Remuneration & Payroll News South Africa

Annual Ad Talent Salary Survey

Ad Talent has released its latest salary survey following a year which has seen remote working, shifting work hours and the bid for scarce skills greatly impact remuneration structures.
Image source: Denis Ismagilov –
Image source: Denis Ismagilov – 123RF.com

Among the observations, Brenda Bensted-Smith, owner of Ad Talent says, "We have seen more digital, more tech, more remote working, more contract employment and more global engagement."

Key observations:

  • There was not much movement with regards to salary in 2022, except in tech and senior creative positions
  • There was a seismic shift in employer, employee relationships and working environments
  • In line with our 2021 survey, there is a continuing trend towards hiring on freelance, contract or short-term permanent basis with employers justifying this strategy by saying they are only dealing with tangible business in front of them
  • Hiring on contract with a view to go permanent is a common brief for us
  • Job descriptions became more blurred with hybrid skills high on the list of 'must haves' in the brief to us
  • Employers are demanding more work for the same pay. This doesn’t reflect in our survey as salary categories are quite binary and categorised into specific job descriptions
  • Despite the increase in opportunities in Cape Town and an increase in remote working the remuneration gap between Johannesburg and Cape Town is still evident
  • Remuneration in the tech space between the Johannesburg and Cape Town has closed and we have seen no difference between the two cities in most tech categories
  • We noticed an increase of approximately 10% in senior creatives
  • The difference between Johannesburg and Cape Town at junior to mid-level is significant at up to 20% in some categories
  • The “Events” category makes a comeback this year after missing the last two years because of Covid
  • Skilled candidates remain in high demand and their demands have shifted from strong financial rewards to flexibility around working hours and remote working. Lifestyle is a key factor for many when deciding to advance their careers
  • Sought-after skills such as social media and tech roles are well rewarded
  • Many candidates say they have taken on side hustles to make ends meet
  • The global workspace is open for South Africans and there are increasing opportunities for local talent to play on the world stage
  • The financial impact of Covid is still very evident and both employers and candidates are wary of risk
  • We have seen more counter-offers from employers upon resignation in 2022 than in any other year. Most counter-offers arise when employees resign because they want flexible work from home arrangements which the employer then grants
  • Skilled candidates are in demand and they know it!

Survey parameters

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 2022 to December 2022
  • 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 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 – 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)
Digital Strategist
JohannesburgR20 000 – R34 000R34 000 – R50 000R50 000+
Cape TownR20 000 – R30 000R30 000 – R50 000R50 000+
Social Media Manager
JohannesburgR22 000 – R30 000R30 000 – R45 000R45 000+
Cape TownR17 000 – R20 000R20 000 – R30 000R30 000+
Head of Social Media
JohannesburgR40 000 – R47 000R47 000 – R65 000R65 000+
Cape TownR38 000 – R45 000R45 000 – R60 000R60 000+
Social Media Community Manager
JohannesburgR15 000 – R22 000R22 000 – R38 000N/A
Cape TownR15 000 – R18 000R18 000 – R30 000N/A
Influencer
JohannesburgR15 000 – R28 000R28 000 – R40 000R40 000+
Cape TownR12 000 – R28 000R28 000 – R40 000R40 000+
Campaign Manager
JohannesburgR21 000 – R32 000R32 000 – R40 000R40 000+
Cape TownR20 000 – R28 000R28 000 – R35 000R35 000+
Content Manager
JohannesburgR20 000 – R38 000R38 000 – R40 000R40 000+
Cape TownR15 000 – R25 000R25 000 – R38 000R35 000+
Digital Account Executive
JohannesburgR17 000 – R20 000R20 000 – R23 000N/A
Cape TownR14 000 – R18 000R18 000 – R20 000N/A
Digital Account Manager
JohannesburgR26 500 – R30 000R30 000 – R40 000N/A
Cape TownR20 000 – R25 000R25 000 – R35 000N/A
Digital Account Director
JohannesburgR40 000 – R45 000R45 000 – R50 000N/A
Cape TownR37 000 – R42 000R42 000 – R48 000N/A
Digital Group Account Director
JohannesburgR52 000 – R56 000R56 000 – R62 000R62 000+
Cape TownR47 000 – R52 000R52 000 – R58 000R58 000+
SEO Specialist
JohannesburgR20 000 – R28 000R28 000 – R38 000R38 000+
Cape TownR18 000 – R25 000R25 000 – R30 000R30 000+
PPC Specialist / Manager
JohannesburgR20 000 – R23 000R23 000 – R35 000R35 000+
Cape TownR15 000 – R20 000R20 000 – R30 000R30 000+
Data Insights Specialist
JohannesburgR25 000 – R35 000R35 000 – R50 000R50 000+
Cape TownR25 000 – R35 000R35 000 – R50 000R50 000+
Head of Data Insights and Analytics
JohannesburgR50 000 – R80 000R80 000 – R120 000R120 000+
Cape TownR50 000 – R80 000R80 000 – R120 000R120 000+
Digital / Media / Marketing Analyst
JohannesburgR20 000 – R30 000R30 000 – R40 000R40 000+
Cape TownR18 000 – R25 000R25 000 – R38 000R38 000+

