000 | R17 000–R30 000 | R30 000–R60 000 |
Proofreader |
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| Johannesburg | R15 000–R20 000 | R20 000–R30 000 | R30 000–R47 000 |
| Cape Town | R10 000–R15 000 | R15 000–R25 000 | R25 000–R40 000 |
Creative strategist |
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| Johannesburg | N/A | R23 000–R35 000 | R35 000–R50 000 |
| Cape Town | N/A | R20 000–R33 000 | R33 000–R42 000 |
Studio manager |
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| Johannesburg | R33 000–R36 000 | R36 000–R42 000 | R42 000–R55 000 |
| Cape Town | R28 000–R35 000 | R35 000–R40 000 | R40 000–R50 000 |
DTP operator |
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| Johannesburg | R9 500–R16 000 | R16 000–R25 000 | R25 000–R40 000 |
| Cape Town | R8 000–R15 000 | R15 000–R24 000 | R24 000–R36 000 |
Promo director/producer |
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| Johannesburg | R12 000–R17 000 | R17 000–R30 000 | R30 000–R48 000 |
| Cape Town | R10 000–R15 000 | R15 000–R25 000 | R25 000–R40 000 |
Animator |
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| Johannesburg | R14 000–R18 000 | R18 000–R35 000 | R35 000–R57 000 |
| Cape Town | R12 000–R16 000 | R16 000–R26 000 | R26 000–R41 000 |
Video editor |
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| Johannesburg | R10 000–R17 000 | R17 000–R30 000 | R30 000–R48 000 |
| Cape Town | R10 000–R15 000 | R15 000–R25 000 | R25 000–R40 000 |
Creative: digital |
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Digital creative director |
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| Johannesburg | R50 000–R62 000 | R62 000–R82 000 | R82 000+ |
| Cape Town | R40 000–R50 000 | R50 000–R65 000 | R65 000+ |
Digital copywriter |
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| Johannesburg | R13 000–R19 000 | R19 000–R37 000 | R37 000–R70 000 |
| Cape Town | R12 000–R15 000 | R15 000–R30 000 | R30 000–R43 000 |
Digital art director |
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| Johannesburg | R15 000–R19 000 | R19 000–R38 000 | R38 000–R68 000 |
| Cape Town | R13 000–R16 000 | R16 000–R35 000 | R35 000–R50 000 |
Digital designer/multimedia designer |
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| Johannesburg | R13 000–R19 000 | R19 000–R38 000 | R38 000–R50 000 |
| Cape Town | R13 000–R16 000 | R16 000–R30 000 | R30 000–R45 000 |
User experience (UX) lead |
|||
| Johannesburg | N/A | N/A | R74 000+ |
| Cape Town | N/A | N/A | R65 000+ |
User experience (UX) designers |
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| Johannesburg | R18 000–R27 000 | R27 000–R48 000 | R48 000+ |
| Cape Town | R15 000–R20 000 | R20 000–R40 000 | R40 000+ |
User Interface (UI) designers |
|||
| Johannesburg | R17 500–R26 000 | R26 000–R40 000 | R40 000+ |
| Cape Town | R15 000–R20 000 | R20 000–R35 000 | R35 000+ |
IT/Tech |
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Frontend developer |
|||
| Johannesburg | R20 000–R39 000 | R39 000–R59 000 | R59 000+ |
| Cape Town | R18 000–R30 000 | R30 000–R49 000 | R49 000+ |
Backend developer |
|||
| Johannesburg | R20 000–R39 000 | R39 000–R58 000 | R58 000+ |
| Cape Town | R18 000–R30 000 | R30 000–R47 000 | R47 000+ |
Full–stack developer |
|||
| Johannesburg | R25 000–R34 000 | R34 000–R44 000 | R44 000+ |
| Cape Town | R20 000–R32 000 | R32 000–R40 000 | R40 000+ |
QA/test engineers |
|||
| Johannesburg | R32 000–R46 000 | R46 000–R58 000 | R58 000+ |
| Cape Town | R30 000–R44 000 | R44 000–R52 000 | R52 000+ |
Data analysts |
|||
| Johannesburg | R12 000–R28 000 | R28 000–R55 000 | R55 000–R70 000 |
| Cape Town | R12 000–R27 000 | R27 000–R55 000 | R55 000–R69 000 |
Product owner |
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| Johannesburg | R25 000–R38 000 | R38 000–R58 000 | R58 000–R73 000 |
| Cape Town | R25 000–R38 000 | R38 000–R58 000 | R58 000–R73 000 |
Scrum masters |
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| Johannesburg | R20 000–R30 000 | R30 000–R55 000 | R55 000–R62 000 |
| Cape Town | R18 000–R30 000 | R30 000–R54 000 | R54 000–R62 000 |
IT manager |
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| Johannesburg | R20 000–R35 000 | R35 000–R55 000 | R55 000+ |
| Cape Town | R17 000–R25 000 | R25 000–R45 000 | R45 000+ |
Marketing |
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Head of digital marketing |
|||
| Johannesburg | N/A | R60 000–R68 000 | R68 000+ |
