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2014 SALARY SURVEY - gdc.design · professionals, advertising executives, copywriters and...
Transcript of 2014 SALARY SURVEY - gdc.design · professionals, advertising executives, copywriters and...
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2014
SAL ARY SURVEY
2014 RESULTS OF THE CANADIAN SURVEY OF
SALARIES AND BILLING PRACTICES IN THE
COMMUNICATION DESIGN INDUSTRY
2
ABOUT
The Association of Registered Graphic Designers
(RGD) and Creative Niche are pleased to present
CreativeEarners 2014, the national survey of salaries and billing
practices in the Canadian communication design industry.
This year, a record number of creatives from across
Canada shared their information, giving us the most
accurate picture yet of where we work, who we
work for, and what we’re paid.
07RESPONDENTS
04 INTRODUCTION
21FREELANCE &
SOLE PROPRIETORS
16EMPLOYEES
28FIRMS
05METHOD/CAVEAT
INDEX
61FUTURE OF THE
INDUSTRY
68ORGANIZERS
66WHY RGD
70SPONSORS
55OVERTIME & BENEFITS
39SALARIES
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INTRODUCTIONAs part of our mandate to serve the best interests of the graphic design community, business and the public, the Association of Registered Graphic Designers (RGD) published the first national survey of salaries and billing practices within the Canadian graphic design industry in 2001. We mailed out 10,000 hard copy surveys and received 1,176 responses. RGD conducted updated surveys in 2003, 2005, 2007, 2010 and 2012.
This year, with the support of Creative Niche and the assistance of many industry partners, RGD invited Canadian graphic designers, web professionals, advertising executives, copywriters and strategists to provide their current salaries and billing rates.
We are extremely grateful to the 3,331 creative professionals who took the time to respond to the survey and we are pleased to present the results in our latest, most far-reaching report, providing an updated financial picture of our industry.
Introduction
“IF YOU APPRECIATE THE
INSPIRATION, RELATIONSHIPS,
ADVOCACY, ETHICS, LEARNING,
MENTORSHIP AND SO MUCH MORE
THAT THE ASSOCIATION OFFERS, I
WOULD ASK, WHY NOT RGD?”
– CAROLINE BRUCKNER RGD
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METHOD & CAVEATThe survey was promoted by the Association of Registered Graphic Designers, RGD Career Development Partner, Creative Niche Inc., and RGD Media Partner, Designedge Canada.
Respondents were emailed an invitation to participate, which included a link to access the survey online. Respondents were also encouraged to invite others in the field to participate, both through a forward link in the survey itself and through a wide-reaching social media campaign with the hashtag #CreativeEarners.
In addition, RGD expanded our outreach this year to other member-based groups including ADCC, AMPA, CAPIC, Design Algoma, DX, EAC, FITC, IABC Ottawa, IDC, London Creative Network, PWAC, SDGQ and SDS.
The survey was available in both English and French, and was open from May 15 to August 1, 2014.
Method & Caveat
Because of the modest response rate achieved in some regions and among some job titles, this data should not be viewed as a nationally representative statistical sample of all professionals. It does provide a current reflection of what some in these professions are currently earning.
The salary information is annual salary only. It does not include bonuses and additional compensation. The salary information is reported in terms of the median (or middle) values, average values and highest and lowest response for each job title. The information is also split out by several variables – Region, Organization Size, Organization Type and Experience.
Data has been presented for job titles where there are at least 30 respondents given the high degree of variability in the data where there are fewer than 30 respondents.
Caution should be applied in interpreting the results where the number of respondents is small. For reference, respondent numbers are presented beside each column of data.
CAVEAT FROM RESEARCH DIMENSIONS
This confirms that, to the best of Research Dimensions’ knowledge, the 2014 CreativeEarners National Survey was conducted using the same practices that Research Dimensions has used in past studies.
Research Dimensions was in no way involved in developing or executing the 2014 study. RGD conducted the study itself this year, in conjunction with The Pixel Shop and its other partners.
Discussions with RGD indicate that the 2014 study was national in scope (English and French) and conducted during the summer months. Members were emailed invitations to participate in the survey, and accessed the survey online through a link in the invitation. In the invitations, respondents were also encouraged to invite others in the field to participate. RGD also appealed to professional groups and associations to access qualified respondents. These are all practices that Research Dimensions has recommended and used in past editions of the study.
In addition, there were minor changes made to the process in 2014: the questionnaire was shortened and social media was used as an additional source of recruiting potential respondents.
RESPONDENTS
City of Mississauga Mississauga, Ontario
Photo: Chris Thomaidis
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RESPONDENTSThis year 3,331 professionals responded to the survey, an increase of 2,155 respondents since our first survey back in 2001.
In this time, we have seen a significant increase in the number of women participating in the survey. From 2001 to 2008, an equal number of men and women responded to the survey. In 2012, the percentage of women participating was 14% higher and in 2014, 20% more of the respondents were women. This may reflect a demographic shift in the industry as a whole.
Over 25% of respondents indicated 15 or more years of experience, which is consistent with previous survey results. Just under half (41.5%) have worked at the same organization for the last five years with about 6% of these respondents changing job titles.
Most respondents are working in in-house environments (in organizations where design is not a core service) with 7% working in government, 5% working in the non-profit sector and 30% working in for-profit companies.
Respondents
“OVER YEARS OF MEMBERSHIP,
I HAVE BENEFITTED FROM BEING
PART OF A PROFESSIONAL
ORGANIZATION THAT STANDS FOR
DESIGNERS AND OUR KEY
ETHICAL PRINCIPLES.”
– IAN CHALMERS RGD
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21%14%
4-5 Years
ABOUT RESPONDENTSTOTAL RESPONDENTS GENDER OF RESPONDENTS
40%Men
Respondents
AVERAGE TIME IN
THE CREATIVE FIELD
11.2 YEARS
60%Women3,331
LENGTH OF TIME IN THE CREATIVE FIELD
1 Year/Less
4%
17% 17%12%
15%
2-3 Years 6-9 Years
10-14 Years 15-19 Years 20 Years +
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Questionnaires were completed by 3,331 respondents from all parts of Canada, as detailed below.
