Even in digital where talent is scarce and competition for it is fierce, those at the top of the agency game often earn significantly more than those on the rungs below them. WPP’s chief digital officer Mark Read, for example, earned over $2 million in 2011 according to company filings.
With that in mind, Digiday decided to examine exactly what that kind of money could buy at the agency level if it wasn’t being spent on holding company execs. Based on our reporting and research by The Creative Group, this is the digital talent we estimate $2 million a year could pay for.
–
5 chief digital officers
At major traditional agencies, chief digital officers can earn upwards of $350,000. You could hire five of them for $2 million a year.
–
12 interactive creative directors
In digital, creative directors pull in around $160,000 on average. At that rate, $2 million a year would pay for 12 of them.
–
18 digital strategists
Digital strategists command around $110,000, so $2 million a year would buy 18.
–
50 junior media buyers
Entry-level digital media buying positions start at around $40,000 at major media agencies. At that rate, $2 million a year would pay for 50 of them.
–
30 social media specialists
$2 million a year would afford 30 social media specialists at around $65,000 each.
–
20 UX designers
Mid-level user experience people earn salaries upwards of $100,000. Based on that figure, $2 million would pay 22 for 12 months.
–
22 SEO/SEM specialists
Search specialists earn, on average, around $90,000 a year. $2 million would employ 22 of them.
Image via Shutterstock
More in Marketing
Chasing U.S. growth, Tony’s Chocolonely focuses on a retail media and social blend
Premium chocolate brand Tony’s Chocolonely is focusing on retail media and paid social as it targets U.S. growth.
The year the memes took over reality – and marketing followed
Subcultures aren’t niche anymore — they’re the culture. And for marketers, that changes everything.
How to expand programmatic advertising up the funnel, with TripAdvisor’s Matteo Balzani
TripAdvisor marketing exec Matteo Balzani broke down the company’s plans for broadening its programmatic strategy during a live recording of the Digiday Podcast at the Digiday Programmatic Marketing Summit.