Specialist Marketing & Creative Recruitment
Agency Salary Survey for 2014 • Account Handling Salaries • Creative Salaries
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blueskiescareers.co.uk Blue Skies Midlands & South West
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Account Handling Salaries A message from our Consultants Well what a year it’s been in the agency world, and it’s certainly not slowing down! One thing is for sure, there is a lot more confidence in the market, and as a result of that we have had a noticeable influx of agency roles being registered as agencies once again start to expand their teams. I have noticed a steady increase in Account Manager level roles in particular becoming available, but with a limited number of Account Managers in the market, agencies have to react quickly and really sell themselves in order to secure the best talent. The market is still very much candidate driven, with those highly sought after candidates being snapped up by those agencies willing to offer flexibility across a range of areas.
Another thing I have noticed is the continual increase in digital roles being registered, as the digital market continues to grow and develop. In line with this we have seen increased demand for talented digital exec candidates in particular, who are being attracted by those forward thinking agencies who are able to really sell their digital presence in the market, making a move more appealing. I’m confident that 2014 will see a continued growth in the agency world and, as even more confidence in the market develops, an increase in candidates looking to make a move. No doubt there will be ups and downs, but by engaging Blue Skies the risk when getting a new hire is reduced and the journey is a positive one. We’ll always work hard to secure you the very best talent available Lizzie Stokes - Senior Agency Consultant – Account Handling
2013 continued to see an increase for freelancers compared to that of 2012, with agencies opting to bring in freelance staff as additional resource for projects and add any missing specialist skills to their teams. In turn, day rates have increased with agencies willing to pay to bring in the experienced resource in line and surpassing permanent expectations and experienced freelancers able to command higher day rates. .
Whilst our counterparts on permanent have seen demand at the mid-level, freelance has seen the most at the Account Director, Senior PM, Creative Director level. 2014 is set once again to see an increase, as freelancers become a more and more valuable part of the team Chris Sims - Agency Freelance Consultant
Account Handling Salaries Position
Salaries
Salaries
Day
Account Handling
Average
Maximum
Average
Client Services Director Group Account Director Senior Account Director Account Director Senior Account Manager
70k 55k 48k 37k 30k
104k 90k 65k 57k 35k
500+ 400+ 300+ 200-250 160-180
Account Manager Senior Account Executive Account Executive Junior Account Executive
25k 22k 18k 15k
30k 22k 21k 18k
140-150 120-140 100 N/A
Business Development Director Business Development Manager
45k 30k
60k 50k
250+ 100-250
Business Development Executive
20k
30k
N/A
65k 60k 50k 40k 35k 28k 23k 18k 15k
100k 90k 70k 55k 40k 30k 25k 24k 18k
500+ 400+ 300+ 200-250 160-180 140-150 120-140 100 N/A
60k
85k
500+
46k 42k 35k 30k 25k 21k 17k
50k 48k 42k 33k 28k 23k 19k
400+ 300+ 200-250 160-180 140-150 120-140 100
15k
16k
N/A
Digital Digital Client Services Director Digital Group Account Director Digital Senior Account Director Digital Account Director Digital Senior Account Manager Digital Account Manager Digital Senior Account Executive Digital Account Executive Digital Junior Account Executive PR PR Client Services Director PR Group Account Director PR Senior Account Director PR Account Director PR Senior Account Manager PR Account Manager PR Senior Account Executive PR Account Executive PR Junior Account Executive
All figures are shown in ÂŁ sterling. Source: Blue Skies Marketing Recruitment
10k
20k
30k
40k
50k
60k
70k
80k
90k
100k
Creative Salaries A message from our Consultants The freelance creative market has certainly gone from strength to strength this year with Sophie and Emma helping to supply both in-house creative teams and marketing agencies with talented freelance creatives. The main needs called upon still seem to be for creative artworkers and good all-round designer/artworkers who can come into a team and instantly and seamlessly work with the studio to deliver print ready artwork. Towards the end of the year, the call for senior creatives and Art Directors certainly increased. Many clients have seen the value of hiring some good senior conceptual talent, as it gives an edge to their current team and has helped win many a pitch for some of our clients.