ALBERTA 229 (7%)
BRITISH COLUMBIA 322 (10%)
MANITOBA 42 (1%)
YUKON 1 (< 1%)
NW TERRITORIES AND NUNAVUT 5 (< 1%)
SASKATCHEWAN 18 (< 1%)
SOUTHWESTERN ONTARIO 227 (7%)
NORTHERN ONTARIO
65 (2%)
CENTRAL ONTARIO 597 (18%)
WESTERN QUEBEC 100 (3%)
EASTERN ONTARIO 274 (8%)
METROPOLITAN TORONTO 1,182 (35%)
PEI 7 (< 1%)
EASTERN QUEBEC 51 (1%)
NOVA SCOTIA 41 (1%)
METROPOLITAN MONTREAL 144 (4%)
NEW BRUNSWICK 13 (< 1%)
NEWFOUNDLAND 13 (< 1%)
Respondents
NATIONAL RESPONSE
10Respondents
Graphic Design
Fine Art
Marketing or communications
Business / Finance
Interactive / Digital design
Master's and/or PhD
Other design discipline
IT / Computer Science
Self-taught / apprenticed
Other
Percentage % 40 60 800 20
70%
12%
13%
13%
2%
7%
6%
1%
< 1%
9%
EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUNDPercentage of respondents with diplomas / degrees in... (Note: Respondents could select more than one option)
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JOB TITLES
Creative / Design Director
Art Director
Design/Creative Services Manager
Communications / Marketing / Brand Manager
Production Manager
Community/Social Media Manager
Project Manager / Coordinator
Account Manager/Director
Senior Designer
UX/UI Designer
Designer
Front-end Developer
Content Editor / Manager
Brand / Content Strategist
Copywriter / Editor
Account Coordinator
Information Architect
Design Educator
10 15 20 25 30 350
10%
10%
5%
4%
2%
1%
2%
1%
17%
6%
34%
2%
< 1%
< 1%
2%
< 1%
< 1%
2%
Respondents
5Percentage %
12
OWNER, PARTNER, PRINCIPAL
An owner, partner, principal or VP holds an equity position and/or has major business responsibility for a firm with employees.
CREATIVE/DESIGN DIRECTOR
A creative director or design director is the creative head of a design firm, advertising agency or in-house design department. In all of these areas, key responsibilities can include the development of graphic design, advertising, communication and industrial design.
CREATIVE/DESIGN MANAGER
A creative manager or design manager manages the creative staff, evaluates its work, ensures that projects meet the requirements of the design brief and are completed on time and within budget. A design manager may work in a corporation and manage the hiring of design firms and the use of their design services.
SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER
The senior graphic designer is responsible for the design of solutions from concept to completion. In some firms, a senior designer directs the work of one or more junior designers, who generate comps and create layouts and final art. In some cases, senior designers do not manage staff, but are designated “senior” because of their authority in design decision-making.
INTERMEDIATE GRAPHIC DESIGNER
An intermediate graphic designer is responsible for the design of graphic applications such as collateral material, environmental graphics, books and magazines, corporate identity and branding, film titling and websites, from concept to completion.
JUNIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER
A junior graphic designer is a designer (see intermediate graphic designer) who has been out of school for less than two years.
ART DIRECTOR
The art director establishes the conceptual and stylistic direction for all design staff and orchestrates their work, as well as the work of production artists, photographers, illustrators, prepress technicians, printers and anyone else who is involved in the development of a project. The art director generally selects vendors and, if there isn’t a creative director on staff, has final creative authority.
DATABASE/SYSTEMS ADMINISTRATOR
A database or systems administrator works with web server systems and web databases, develops web queries to databases and programs web applications.
DEVELOPER
A developer uses HTML/JavaScript, Flash and, on occasion dynamic scripting languages such as ASP/PHP/Cold Fusion and other tools, to develop static and dynamic web pages. A mobile developer uses common scripting tools such as Flash ActionScript, as well as supporting technologies like Flex, Flash Remoting and integration with media servers.
INFORMATION ARCHITECT
Information architects contribute to the planning and design process of communications such as websites, by organizing information, designing information strategies and developing taxonomy and search systems.
WEB PRODUCER/PROJECT MANAGER
A web producer/project manager organizes web development teams and ensures adherence to budget, schedule, content and design of website development. Responsibilities may include coordinating all production elements, including content, design and development, as well as IT services and Internet hosting services. The individual may also act as primary production contact for account or project team members, or provide direct client service.
Respondents
JOB DESCRIPTIONS
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SEARCH ENGINE OPTIMIZATION SPECIALIST
A search engine optimization specialist is responsible for maximizing the volume or quality of traffic to a website from search engines via organic or “algorithmic” search results by improving page rank within search engines. SEOs may target different kinds of search, including image search, local search, video search and industry-specific vertical search engines. A search engine marketing specialist promotes websites by increasing their visibility in search engine result pages through the use of paid placement, search engine optimization and advertising.
DIGITAL STRATEGIST
A digital strategist is responsible for analyzing and recommending new media implementation strategies to meet marketing goals, such as lead generation. Digital strategists help create marketing and communication plans which can bridge web, email, mobile, gaming, search and other digital media. Solutions are based on audience insight and brand, in the context of the overall marketing strategy.
COPYWRITER
A copywriter writes, edits and proofs promotional or publicity copy for print or electronic publications. At higher levels, copywriters are often responsible for strategic and conceptual development of messages and stories.
VIDEO/MOTION DESIGNER/DEVELOPER
A video/motion designer/developer creates animated or live video content for a variety of media, including the web, smart phones and portable devices, games, television and other formats, including features. Projects can also include title and post-production work.
WEB OR MEDIA ANALYST
A web or media analyst is responsible for defining and documenting the reporting and analysis requirements of business stakeholders across specific media, in order to optimize websites and marketing programs (e.g. email marketing, SEM, banner ads, etc.). Collecting and analyzing user data, the analyst is also responsible for identifying trends and insights about the media property. The analyst then assists in translating the marketing analytics into actionable business information.
USER EXPERIENCE/USER INTERFACE DESIGNER
A user experience or user interface designer is responsible for designing websites and applications that support user-centred design principles. They understand best practices in interface development to support how users behave. Working in tandem with UX/UI developers, the designer requires insight into information architecture, interaction and interface design, and the design process.
COMMUNICATIONS OR MARKETING MANAGER
A communications or marketing manager develops and manages the marketing and/or communications strategy, planning and execution for a company, product or service, integrating activities with product or service managers and guiding the research and analysis of market data. A marketing manager may also be responsible for advertising, promotions, events, communications and social media, as well as integration with public relations.
BRAND OR CONTENT STRATEGIST
A brand or content strategist combines business and marketing strategy with brand management expertise to ensure the creation of consistent, powerful brand messages and experiences relevant to a client’s target audience(s). Responsibilities include developing positioning recommendations, defining brand personality and guiding market research and analysis.
Respondents
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CONTENT EDITOR/MANAGER
A content editor/manager works to ensure the creation of content that supports meaningful, interactive, online experiences. Responsibilities cover every aspect of content, including design, development, analysis, presentation, measurement, evaluation, production, management and governance. Work may include gathering information to enhance the value of the site, working with marketing and graphic designers to ensure consistency and gathering user feedback for website improvement and enhancements.
NEW BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
A person focused on new business development is responsible for developing client relationships, generating and following through on sales leads and closing new opportunities.
