Insightful Digital Marketing / Communication Salary survey published
IAB South Africa recently released the first industry-accredited survey into salary levels of professionals within communication and digital marketing jobs. The survey is basically a snapshot of the digital space in South Africa and we’re pretty sure that you’ll find this insightful if you’re working in this industry.
Here are some key take-outs from the survey:
- Larger agencies on average offer 8% higher salaries compared to medium sized agencies. Larger agencies are also more likely to invest more in experienced leaders when it comes to regional and business unit autonomy.
- Mid-level agencies are more likely to employ 1. inexperienced leaders with a “throw-in-the-deep-end-and-swim approach”, 2. senior client-facing & project management personnel that can handle clients / project tasks independently and 3. specialist leaders in design vacancies and programming.
- Mid-level agencies are willing to pay someone entering the industry more than larger agencies.
- The top 5 highest earning roles when it comes to digital jobs (excluding executive / business unit leadership) are: Project Director, Art Director, Paid Search Manager, Account Director and Operations Manager.
- The top 5 lowest earning jobs in digital (excluding interns, PA & Office Manager) are Content Writer, Database Analyst, Community Manager, Photographer / Videographer and Front-End Developer jobs (non-specialist).
- Content Writers, Editors, Media Buyers, Affiliate Marketers, CRM Specialists, Database Analysts and Photographers / Videographers have minimal full-time representation in the agencies that were included in the survey. These roles are often utilised on a freelance / outsource basis.
- Salaries for Programming jobs are 26% lower when compared to salaries in the ICT sector.
- 82% of agencies surveyed have at least one employee benefit programme in place. Just over 50% of them provide employees with Provident Fund / Medical Aid benefits and 68% offer a formalised Bonus structure.
Here’s the detailed breakdown of executive leadership salaries from the survey:
Here’s a detailed breakdown of business unit leadership salaries from the survey:
Here’s a breakdown of operational salaries from the survey:
Here’s a breakdown of client service salaries from the survey:
Here’s a breakdown of project management salaries from the survey:
Here’s a breakdown of strategy salaries from the survey:
Here’s a breakdown of design salaries from the survey:
Here’s a breakdown of programming salaries from the survey:
Here’s a breakdown of SEO salaries from the survey:
Here’s a breakdown of media salaries from the survey:
Here’s a breakdown of social, content & CRM salaries from the survey:
Here’s a breakdown of intern salaries from the survey:
IAB South Africa is an independent, voluntary, non-profit association which is focused on both growing and sustaining a profitable and vibrant digital industry in South Africa. They currently represent more than 200 members including online publishers, brands and educational institutions, as well as creative, media and digital agencies. Their aim is to provide their members with a platform to engage on digital issues of the day, leading to stimulated growth and learning within the South African digital sphere.
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