Another action packed year for us in the creative team with a huge increase in permanent recruitment from the year before, as confidence returned to the creative industry! Wow! 2013 has been a rollercoaster of a ride. The Blue Skies creative team have been recruiting roles ranging from your typical Designer, Artworker and Copywriter roles to the more complex like, Visual Merchandiser, Head Photographer, Creative Director, Travel Retail Production Director and 3D Designer...that’s an eclectic mix and has kept us extremely busy! Whilst there is still a need for clients to find creatives that are multi-skilled and have more than one arrow to their bow, clients are now realising that exceptional candidates get snapped up quickly. The sense of urgency has once again returned to vacancies and the quote ‘speed is of the essence with this one’ has featured in many an email and telephone conversation.
Digital designers and developers are still being called upon as much as they were last year but the supply is still is harder on these roles. There simply aren’t as many freelancers with this skill set, although many clients are seeing the benefit of using remote working freelancers. We are confident that freelance creative will continue to grow in 2014 and we will work hand in hand with our permanent team to deliver the best possible talent to our clients. Emma Head & Sophie Flynn Freelance Creative Consultants
We predict that this will continue long in to 2014 as confidence in the industry grows and a healthy and competitive market place returns. This increased certainty and confidence from clients will result in a positive impact on candidates as more and more will undoubtedly look to move on in the New Year. So to summarise, 2013 has been a good year for us at Blue Skies and we’re confident that 2014 is set to be even better! If you’re looking to hire a creative in the New Year, we really are in a superb position to help, so give us a call for a friendly and professional chat. Laura Mercer and Georgina Kaye – Agency Creative Consultants
Creative Salaries Position
Salaries
Salaries
Day
Creative
Average
Maximum
Average
Executive Creative Director Creative Director Deputy Creative Director Senior Art Director Midweight Art Director
60k 50k 40k 25k
Junior Art Director Senior Copywriter Midweight Copywriter Junior Copywriter
16k 25k 18k
80k 140k 90k 60k 50k 30k
500+ 350-400 300-350 250-300 200-250
22k 40k 30k 24k
N/A 300 240 N/A
60k 42k 28k 22k
350-400 300 200-250 N/A
38k 35k 30k 30k 22k 20k 28k
45k 42k 35k 35k 25k 25k 38k
300+ 300+ 250 250 200 200 200+
45k 28k
300 250
22k
180
45k 35k 28k 22k 40k
250+ 200-220 170-200 N/A 250
35k
Design 35k 25k 18k
Design Director Senior Designer Midweight Designer Junior Designer
45k
Web Senior Web Developer - Back End Senior Web Developer - Front End Midweight Web Developer - Back End Midweight Web Developer - Front End Junior Developer - Back End Junior Deveoper - Front End Digital Project Manager Digital Designers Senior Designer Midweight Designer Junior Designer
40k 25k 20k
Studio Studio Manager Senior Creative Artworker Midweight Creative Artworker Junior Creative Artworker
35k 28k 24k 18k 30k
Retoucher/Illustrator
All figures are shown in ÂŁ sterling. Source: Blue Skies Marketing Recruitment
10k
20k
30k
40k
50k
60k
70k
80k
90k
100k
Creative Salaries Position
Salaries
Salaries
Day
Creative Services
Average
Maximum
Average
Creative Services Director Creative Services Manager Production Manager Project Manager Proofreader
45k 35k 30k 30k 20k
55k 45k 45k 45k 25k
300+ 200+ 200+ 200+ 150-200
Traffic Manager
30k
35k
200+
All figures are shown in ÂŁ sterling. Source: Blue Skies Marketing Recruitment
10k
20k
30k
40k
50k
60k
70k
80k
90k
100k
Agency insight Salary Increases & Decreases
Benefits received
10%
Decrease
30%
Neither
60% Increase
Laptop
Gym
Mobile
Data obtained from 500 completed surveys of Blue Skies live candidates
Bonus
Car
Health care
Pension