COMMUNITY OR SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER
A community or social media manager is responsible for the social media position of a brand, from passive monitoring to direct customer interaction. Strategy, planning, communication and analysis are the primary areas of activity. A community manager is embedded in social media communities and is an expert with the various tools and interfaces. They must have exceptional communication, writing and judgment skills, and are responsible for driving consumer engagement within the various online social networks.
PRODUCTION MANAGER
A production manager is responsible for managing the process (bids, scheduling, production and delivery) of producing design projects, from concept through production, including photography, separations, press work as well as digital production.
OFFICE MANAGER
The office manager takes care of office administration and clerical functions, such as supply inventory, bookkeeping, human resources.
ACCOUNT MANAGER/DIRECTOR
An account manager/director is responsible for achieving the client’s strategic brand objectives and supporting the development of marketing plans through the planning, coordination and implementation of marketing programs on behalf of client-side customers. Account managers ensure campaigns are implemented on time and within budget. An account supervisor provides expertise on program strategy and oversees program execution. Account directors often have new business development responsibilities as well.
ACCOUNT COORDINATOR
An account coordinator provides support to the broader account service team. Duties range from administration to tracking projects, research and reconciliations. An account executive provides day-to-day customer service and support, including marketing program execution under the supervision of an account manager.
EDUCATOR
An educator transmits his or her skills and knowledge to students in post-secondary programs. They implement effective educational strategies through course and curriculum development, assessment methods, course management and act as a liaison with industry.
MEDIA BUYER/PLANNER
A media buyer or planner is a media expert who purchases and / or plans the most effective media usage for a marketing objective, including on and offline strategies. Buyers negotiate media space and time, monitor placements and manage contracts with media vendors. Planners study demographic data and consumer profiles to identify desired target audiences for intended reach and analyze media data to optimize performance.
Respondents
EMPLOYEES
Umbra Toronto, Ontario
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EMPLOYEESOf respondents, 12% reported that they work on a team of five people or less with 30% working in in-house corporate environments and an additional 27% working in advertising, marketing and interactive agencies.
One in three owners plan to hire full-time staff in the next 12 months and very few plan to reduce workforces which indicates anticipated growth in the industry over the next year.
Employees
“BEING AN RGD MEMBER MEANS
BELONGING TO A COMMUNITY
DEDICATED TO BETTERING THE
PROFESSION OF GRAPHIC DESIGN.”
– GEORDIE ALLEN RGD
17Employees
PRIMARY ORGANIZATION OF EMPLOYMENT
Communication design firm
Advertising / marketing / PR agency
Interactive/web/mobile/digital agency
Not for profit / Charitable organization
Government / Crown Corporation
For profit company (not design and marketing)
Educational institution
Publishing/Media organization
Environmental design firm
Other
14%
17%
11%
5%
7%
30%
6%
ABOUT EMPLOYEES
0Percentage %
NUMBER OF FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES
7%
3%
< 1%
10 15 20 255 30
12%
12%
8%
10%
Less than 5 employees
5-10 employees
11-15 employees
16-25 employees
13%
11%
34%
26-50 employees
51-99 employees
More than 99 employees
18Employees
FACTORS THAT WOULD IMPACT A DECISION TO TAKE A NEW POSITION
Work-life balance
Location
Quality of work being done
Variety of work
Room for advancement
Employer's reputation
Professional growth (learning new skills)
Health / Dental benefits
Retirement plan
Education / Professional development
Other
24%
13%
18%
5%
12%
5%
15%
Percentage % 10 15 20 250 5
3%
2%
2%
1%
METHOD OF COMPENSATION
9%
Hourly wage/rate Annual salary Salary plus commission or other performance based compensation
20% 71%
19
MOST IMPORTANT SHORT TERM CAREER GOALS (NEXT 1-2 YEARS)
Percentage % 10 15 20 250 5
Recognition for my work in competitions/ peers
Find a better job in my field
Improve my design/technical skills
Start my own business
Improve my management/leadership skills
Give back to/support my profession
Meet and interact with peers
Change careers
Other
30
Employees
NUMBER OF TIMES CHANGED ORGANIZATIONS (PAST 5 YEARS)
NUMBER OF TIMES CHANGED JOB TITLES (PAST 5 YEARS)
Never Once Twice
Twice
Three times Four times More than four
41%
19%
26% 15% 12% 3% 3%
More than three
5%
Once
29%
Never
36%
Three times
11%
14%
16%
27%
6%
19%
5%
8%
3%
2%
FREELANCE &SOLE PROPRIETORS
DavisMississauga, Ontario
Photo: Chris Thomaidis
21
FREELANCE & SOLE PROPRIETORSThis section of the survey covers respondents who do freelance work in addition to their primary employment, which represents about 54% of all respondents, and respondents who operate design businesses as sole proprietorships.
About 62% of respondents do 5 hours or less of freelance work each week while 20% do 6-10 hours and 18% do more than 10 hours per week.
Freelance & Sole Proprietors
"AS A FREELANCER, THE DESIGNER
DIRECTORY ON RGD’S WEBSITE
HAS PROVED USEFUL AS A WAY OF
CONNECTING WITH COMPANIES
SEARCHING FOR RGDS TO WORK
ON DESIGN PROJECTS. I HAVE
ALSO MADE USE OF THE MEMBER
DISCOUNTS WITH SUPPLIERS."
– JANICE VAN ECK RGD
22Freelance & Sole Proprietors
FREELANCE WORK IN ADDITION
TO FULL-TIME EMPLOYMENT?
AVERAGE NUMBER OF
WORK HOURS PER WEEK
ABOUT PART-TIME FREELANCERS
7.53
AVERAGE TOTAL INCOME FROM
FREELANCE WORK IN 2013
$6967MEDIAN PART-TIME
FREELANCE INCOME
$4000
54%Yes
46%No
23
PART-TIME FREELANCE SERVICES
89%
Graphic Design
23%
Art Direction
19%
Brand Strategy/Research
11%
Social Media Strategy/Development
6%
Proofreading/QA
3%
Mobile Development/Programming
27%
Illustration
13%
Project Management
20%
Photography
10%
Content Development/Copy-writing
49%
Web Design
33%
File Preparation / Print Production
15%
Mobile Design
60%
Branding / Identity Design
34%
Creative Direction
15%
Web Development/Programming
Freelance & Sole Proprietors
(Note: Respondents could select more than one option.)
