by MarkLives (@marklives) Recruitment agency, Ad Talent, has released its 2017 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
- from salary information obtained from all candidates interviewed from January 2016 to December 2016
- from salary information obtained from candidates who have submitted their CVs to the recruiter
- using cost to company (CTC) figures, and
- using the average 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.
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 | R85 000 – R95 000 | R95 000 – R140 000 | R140 000+ |
| Cape Town | R77 000 – R87 000 | R87 000 – R115 000 | R115 000+ |
| Deputy MD | |||
| Johannesburg | R73 000 – R85 000 | R85 000 – R95 000 | R95 000+ |
| Cape Town | R70 000 – R75 000 | R75 000 – R89 000 | R89 000+ |
Client Service/Business Unit Director |
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| Johannesburg | R49 000 – R54 000 | R54 000 – R59 000 | R59 000+ |
| Cape Town | R40 000 – R45 000 | R45 000 – R55 000 | R55 000+ |
Group Account Director |
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| Johannesburg | R45 000 – R50 000 | R50 000 – R54 000 | R54 000+ |
| Cape Town | R38 000 – R42 000 | R42 000 – R48 000 | R48 000+ |
Account Director |
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| Johannesburg | R33 500 – R36 500 | R36 500 – R46 000 | R46 000+ |
| Cape Town | R29 000 – R33 000 | R33 000 – R43 000 | R43 000+ |
Account Manager |
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| Johannesburg | R20 000 – R24 000 | R24 000 – R33 500 | N/A |
| Cape Town | R15 000 – R19 000 | R19 000 – R27 000 | N/A |
Account Executive |
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| Johannesburg | R10 000 – R13 000 | R13 000 – R20 000 | N/A |
| Cape Town | R9 000 – R11 000 | R11 000 – R17 000 | N/A |
Project Manager |
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| Johannesburg | R22 000 – R26 000 | R26 000 – R36 000 | R36 000+ |
| Cape Town | R19 000 – R26 000 | R26 000 – R36 000 | R36 000+ |
Operations |
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| Johannesburg | R45 000 – R55 000 | R55 000 – R75 000 | R75 000+ |
| Cape Town | R44 000 – R54 000 | R54 000 – R64 000 | R64 000+ |
Production |
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| Johannesburg | R9 000 – R17 500 | R17 500 – R35 000 | R35 000+ |
| Cape Town | R8 500 – R16 000 | R16 000 – R29 000 | R29 000+ |
Traffic |
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| Johannesburg | R11 000 – R17 000 | R17 000 – R32 000 | R32 000+ |
| Cape Town | R10 000 – R16 000 | R16 000 – R29 000 | R29 000+ |
Strategic Planning Director |
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| Johannesburg | R53 000 – R65 000 | R65 000 – R80 000 | R80 000+ |
| Cape Town | R45 000 – R60 000 | R60 000 – R78 000 | R78 000+ |
Strategic Planner |
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| Johannesburg | R15 000 – R25 000 | R25 000 – R43 000 | R43 000+ |
| Cape Town | R13 000 – R20 000 | R20 000 – R38 000 | R38 000+ |
Digital |
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0–2 yrs (light) |
2–5 yrs (medium) |
5–9 yrs (heavyweight) |
|
Strategist |
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| Johannesburg | R17 000 – R29 000 | R29 000 – R47 000 | R47 000+ |
| Cape Town | R18 000 – R28 000 | R28 000 – R43 000 | R43 000+ |
Project Manager |
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| Johannesburg | R24 500 – R30 000 | R30 000 – R37 000 | R37 000+ |
| Cape Town | R20 000 – R28 000 | R28 000 – R40 000 | R40 000+ |
Social Media Brand Manager |
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| Johannesburg | R17 000 – R24 000 | R24 000 – R38 000 | R38 000+ |
| Cape Town | R15 000 – R19 000 | R19 000 – R27 000 | R27 000+ |
Social Media and Analytics Specialist |
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| Johannesburg | R19 000 – R29 000 | R29 000 – R46 000 | R46 000+ |
| Cape Town | R17 000 – R25 000 | R25 000 – R39 000 | R39 000+ |
Social Media Community Manager |
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| Johannesburg | R13 000 – R17 500 | R17 500 – R32 000 | N/A |
| Cape Town | R10 000 – R16 000 | R16 000 – R23 000 | N/A |
Content Manager |
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| Johannesburg | R14 000 – R20 000 | R20 000 – R30 000 | R30 000+ |
| Cape Town | R10 000 – R16 000 | R16 000 – R22 000 | R22 000+ |
Creative: Traditional |
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0–2 yrs (light) |
2–5 yrs (medium) |
5–9 yrs (heavyweight) |
|
Group/Executive Creative Director |
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| Johannesburg | N/A | N/A | R100 000+ |
| Cape Town | N/A | N/A | R85 000+ |
Creative Director |
Small Studio | Med-Large Agency (2 – 5yrs) | Med-large Agency (5yrs+) |