| Cape Town | N/A | R50 000–R58 000 | R58 000+ |
CRM and loyalty manager |
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| Johannesburg | N/A | R40 000–R50 000 | R50 000+ |
| Cape Town | N/A | R37 000–R47 000 | R47 000+ |
Online marketing manager |
|||
| Johannesburg | N/A | R38 000–R48 000 | R48 000+ |
| Cape Town | N/A | R30 000–R35 000 | R35 000+ |
Marketing director/group marketing head/head of brand |
|||
| Johannesburg | R79 000–R86 000 | R86 000–R145 000 | R145 000+ |
| Cape Town | R64 000–R77 000 | R77 000–R135 000 | R135 000+ |
Marketing manager |
|||
| Johannesburg | R52 000–R56 000 | R56 000–R78 000 | R78 000+ |
| Cape Town | R48 000–R55 000 | R55 000–R65 000 | R65 000+ |
Brand manager |
|||
| Johannesburg | R28 000–R33 000 | R33 000–R52 000 | R52 000+ |
| Cape Town | R22 000–R30 000 | R30 000–R48 000 | R48 000+ |
Brand/marketing assistant |
|||
| Johannesburg | R15 000–R21 000 | R21 000–R35 000 | N/A |
| Cape Town | R15 000–R18 000 | R18 000–R27 000 | N/A |
Corporate |
|||
Communications director |
|||
| Johannesburg | R37 000–R55 000 | R55 000–R75 000 | R75 000–R130 000 |
| Cape Town | R32 000–R42 000 | R42 000–R62 000 | R62 000–R100 000 |
Communications manager |
|||
| Johannesburg | R30 000–R40 000 | R40 000–R68 000 | R68 000–R90 000 |
| Cape Town | R25 000–R40 000 | R40 000–R45 000 | R45 000–R75 000 |
Communications officer/consultant |
|||
| Johannesburg | R20 000–R30 000 | R30 000–R40 000 | R40 000–R45 000 |
| Cape Town | R18 000–R26 000 | R26 000–R35 000 | R35 000–R41 000 |
Events manager |
|||
| Johannesburg | R28 000–R35 000 | R35 000–R40 000 | R40 000–R70 000 |
| Cape Town | R20 000–R30 000 | R30 000–R33 000 | R33 000–R65 000 |
Events coordinator |
|||
| Johannesburg | R18 000–R22 000 | R22 000–R30 000 | R30 000+ |
| Cape Town | R15 000–R20 000 | R20 000–R30 000 | R30 000+ |
Internal communications manager |
|||
| Johannesburg | R27 000–R35 000 | R35 000–R48 000 | R48 000–R78 000 |
| Cape Town | R25 000–R30 000 | R30 000–R45 000 | R45 000–R60 000 |
PR consultancies/corporate communications |
|||
Managing director |
|||
| Johannesburg | R65 000–R75 000 | R75 000–R80 000 | R80 000–R130 000 |
| Cape Town | R55 000–R65 000 | R65 000–R70 000 | R70 000–R130 000 |
Account director |
|||
| Johannesburg | R35 000–R41 000 | R41 000–R55 000 | R55 000–R68 000 |
| Cape Town | R35 000–R40 000 | R40 000–R45 000 | R45 000–R55 000 |
Account manager |
|||
| Johannesburg | R25 000–R32 000 | R32 000–R38 000 | R38 000+ |
| Cape Town | R22 000–R26 000 | R26 000–R31 000 | R31 000+ |
Account executive |
|||
| Johannesburg | R16 000–R21 000 | R21 000–R24 000 | N/A |
| Cape Town | R14 000–R19 000 | R19 000–R21 000 | N/A |
Public relations assistant |
|||
| Johannesburg | R10 000–R16 000 | R16 000–R19 000 | N/A |
| Cape Town | R9 000–R15 000 | R15 000–R18 000 | N/A |
Media |
|||
Media director |
|||
| Johannesburg | R40 000–R50 000 | R50 000–R55 000 | R55 000–R85 000 |
| Cape Town | R32 000–R40 000 | R40 000–R50 000 | R50 000–R80 000 |
Media planner |
|||
| Johannesburg | R30 000–R33 000 | R33 000–R45 000 | R45 000–R60 000 |
| Cape Town | R22 000–R30 000 | R30 000–R37 000 | R37 000–R42 000 |
Media buyer |
|||
| Johannesburg | R16 000–R23 000 | R23 000–R33 000 | R33 000–R43 000 |
| Cape Town | R15 000–R18 000 | R18 000–R25 000 | R25 000–R30 000 |
Media strategist |
|||
| Johannesburg | R33 000–R38 000 | R38 000–R48 000 | R48 000+ |
| Cape Town | R25 000–R28 000 | R28 000–R38 000 | R38 000+ |
Media sales executive |
|||
| Johannesburg | R25 000–R28 000 | R28 000–R40 000 | R40 000+ |
| Cape Town | R20 000–R25 000 | R25 000–R38 000 | R38 000+ |
Media sales director |
|||
| Johannesburg | R38 000–R42 000 | R42 000–R55 000 | R55 000+ |
| Cape Town | R35 000–R40 000 | R40 000–R50 000 | R50 000+ |
Media sales digital |
|||
| Johannesburg | R27 000–R35 000 | R35 000–R45 000 | R45 000+ |
| Cape Town | R25 000–R28 000 | R28 000–R38 000 | R38 000+ |
Digital media strategist |
|||
| Johannesburg | R40 000–R48 000 | R48 000–R58 000 | R58 000+ |
| Cape Town | R32 000–R40 000 | R40 000–R50 000 | R50 000+ |
Campaign manager |
|||
| Johannesburg | R22 000–R32 000 | R32 000–R42 000 | R42 000+ |
| Cape Town | R20 000–R28 000 | R28 000–R35 000 | R35 000+ |
See also
- Salary Survey 2019: Who earns what in adland & marketing in South Africa
- Salary Survey 2018: Who earns what in adland & marketing in South Africa
- Salary Survey 2017: Who earns what in adland & marketing in South Africa
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