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PART-TIME FREELANCE RATES
Freelance & Sole Proprietors
# OF RESP HIGH LOW MEDIAN AVERAGE
GRAPHIC DESIGN Less than 5 years 386 100 20 40 40
5-14 years 414 200 20 50 57
15+ years 195 165 20 65 68
WEB DESIGN Less than 5 years 216 100 20 40 43
5-14 years 238 200 20 55 59
15+ years 98 165 20 75 74
MOBILE DESIGN Less than 5 years 66 100 20 40 46
5-14 years 81 150 20 55 60
15+ years 18 165 40 75 85
CREATIVE DIRECTION Less than 5 years 101 110 20 45 47
5-14 years 174 200 21 65 68
15+ years 104 185 30 80 87
ART DIRECTION OF PHOTOGRAPHY / ILLUSTRATION
Less than 5 years 72 75 20 44 43
5-14 years 115 200 20 65 68
15+ years 63 165 25 75 81
FILE PREPARATION / PRINT PRODUCTION
Less than 5 years 113 90 20 40 39
5-14 years 163 200 20 50 55
15+ years 89 140 20 55 62
BRANDING / IDENTITY DESIGN
Less than 5 years 256 100 20 40 43
5-14 years 280 200 20 58 62
15+ years 135 165 25 75 80
WEB DEVELOPMENT / PROGRAMMING
Less than 5 years 64 80 20 40 42
5-14 years 79 200 21 57 62
15+ years 24 100 25 63 64
25Freelance & Sole Proprietors
# OF RESP HIGH LOW MEDIAN AVERAGE
BRAND STRATEGY / RESEARCH
Less than 5 years 73 100 20 40 45
5-14 years 92 200 20 68 73
15+ years 52 200 30 80 87
PROOFREADING / QA Less than 5 years 22 65 20 30 36
5-14 years 27 200 21 50 63
15+ years 15 120 25 50 57
ILLUSTRATION Less than 5 years 127 150 20 40 44
5-14 years 119 200 20 50 60
15+ years 58 165 20 75 76
PHOTOGRAPHY Less than 5 years 95 100 20 40 44
5-14 years 95 250 20 60 71
15+ years 31 225 20 75 76
SOCIAL MEDIA STRATEGY / DEVELOPMENT
Less than 5 years 47 85 20 30 36
5-14 years 56 200 21 60 68
15+ years 21 165 35 75 81
MOBILE DEVELOPMENT / PROGRAMMING
Less than 5 years 6 75 20 38 43
5-14 years 25 140 21 60 65
15+ years 3 70 50 55 58
PROJECT MANAGEMENT Less than 5 years 28 75 20 38 41
5-14 years 73 250 21 60 68
15+ years 45 150 25 75 78
CONTENT DEVELOPMENT / COPYWRITING
Less than 5 years 36 60 20 35 38
5-14 years 47 200 25 60 64
15+ years 34 150 25 75 75
26Freelance & Sole Proprietors
AVERAGE BILLING RATE
AVERAGE BILLING RATE
(5 YEARS EXPERIENCE OR LESS)
AVERAGE BILLING RATE
(16 YEARS EXPERIENCE OR MORE)
ANNUAL BILLINGS
ABOUT FULL-TIME FREELANCERS & SOLE PROPRIETORS
$74 /HOUR
$84 /HOUR
$51 /HOUR
Less than $50,000
$100,000 - $199,999
$500,000 - $999,999
$50,000 - $99,999
$200,000 - $499,999
46%
16%
35%
3%
<1%
FIRMS
Blok DesignToronto, Ontario
Photo: Chris Thomaidis
28
FIRMSOf respondents who own businesses, 24% identified their businesses as graphic design firms while only 8.5% identified as branding agencies and only 6% identified as interactive agencies. The majority (31%) operate multi-disciplinary design firms. Most businesses are small, with 3 or fewer employees (56%).
Almost half reported plans to hire full-time staff and/or increase their use of freelancers in the next 12 months, which shows the growth occurring in our industry.
The two areas of biggest, almost equal, concern for business owners in this sector are business development and maintaining work/life balance.
The factors contributing most positively to business growth are reported to be word-of-mouth and networking.
Firms
"WHETHER YOU'RE A PRACTITIONER,
AN EDUCATOR OR A STUDENT, YOU
DON'T HAVE TO BE IN TORONTO TO
BE PART OF RGD. DESIGNERS OUTSIDE
OF THE GTA GET EVEN MORE BENEFIT
WHEN WE REACH OUT, GET INVOLVED,
LEARN MORE AND GIVE BACK."
- ERIN BOYCE RGD
29Firms
TYPE OF ORGANIZATION
Graphic design firm
Communications firm
Advertising / marketing agency
Interactive agency
Multi-disciplinary design firm
Branding agency
Other
24%
9%
9%
6%
31%
9%
12%
ABOUT EMPLOYERS
10 15 20 25 30 350 5Percentage %
TOTAL ANNUAL COMPENSATION FOR 2013,
INCLUDING BONUSES, PROFIT-SHARING AND/OR COMMISSIONS
42% Under $50,000
7% More than $150,000
38% $50,000-$99,999
13% $100,000-$149,000
30Firms
12%
37%
15%
18%
59%20%46%
60%
6%18%
MOST IMPORTANT AREAS OF CONCERN
FOR BUSINESS OVER THE NEXT 12 MONTHS
(Note: Respondents could select more than one option.)
Productivity Customer service
OtherCompetitionManaging growth
Business development and sales
Retention and development of talent
Sourcing talent Work/life balance
31Firms
NUMBER OF
FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES
FULL-TIME STAFF IN DESIGN AND DESIGN-RELATED POSITIONS
NUMBER OF PART-TIME/
FREELANCE EMPLOYEES
ABOUT HIRING1 Productivity 46%
2 Customer service 20%
3 Business development and sales 59%
4 Retention and development of talent 12%
5 Sourcing talent 15%
6 Work/life balance 60%
7 Managing growth 37%
8 Competition 18%
9 Other 6%
56%
17%
10%
7%
10%
22%
45%
25%
5%
3%
1-3 employees
4-6 employees
7-10 employees
11-15 employees
More than 15
None
1-2 part-timers/freelancers
3-5 part-timers/freelancers
6-10 part-timers/freelancers
More than 10
Less than 15% of staff
15-30% of staff 31-45% of staff 46-60% of staff 61-80% of staff More than 80% of staff
40%17%14%7%13%9%
32
ENGAGEMENT OF FREELANCERS IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS
HIRING PLANS FOR FULL-TIME STAFF (INCLUDING PERMANENT AND
CONTRACT EMPLOYEES) IN THE NEXT 12 MONTHS
Firms
47%
48%
18%17%
3%
18%
49%
Have not used freelancers
Hire full-time staff
Have begun to use freelancers
Reduce full-time staff
Have increased use of freelancers
Remain the same
Have decreased use of freelancers
33Firms
BENEFITS PROVIDED
Paid sick leave
Paid personal time off
Paid vacation (beyond what is required by law)
Professional Member Dues
Medical insurance - individual coverage
Medical insurance - Family coverage
Dental insurance
Disability insurance
Life insurance
Defined benefit (pension) retirement plan
Defined contribution or other retirement plan
On-site gym / gym membership
Education / Professional Development funding
Parking
Cellular / Data plan reimbursement
Flex-time
Company car / allowance
Mileage reimbursement
Parental / Elder care leave
Employee assistance or wellness program
Other
None
72%
47%
69%
27%
41%
43%
42%
28%
27%
0%
1%
2%
49%
37%
25%
26%
5%
35%
4%
2%
2%
9%
(Note: Respondents could select more than one option.)