| Johannesburg | R48 000 – R68 000 | R55 000 – R75 000 | R75 000+ |
| Cape Town | R37 000 – R48 000 | R48 000 – R62 000 | R62 000+ |
Head of Design |
Small Studio | Med-Large Agency (0 – 5yrs) | Med-large Agency (5yrs+) |
| Johannesburg | R35 000 – R50 000 | R50 000 – R55 000 | R55 000+ |
| Cape Town | R27 000 – R35 000 | R35 000 – R45 000 | R45 000+ |
Creative Group Head |
Small Studio | Med-Large Agency (0 – 5yrs) | Med-large Agency (5yrs+) |
| Johannesburg | R35 000 – R45 000 | R45 000 – R53 000 | R53 000+ |
| Cape Town | R25 000 – R32 000 | R32 000 – R43 000 | R43 000+ |
Designer |
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| Johannesburg | R10 000 – R16 000 | R16 000 – R30 000 | R30 000+ |
| Cape Town | R10 000 – R14 000 | R14 000 – R25 000 | R25 000+ |
Art Director |
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| Johannesburg | R11 000 – R17 000 | R17 000 – R35 000 | R35 000 – R53 000 |
| Cape Town | R10 000 – R15 000 | R15 000 – R30 000 | R30 000 – R45 000 |
Copywriter |
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| Johannesburg | R9 500 – R17 000 | R17 000 – R35 000 | R35 000 – R65 000 |
| Cape Town | R10 000 – R15 000 | R15 000 – R25 000 | R25 000 – R50 000 |
Head of DTP/Studio Manager |
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| Johannesburg | R27 000 – R32 000 | R32 000 – R35 000 | R35 000 – R48 000 |
| Cape Town | R20 000 – R25 000 | R25 000 – R30 000 | R30 000 – R45 000 |
DTP Operator |
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| Johannesburg | R9 500 – R16 000 | R16 000 – R25 000 | R25 000 – R38 000 |
| Cape Town | R8 000 – R15 000 | R15 000 – R20 000 | R20 000 – R35 000 |
Creative: Digital |
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0–2 yrs (light) |
2–5 yrs (medium) |
5–9 yrs (heavyweight) |
|
Digital Art Director |
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| Johannesburg | R13 000 – R18 000 | R18 000 – R35 000 | R35 000 – R50 000 |
| Cape Town | R13 000 – R16 000 | R16 000 – R30 000 | R30 000 – R40 000 |
Digital Designer/Multimedia Designer |
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| Johannesburg | R13 000 – R18 000 | R18 000 – R35 000 | R35 000 – R48 000 |
| Cape Town | R13 000 – R16 000 | R16 000 – R30 000 | R30 000 – R40 000 |
User Experience (UX) Designers |
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| Johannesburg | R16 000 – R25 000 | R25 000 – R38 000 | R38 000+ |
| Cape Town | R13 000 – R20 000 | R20 000 – R35 000 | R35 000+ |
User Interface (UI) Designers |
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| Johannesburg | R16 000 – R25 000 | R25 000 – R38 000 | R38 000+ |
| Cape Town | R13 000 – R20 000 | R20 000 – R35 000 | R35 000+ |
Full-stack Developer |
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| Johannesburg | R12 500 – R20 000 | R20 000 – R35 000 | R35 000 – R50 000 |
| Cape Town | R12 000 – R17 000 | R17 000 – R25 000 | R25 000 – R45 000 |
Front-end Developer |
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| Johannesburg | R12 500 – R18 000 | R18 000 – R34 000 | R34 000 – R52 000 |
| Cape Town | R10 000 – R15 000 | R15 000 – R25 000 | R25 000 – R45 000 |
Back-end Developer |
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| Johannesburg | R18 000 – R22 000 | R22 000 – R45 000 | R45 000+ |
| Cape Town | R17 000 – R22 000 | R22 000 – R40 000 | R40 000+ |
Marketing |
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0–2 yrs (light) |
2–5 yrs (medium) |
5–9 yrs (heavyweight) |
|
Head of Digital and Insights Marketing |
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| Johannesburg | N/A | R50 000 – R63 000 | R63 000+ |
| Cape Town | N/A | R45 000 – R55 000 | R55 000+ |
CRM and Loyalty Manager |
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| Johannesburg | N/A | R37 000 – R48 000 | R48 000+ |
| Cape Town | N/A | R33 000 – R44 000 | R44 000+ |
Online Marketing Manager |
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| Johannesburg | N/A | R32 000 – R44 000 | R44 000+ |
| Cape Town | N/A | R27 000 – R33 000 | R33 000+ |
Marketing Director/Group Marketing Head/Head of Brand |
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| Johannesburg | R75 000 – R83 000 | R83 000 – R140 000 | R140 000+ |
| Cape Town | R60 000 – R74 000 | R74 000 – R125 000 | R125 000+ |
Marketing Manager/Group Brand Manager |
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| Johannesburg | R50 000 – R53 000 | R53 000 – R75 000 | R75 000+ |
| Cape Town | R44 000 – R50 000 | R50 000 – R60 000 | R60 000+ |
Brand/Product Manager |
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| Johannesburg | R20 000 – R29 000 | R29 000 – R49 000 | R49 000+ |
| Cape Town | R18 000 – R28 000 | R28 000 – R45 000 | R45 000+ |
Brand/Marketing Assistant |