Creative
0-2 yrs (light)2 – 5 yrs (medium)5 – 9 yrs (heavyweight)
Chief Creative Officer
JohannesburgN/AN/AR150 000+
Cape TownN/AN/AR135 000+
Group/Executive Creative Director
JohannesburgN/AN/AR120 000+
Cape TownN/AN/AR105 000+
Creative Director
JohannesburgR52 000 – R68 000R68 000 – R95 000R95 000+
Cape TownR40 000 – R48 000R48 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 – 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 – R45 000R45 000 – R70 000
Cape TownR10 000 – R17 000R17 000 – R38 000R38 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 – 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
JohannesburgR20 000 – R25 000R25 000 – R45 000R45 000 – R58 000
Cape TownR15 000 – R20 000R20 000 – R35 000R35 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
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 Experience (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
JohannesburgR25 000 – R35 000R35 000 – R59 000R59 000+
Cape TownR25 000 – R35 000R35 000 – R59 000R59 000+
Back-end Developer
JohannesburgR28 000 – R50 000R50 000 – R70 000R70 000+
Cape TownR28 000 – R50 000R50 000 – R70 000R70 000+
Full-stack Developer
JohannesburgR28 000 – R45 000R45 000 – R60 000R60 000+
Cape TownR28 000 – R45 000R45 000 – R60 000R60 000+
Web Engineer
JohannesburgR36 000 – R50 000R50 000 – R90 000R90 000+
Cape TownR36 000 – R50 000R50 000 – R90 000R90 000+
Java Developer
JohannesburgR25 000 – R35 000R35 000 – R70 000R70 000+
Cape TownR25 000 – R35 000R35 000 – R70 000R70 000+
Scrum Masters
JohannesburgR24 000 – R34 000R34 000 – R55 000R55 000+
Cape TownR24 000 – R34 000R34 000 – R55 000R55 000+
IT Manager
JohannesburgR25 000 – R35 000R35 000 – R55 000R55 000+
Cape TownR25 000 – R38 000R38 000 – R58 000R58 000+
Solutions Architect
JohannesburgR35 000 – R45 000R45 000 – R70 000R70 000+
Cape TownR35 000 – R45 000R45 000 – R65 000R65 000+

Marketing
0-2 yrs (light)2 – 5 yrs (medium)5 – 9 yrs (heavyweight)
Head of Digital Marketing
JohannesburgR45 000 – R60 000R60 000 – R80 000R80 000+
Cape TownR40 000 – R55 000R55 000 – R75 000R75 000+
Digital Marketing Manager
JohannesburgR35 000 – R48 000R48 000 – R60 000R60 000+
Cape TownR32 000 – R45 000R45 000 – R55 000R55 000+
Group Marketing Head
JohannesburgR79 000 – R86 000R86 000 – R145 000R145 000+
Cape TownR64 000 – R77 000R77 000 – R135 000R135 000+
Marketing Director
JohannesburgR58 000 – R72 000R72 000 – R88 000R88 000+
Cape TownR54 000 – R70 000R70 000 – R80 000R80 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
JohannesburgR30 000 – R40 000R40 000 – R60 000R60 000+
Cape TownR30 000 – R38 000R38 000 – R55 000R55 000+
Brand/Marketing Assistant
JohannesburgR15 000 – R25 000R25 000 – R35 000N/A
Cape TownR15 000 – R20 000R20 000 – R32 000N/A
Martech (Marketing Technology Specialist)
JohannesburgR38 000 – R52 000R52 000 – R65 000R65 000+
Cape TownR35 000 – R45 000R45 000 – R60 000R60 000+
Loyalty/CRM Manager
JohannesburgR25 000 – R45 000R45 000 – R55 000R55 000+
Cape TownR25 000 – R45 000R45 000 – R55 000R55 000+

Corporate Communications
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 – 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+
Media Sales Executive
JohannesburgR25 000 – R30 000R30 000 – R40 000R40 000+
Cape TownR20 000 – R28 000R28 000 – R38 000R38 000+
Digital Sales Executive
JohannesburgR27 000 – R35 000R35 000 – R45 000R45 000+
Cape TownR25 000 – R30 000R30 000 – R42 000R42 000+
Events Manager
JohannesburgR15 000 – R25 000R25 000 – R45 000R45 000+
Cape TownR12 000 – R20 000R20 000 – R40 000R40 000+

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