34Firms
BILLINGSTOTAL ANNUAL BILLINGS FOR 2013
TOTAL BILLABLE DISBURSEMENTS
39% Less than $50,000
30% $50,000 to $99,999
15% $100,000 to $199,999
7% $200,000 to $499,999
5% $500,000 to $999,999 4% More than $1,000,000
81% Less than $50,000
10% $50,000 to $99,999
5% $100,000 to $199,999
3% $200,000 to $499,999 < 1% $500,000 to $999,999
< 1% More than $1,000,000
35Firms
AVERAGE MARK-UP ON BILLABLE DISBURSEMENTS
32% Less than 5%
4% More than 35%
20% 5 to 10%19% 11 to 15%
14% 16 to 20%
7% 21 to 25%
4% 26 to 35%
36
$120Graphic Design
$150Motion Graphics
$125Branding / Identity Design
$125Advertising /
Marketing Services
$110Project Management
$125Video Production
$105Editor / Proofreader / QA
$125Web Design
$125Social Media Strategy /
Development
$150Brand Strategy / Research
$125Mobile Design /
Development
$120Content Development /
Writing
$104Illustration
$120Web Development /
Programming
$123Data Visualization /
Information Graphics
$100Photography
Firms
MEDIAN BILLING RATE FOR SERVICES OFFERED BY BUSINESS OWNERS
MEDIAN BILLING RATEFor services offered by business owners.
37
FACTORS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO THE GROWTH OF BUSINESS
VALUE OF SOCIAL MEDIA AS PART OF BUSINESS OPERATIONS
Selling (Prospecting/Cold calling, etc.)
Email/print marketing
Word-of-mouth / Referrals
Networking
Responding to RFPs
Public relations / Media exposure / Promotions
Thought leadership
Winning Awards
Other
YouTube
Vimeo
Behance
None
Percentage %
Percentage %
40
40
60
60
80
80
1000
0
20
20
8%
4%
92%
57%
10%
3%
4%
4%
2%
67%
42%
47%
12%
9%
8%
16%
18%
Firms
(Note: Respondents could select more than one option.)
(Note: Respondents could select more than one option.)
SALARIES
Russell Gibbs DesignDundas, Ontario
Photo: Chris Thomaidis
39Salaries
SALARIESThis year we report on salaries for 13 different positions. Salaries are broken down by region, organization size, organization type and years of experience.
Median salaries from 2000 to 2014 for all job titles indicate an average increase of about $16,000 with Design Educator, Design/Project Manager and Creative Director seeing the highest increases over time. This may be as much about the increase in the sample size as it is industry developments. For instance, in 2000, there were 21 “Design Educator” respondents with 42 in 2014.
Where there is a relevant number of respondents, median salaries in Alberta are generally higher than in other provinces, although not so for Creative Directors where Ontario has the highest median salary.
As one might expect, respondents with more experience generally have higher salaries. This is not the case for Project Manager/Coordinators or Front-end Developers where respondents with less experience made the same as or more than more experienced respondents. This may also be a reflection of the small sample sizes in both cases but is reflected in both median, and high and low figures.
“THE RGD DESIGNATION IS A
REFLECTION OF MY COMMITMENT
TO A HIGH STANDARD OF
PROFESSIONALISM IN MY DESIGN
PRACTICE AND MY ENTHUSIASM
FOR GRAPHIC DESIGN AS BOTH AN
INDUSTRY AND FIELD OF
CULTURAL ENDEAVOUR.”
– MICHAEL BARKER RGD
40
MEDIAN SALARY CHANGES (2000-2014)
Salaries
2014 MEDIAN
# OF RESP
2012 MEDIAN
# OF RESP
2010 MEDIAN
# OF RESP
2006 MEDIAN
# OF RESP
2004 MEDIAN
# OF RESP
2002 MEDIAN
# OF RESP
2000 MEDIAN
# OF RESP
OWNER, PARTNER, PRINCIPAL
72,500 696 75,000 159 75,000 114 65,000 125 60,000 74 70,000 104 62,000 138
CREATIVE/DESIGN DIRECTOR
80,000 190 78,375 142 80,000 93 75,000 109 72,000 78 65,000 70 60,000 95
ART DIRECTOR 65,520 201 60,500 136 62,000 105 56,000 125 48,500 111 52,000 79 50,000 92
DESIGN/PROJECT MANAGER
70,780 100 65,560 84 66,500 26 52,250 74 52,000 41 54,600 38 54,000 46
SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER
58,240 334 55,000 439 52,000 315 50,000 346 45,000 218 46,000 183 46,000 153
GRAPHIC DESIGN EDUCATOR
93,000 42 90,000 36 76,000 11 70,000 13 67,000 10 58,000 13 63,000 21
INTERMEDIATE GRAPHIC DESIGNER
50,000 114 44,435 356 42,000 230 39,000 258 36,800 142 37,000 126 36,360 94
JUNIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER
42,000 365 35,000 218 33,000 86 32,000 123 30,000 74 30,000 50 27,000 18
PRODUCTION MANAGER 56,000 38 59,500 32 56,000 28 51,000 41 52,000 31 55,000 26 48,000 37
WEB DEVELOPER 55,000 46 54,000 39 42,500 14 50,000 23 51,000 19 45,000 15 44,000 12
WEB PRODUCER/MANAGER
N/A N/A 64,500 28 57,000 25 52,500 22 53,000 15 64,000 9 45,000 12
BRAND STRATEGIST/CONSULTANT
N/A N/A N/A N/A 60,000 15 70,000 12 60,000 5 65,000 5 80,000 5
UX / UI DESIGNER 64,750 130 58,000 61 - - - - - - - - - -
41
DESIGNER
# OF RESP MEDIAN AVERAGE LOW HIGH
REGION National 575 45,000 46,864 24,000 104,000
British Columbia 36 47,000 47,264 24,000 85,000
Alberta 49 50,500 51,155 30,000 78,000
Prairies 14 50,000 48,865 30,000 61,723
Ontario 436 44,645 46,516 25,000 104,000