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| Johannesburg | R12 500 – R19 000 | R19 000 – R33 000 | N/A |
| Cape Town | R12 000 – R18 000 | R18 000 – R25 000 | N/A |
Corporate Communications |
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0–2 yrs (light) |
2–5 yrs (medium) |
5–9 yrs (heavyweight) |
|
Communications Director |
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| Johannesburg | R37 000 – R55 000 | R53 000 – R75 000 | R63 000 – R130 000 |
| Cape Town | R32 000 – R42 000 | R42 000 – R62 000 | R62 000 – R100 000 |
Communications Manager |
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| Johannesburg | R28 000 – R38 000 | R38 000 – R65 000 | R65 000 – R85 000 |
| Cape Town | R23 000 – R34 000 | R34 000 – R43 000 | R43 000 – R70 000 |
Communications Officer/Consultant |
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| Johannesburg | R20 000 – R28 000 | R28 000 – R40 000 | R40 000 – R44 000 |
| Cape Town | R16 000 – R26 000 | R26 000 – R32 000 | R32 000 – R41 000 |
Events Manager |
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| Johannesburg | R25 000 – R32 000 | R32 000 – R38 000 | R38 000 – R65 000 |
| Cape Town | R20 000 – R28 000 | R28 000 – R33 000 | R33 000 – R60 000 |
Events Coordinator |
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| Johannesburg | R18 000 – R22 000 | R22 000 – R30 000 | R30 000+ |
| Cape Town | R15 000 – R20 000 | R20 000 – R27 000 | R27 000+ |
Internal Communications Manager |
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| Johannesburg | R27 000 – R32 000 | R32 000 – R45 000 | R45 000 – R75 000 |
| Cape Town | R22 000 – R28 000 | R28 000 – R38 000 | R38 000 – R50 000 |
PR Consultancies |
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0–2 yrs (light) |
2–5 yrs (medium) |
5–9 yrs (heavyweight) |
|
Managing Director |
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| 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 – R110 000 |
Account Director |
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| Johannesburg | R35 000 – R41 000 | R41 000 – R50 000 | R50 000 – R65 000 |
| Cape Town | R31 000 – R36 000 | R36 000 – R41 000 | R41 000 – R50 000 |
Account Manager |
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| Johannesburg | R25 000 – R30 000 | R30 000 – R36 000 | R36 000+ |
| Cape Town | R22 000 – R26 000 | R26 000 – R31 000 | R31 000+ |
Account Executive |
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| 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 |
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| Johannesburg | R10 000 – R14 000 | R14 000 – R19 000 | N/A |
| Cape Town | R8 500 – R13 000 | R13 000 – R18 000 | N/A |
Sponsorship Manager |
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| Johannesburg | R22 000 – R30 000 | R30 000 – R45 000 | R45 000 – R75 000 |
| Cape Town | R20 000 – R25 000 | R25 000 – R38 000 | R38 000 – R60 000 |
Media |
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0–2 yrs (light) |
2–5 yrs (medium) |
5–9 yrs (heavyweight) |
|
Media Director |
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| Johannesburg | R35 000 – R41 000 | R41 000 – R50 000 | R50 000 – R75 000 |
| Cape Town | R27 000 – R35 000 | R35 000 – R46 000 | R46 000 – R70 000 |
Media Planner |
|||
| Johannesburg | R27 000 – R30 000 | R30 000 – R40 000 | R40 000 – R50 000 |
| Cape Town | R20 000 – R25 000 | R25 000 – R33 000 | R33 000 – R43 000 |
Media Buyer |
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| Johannesburg | R16 000 – R21 000 | R21 000 – R30 000 | R30 000 – R40 000 |
| Cape Town | R12 000 – R15 000 | R15 000 – R22 000 | R22 000 – R35 000 |
Media Strategist |
|||
| Johannesburg | R28 000 – R32 000 | R32 000 – R45 000 | R45 000 – R75 000 |
| Cape Town | R22 000 – R27 000 | R27 000 – R37 000 | R37 000 – R65 000 |
Media Sales Executive |
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| Johannesburg | R22 000 – R27 000 | R27 000 – R37 000 | R37 000+ |
| Cape Town | R20 000 – R25 000 | R25 000 – R35 000 | R35 000+ |
Media Sales Director |
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| Johannesburg | R35 000 – R40 000 | R40 000 – R48 000 | R48 000 – R90 000 |
| Cape Town | R30 000 – R35 000 | R35 000 – R45 000 | R45 000 – R70 000 |
Media Sales Digital |
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| Johannesburg | R27 000 – R32 000 | R32 000 – R45 000 | R45 000+ |
| Cape Town | R20 000 – R27 000 | R27 000 – R35 000 | R35 000+ |
Digital Media Strategist |
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| Johannesburg | R30 000 – R35 000 | R35 000 – R50 000 | R50 000+ |
| Cape Town | R27 000 – R32 000 | R32 000 – R42 000 | R42 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
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