Greater Toronto Area 219 45,000 47,488 25,000 104,000
Eastern Ontario 39 45,000 45,772 26,300 93,600
Northern Ontario 13 47,320 45,288 32,000 54,600
Central Ontario (excl. GTA) 119 43,264 45,951 27,000 95,000
Southwestern Ontario 46 42,632 44,328 26,000 75,000
Quebec 31 40,000 43,282 24,500 81,900
Atlantic 8 44,000 46,475 35,000 74,000
ORGANIZATION SIZE
1 - 4 40 41,000 42,429 24,000 81,900
5 - 10 74 40,000 40,901 24,500 81,900
11 - 15 41 42,000 42,961 25,000 92,000
16-25 55 42,000 43,711 26,000 93,600
26-50 83 43,000 45,254 26,300 88,000
51-99 66 45,000 47,187 30,000 90,000
99+ 191 50,000 51,454 27,000 104,000
ORGANIZATION TYPE
Communication Design Firm 95 42,000 43,531 24,500 90,000
Advertising/Marketing/PR 90 43,000 44,354 26,000 104,000
Interactive/Web/Mobile/Digital 46 44,645 44,224 24,000 75,000
For Profit 192 45,000 47,502 25,000 95,000
Other 147 49,000 50,500 29,500 93,600
EXPERIENCE 4 years or less 365 42,000 42,599 24,000 104,000
5-9 years 114 50,000 51,675 30,000 93,600
10-14 years 55 54,600 56,506 30,000 92,000
15+ years 38 59,500 60,195 39,000 95,000
Salaries
42Salaries
SENIOR DESIGNER
# OF RESP MEDIAN AVERAGE LOW HIGH
REGION National 334 58,240 60,201 23,000 140,400
British Columbia 33 54,000 56,958 36,000 85,000
Alberta 22 67,092 63,902 38,000 90,000
Prairies 4 - - - -
Ontario 220 60,000 61,566 23,000 140,400
Greater Toronto Area 126 60,000 62,671 23,000 140,400
Eastern Ontario 22 54,000 60,010 45,000 85,000
Northern Ontario 5 56,000 59,536 52,000 72,800
Central Ontario (excl. GTA) 67 58,240 60,151 37,200 92,000
Southwestern Ontario 27 58,000 57,022 37,600 91,000
Quebec 21 49,140 53,270 35,000 87,360
Atlantic 6 49,535 52,285 45,000 66,637
ORGANIZATION SIZE
1 - 4 16 49,250 49,153 23,000 72,000
5 - 10 35 52,000 54,120 33,000 90,000
11 - 15 23 58,000 59,674 45,000 95,000
16-25 34 58,000 57,981 38,000 95,000
26-50 37 58,240 60,326 38,000 100,000
51-99 30 61,500 63,650 38,000 130,000
99+ 137 62,000 63,081 37,600 140,400
ORGANIZATION TYPE
Communication Design Firm 74 56,500 59,185 33,000 95,000
Advertising/Marketing/PR 38 61,500 63,641 39,000 130,000
Interactive/Web/Mobile/Digital 19 60,000 59,447 38,000 85,000
For Profit 103 58,000 59,419 23,000 140,400
Other 99 59,280 60,620 38,480 85,000
EXPERIENCE 4 years or less 38 48,250 49,798 23,000 83,200
5-9 years 105 55,000 56,881 38,000 100,000
10-14 years 86 60,000 62,425 37,600 140,400
15+ years 102 65,000 65,218 38,480 130,000
43Salaries
ART DIRECTOR
# OF RESP MEDIAN AVERAGE LOW HIGH
REGION National 201 65,520 67,946 30,000 208,000
British Columbia 14 65,500 70,700 55,000 105,000
Alberta 10 75,235 75,847 54,000 100,000
Prairies 3 - - - -
Ontario 149 68,000 69,010 30,000 208,000
Greater Toronto Area 95 65,000 66,135 30,000 121,500
Eastern Ontario 13 65,000 62,151 45,000 80,000
Northern Ontario 0 - - - -
Central Ontario (excl. GTA) 32 72,250 78,475 38,000 208,000
Southwestern Ontario 9 65,000 75,620 50,000 150,000
Quebec 15 55,000 57,920 40,000 90,000
Atlantic 9 60,000 59,500 42,500 70,000
ORGANIZATION SIZE
1 - 4 13 52,000 54,077 45,000 84,000
5 - 10 22 58,250 60,127 35,000 90,000
11 - 15 19 64,480 67,063 40,000 208,000
16-25 19 62,000 62,542 32,000 100,000
26-50 36 73,500 72,236 30,000 110,000
51-99 23 70,000 71,043 40,000 120,000
99+ 61 70,000 72,408 40,000 155,000
ORGANIZATION TYPE
Communication Design Firm 29 65,000 66,345 40,000 110,000
Advertising/Marketing/PR 67 70,000 71,533 32,000 208,000
Interactive/Web/Mobile/Digital 17 65,000 64,047 35,000 100,000
For Profit 32 71,000 69,435 38,000 121,500
Other 55 60,000 64,812 40,000 155,000
EXPERIENCE 4 years or less 35 46,000 53,899 30,000 208,000
5-9 years 47 63,000 66,563 40,000 150,000
10-14 years 61 70,000 70,697 42,000 121,500
15+ years 57 75,000 74,907 45,500 155,000
44
CREATIVE / DESIGN DIRECTOR
# OF RESP MEDIAN AVERAGE LOW HIGH
REGION National 190 80,000 83,972 28,000 270,000
British Columbia 15 70,000 80,087 56,000 120,000
Alberta 18 71,500 77,982 46,000 135,000
Prairies 4 - - - -
Ontario 139 80,000 85,969 28,000 270,000
Greater Toronto Area 76 85,500 89,822 28,000 220,000
Eastern Ontario 12 68,500 68,125 28,000 100,000
Northern Ontario 2 - - - -
Central Ontario (excl. GTA) 39 80,000 81,488 34,200 180,000
Southwestern Ontario 10 59,120 98,584 32,000 270,000
Quebec 13 78,000 76,923 50,000 105,000
Atlantic 1 - - - -
ORGANIZATION SIZE
1 - 4 14 60,000 67,955 28,000 208,000
5 - 10 22 70,000 70,832 28,000 120,000
11 - 15 23 73,000 78,696 35,000 180,000
16-25 16 67,100 74,684 32,000 135,000
26-50 25 96,000 94,564 41,600 200,000
51-99 22 80,000 84,591 45,000 220,000
99+ 58 90,000 94,485 32,000 270,000
ORGANIZATION TYPE
Communication Design Firm 25 80,000 79,047 38,000 120,000
Advertising/Marketing/PR 44 94,000 96,376 32,000 220,000
Interactive/Web/Mobile/Digital 18 87,500 103,667 45,000 215,000
For Profit 53 75,000 82,135 28,000 270,000
Other 49 63,000 70,180 34,200 172,000
EXPERIENCE 4 years or less 21 46,000 48,929 28,000 100,000
5-9 years 24 60,000 62,192 41,600 90,000
10-14 years 47 76,000 80,260 36,000 130,000
15+ years 101 90,000 98,815 48,000 270,000
Salaries
45
COPYWRITER / EDITOR
# OF RESP MEDIAN AVERAGE LOW HIGH
REGION National 32 63,250 65,050 35,000 156,000
British Columbia 1 - - - -
Alberta 3 - - - -
Prairies 1 - - - -
Ontario 23 65,000 66,335 35,000 156,000
Greater Toronto Area 17 65,000 72,888 35,000 156,000
Eastern Ontario 1 - - - -
Northern Ontario 0 - - - -
Central Ontario (excl. GTA) 4 - - - -
Southwestern Ontario 1 - - - -
Quebec 2 - - - -
Atlantic 2 - - - -
ORGANIZATION SIZE
1 - 4 1 - - - -
5 - 10 2 - - - -
11 - 15 3 - - - -
16-25 2 - - - -
26-50 5 65,000 63,680 35,000 115,000
51-99 6 55,000 55,583 35,000 75,000
99+ 13 64,500 63,900 40,000 87,000
ORGANIZATION TYPE
Communication Design Firm 2 - - - -
Advertising/Marketing/PR 21 60,000 65,310 35,000 156,000
Interactive/Web/Mobile/Digital 1 - - - -
For Profit 3 - - - -
Other 5 60,000 59,500 38,400 80,000
EXPERIENCE 4 years or less 16 52,300 51,656 35,000 75,000
5-9 years 8 65,000 66,188 55,000 80,000
10-14 years 6 86,000 98,333 65,000 156,000
15+ years 2 - - - -
Salaries
46
UX / UI DESIGNER
# OF RESP MEDIAN AVERAGE LOW HIGH
REGION National 130 64,750 64,916 26,400 156,000
British Columbia 10 62,500 65,359 26,400 125,000
Alberta 0 - - - -
Prairies 3 - - - -
Ontario 107 65,000 65,932 34,000 156,000
Greater Toronto Area 62 65,000 64,747 34,000 104,000
Eastern Ontario 13 65,000 71,136 40,000 156,000
Northern Ontario 1 - - - -
Central Ontario (excl. GTA) 19 60,000 62,821 34,000 120,000
Southwestern Ontario 12 71,500 73,500 40,000 121,000
Quebec 9 52,000 58,089 40,000 85,000
Atlantic 1 - - - -
ORGANIZATION SIZE
1 - 4 4 - - - -
5 - 10 12 51,000 55,975 35,500 96,200
11 - 15 14 59,000 59,746 26,400 90,000
16-25 18 49,000 54,889 34,000 85,000
26-50 13 55,000 59,354 34,000 93,600
51-99 16 62,500 66,500 35,000 156,000
99+ 51 70,000 72,392 40,000 125,000
ORGANIZATION TYPE
Communication Design Firm 3 - - - -
Advertising/Marketing/PR 9 70,000 71,444 40,000 156,000
Interactive/Web/Mobile/Digital 63 60,000 62,805 26,400 125,000
For Profit 37 65,000 68,427 40,000 120,000
Other 18 70,535 63,753 34,000 86,000
EXPERIENCE 4 years or less 60 50,000 54,816 26,400 96,200
5-9 years 24 62,500 63,042 40,000 104,000
10-14 years 31 75,000 75,718 41,600 125,000
15+ years 14 80,000 87,349 55,888 156,000
Salaries
47
CREATIVE SERVICES MANAGER
# OF RESP MEDIAN AVERAGE LOW HIGH
REGION National 100 70,788 71,231 37,000 150,000
British Columbia 10 50,000 55,150 37,000 100,000
Alberta 14 78,000 78,143 48,000 120,000
Prairies 2 - - - -
Ontario 68 70,788 71,832 40,000 150,000
Greater Toronto Area 34 71,788 75,452 40,000 150,000
Eastern Ontario 6 54,500 59,933 43,000 86,599
Northern Ontario 1 - - - -
Central Ontario (excl. GTA) 19 72,000 72,795 40,000 125,000
Southwestern Ontario 8 66,000 65,875 44,000 94,000
Quebec 6 75,000 77,177 50,000 120,000
Atlantic 0 - - - -
ORGANIZATION SIZE
1 - 4 5 55,000 62,600 48,000 80,000
5 - 10 2 - - - -
11 - 15 3 - - - -
16-25 6 49,750 49,083 43,000 55,000
26-50 9 56,000 62,556 41,000 100,000
51-99 16 62,000 64,600 40,000 90,000
99+ 58 76,000 77,621 40,000 150,000
ORGANIZATION TYPE
Communication Design Firm 4 - - - -
Advertising/Marketing/PR 10 55,000 62,400 37,000 125,000
Interactive/Web/Mobile/Digital 2 - - - -
For Profit 57 71,575 71,616 40,000 150,000
Other 26 72,000 70,270 43,000 105,000
EXPERIENCE 4 years or less 12 46,500 56,083 37,000 109,000
5-9 years 25 55,000 60,518 42,000 105,000
10-14 years 15 57,500 66,615 46,000 95,000
15+ years 48 80,000 82,041 45,500 150,000
Salaries
48
PRODUCTION MANAGER
# OF RESP MEDIAN AVERAGE LOW HIGH
REGION National 38 56,000 60,492 32,500 100,240
British Columbia 2 - - - -
Alberta 4 - - - -
Prairies 0 - - - -
Ontario 29 60,000 61,196 32,500 100,240
Greater Toronto Area 18 62,750 65,177 45,000 100,240
Eastern Ontario 2 - - - -
Northern Ontario 0 - - - -
Central Ontario (excl. GTA) 6 55,000 53,933 32,500 83,000
Southwestern Ontario 3 - - - -
Quebec 3 - - - -
Atlantic 0 - - - -
ORGANIZATION SIZE
1 - 4 0 - - - -
5 - 10 5 49,400 50,180 42,000 63,500
11 - 15 3 - - - -
16-25 3 - - - -
26-50 5 64,500 56,800 32,500 75,000
51-99 4 - - - -
99+ 16 62,200 65,818 45,000 100,240
ORGANIZATION TYPE
Communication Design Firm 4 - - - -
Advertising/Marketing/PR 10 53,000 59,650 44,000 100,000
Interactive/Web/Mobile/Digital 1 - - - -
For Profit 9 70,000 64,489 32,500 80,000
Other 14 52,500 59,613 35,700 100,240
EXPERIENCE 4 years or less 10 45,000 49,060 32,500 74,000
5-9 years 4 - - - -
10-14 years 10 50,500 56,850 42,000 83,000
15+ years 14 66,850 69,899 49,400 100,240
Salaries
49
DESIGN EDUCATOR
# OF RESP MEDIAN AVERAGE LOW HIGH
REGION National 42 93,000 87,639 28,000 150,000
British Columbia 5 67,000 73,900 65,000 88,500
Alberta 2 - - - -
Prairies 0 - - - -
Ontario 29 98,000 93,563 28,000 150,000
Greater Toronto Area 9 96,000 92,000 38,000 137,000
Eastern Ontario 7 98,000 101,356 75,000 150,000
Northern Ontario 2 - - - -
Central Ontario (excl. GTA) 10 99,000 90,378 28,000 103,000
Southwestern Ontario 1 - - - -
Quebec 3 - - - -
Atlantic 3 - - - -
ORGANIZATION SIZE
1 - 4 0 - - - -
5 - 10 0 - - - -
11 - 15 0 - - - -
16-25 1 - - - -
26-50 0 - - - -
51-99 0 - - - -
99+ 1 - - - -
ORGANIZATION TYPE
Communication Design Firm 0 - - - -
Advertising/Marketing/PR 0 - - - -
Interactive/Web/Mobile/Digital 0 - - - -
For Profit 1 - - - -
Other 41 94,000 89,093 38,000 150,000
EXPERIENCE 4 years or less 1 - - - -
5-9 years 3 - - - -
10-14 years 2 - - - -
15+ years 36 95,500 92,023 38,000 150,000
Salaries
50
MARKETING / BRAND MANAGER
# OF RESP MEDIAN AVERAGE LOW HIGH
REGION National 85 58,000 62,931 32,000 142,000
British Columbia 7 58,400 65,307 50,000 84,000
Alberta 13 66,500 76,692 45,000 139,000
Prairies 3 - - - -
Ontario 59 54,000 58,606 32,000 142,000
Greater Toronto Area 27 55,000 57,452 36,000 95,000
Eastern Ontario 11 50,000 60,118 34,000 140,000
Northern Ontario 0 - - - -
Central Ontario (excl. GTA) 14 45,500 53,554 32,000 140,000
Southwestern Ontario 7 62,000 70,786 40,000 142,000
Quebec 2 - - - -
Atlantic 1 - - - -
ORGANIZATION SIZE
1 - 4 6 40,000 43,800 33,800 70,000
5 - 10 10 44,132 44,146 36,000 52,000
11 - 15 4 - - - -
16-25 7 55,000 57,714 32,000 73,500
26-50 19 56,420 61,654 34,000 122,000
51-99 5 59,960 72,992 32,000 140,000
99+ 28 63,000 74,819 38,000 142,000
ORGANIZATION TYPE
Communication Design Firm 2 - - - -
Advertising/Marketing/PR 3 - - - -
Interactive/Web/Mobile/Digital 2 - - - -
For Profit 45 58,000 62,527 32,000 142,000
Other 30 58,190 64,373 34,000 140,000
EXPERIENCE 4 years or less 27 45,000 47,064 32,000 70,000
5-9 years 22 58,200 58,495 34,000 94,032
10-14 years 12 69,000 69,850 40,000 114,000
15+ years 22 73,664 84,241 43,264 142,000
Salaries
51
PROJECT MANAGER / COORDINATOR
# OF RESP MEDIAN AVERAGE LOW HIGH
REGION National 38 55,000 57,187 39,000 92,000
British Columbia 3 - - - -
Alberta 7 65,000 64,183 49,400 80,000
Prairies 0 - - - -
Ontario 25 51,000 54,932 39,000 92,000
Greater Toronto Area 16 55,000 56,557 40,000 92,000
Eastern Ontario 3 - - - -
Northern Ontario 0 - - - -
Central Ontario (excl. GTA) 5 51,000 54,246 39,000 85,232
Southwestern Ontario 1 - - - -
Quebec 2 - - - -
Atlantic 0 - - - -
ORGANIZATION SIZE
1 - 4 3 - - - -
5 - 10 7 65,000 58,614 41,000 72,800
11 - 15 1 - - - -
16-25 3 - - - -
26-50 6 57,500 56,500 42,000 72,000
51-99 2 - - - -
99+ 15 55,000 60,419 40,000 92,000
ORGANIZATION TYPE
Communication Design Firm 6 50,000 51,013 39,000 67,080
Advertising/Marketing/PR 5 55,000 55,880 45,000 65,000
Interactive/Web/Mobile/Digital 4 - - - -
For Profit 5 50,000 53,832 40,000 80,000
Other 18 58,000 59,414 41,000 86,500
EXPERIENCE 4 years or less 9 51,000 55,478 40,000 86,500
5-9 years 12 57,500 57,542 40,000 92,000
10-14 years 9 60,000 60,348 39,000 85,232
15+ years 8 51,000 55,020 41,000 82,000
Salaries
52
FRONT-END DEVELOPER
# OF RESP MEDIAN AVERAGE LOW HIGH
REGION National 46 55,000 54,674 22,000 93,000
British Columbia 2 - - - -
Alberta 4 - - - -
Prairies 3 - - - -
Ontario 35 55,000 53,471 22,000 75,232
Greater Toronto Area 25 56,000 57,706 40,000 75,232
Eastern Ontario 1 - - - -
Northern Ontario 0 - - - -
Central Ontario (excl. GTA) 2 - - - -
Southwestern Ontario 7 45,000 46,550 30,000 72,000
Quebec 2 - - - -
Atlantic 0 - - - -
ORGANIZATION SIZE
1 - 4 5 49,000 44,000 22,000 55,000
5 - 10 4 - - - -
11 - 15 5 50,000 54,600 46,000 72,000
16-25 9 56,000 56,069 48,000 63,000
26-50 4 - - - -
51-99 2 - - - -
99+ 13 57,400 56,349 35,000 75,232
ORGANIZATION TYPE
Communication Design Firm 6 52,810 49,103 22,000 72,000
Advertising/Marketing/PR 3 - - - -
Interactive/Web/Mobile/Digital 22 55,000 52,955 30,000 93,000
For Profit 6 61,750 58,983 42,500 67,500
Other 9 70,000 63,109 46,000 75,232
EXPERIENCE 4 years or less 19 46,000 46,429 22,000 70,000
5-9 years 18 60,000 59,686 39,000 75,232
10-14 years 6 52,500 54,333 49,000 63,000
15+ years 3 - - - -
Salaries
53
BUSINESS OWNER
# OF RESP MEDIAN AVERAGE LOW HIGH
REGION National 696 55,000 72,462 10,000 3,000,000
British Columbia 97 55,000 64,541 14,000 189,560
Alberta 43 68,000 74,582 15,000 230,000
Prairies 8 59,250 59,188 10,000 120,000
Ontario 442 58,000 72,221 10,000 825,000
Greater Toronto Area 214 63,885 79,514 10,000 650,000
Eastern Ontario 71 60,000 64,107 10,000 250,000
Northern Ontario 11 45,000 47,909 10,000 130,000
Central Ontario (excl. GTA) 98 50,000 61,855 10,000 250,000
Southwestern Ontario 48 60,000 78,440 10,000 825,000
Quebec 81 47,000 85,985 10,000 3,000,000
Atlantic 23 55,000 65,735 15,000 250,000
Territories 2 47,000 - - -
ORGANIZATION SIZE
1 - 3 80 71,200 77,275 14,000 189,560
4 - 6 26 100,000 115,500 20,000 250,000
7 - 10 13 120,000 120,692 60,000 230,000
10 - 15 10 117,500 125,500 65,000 200,000
More than 15 14 177,500 409,929 20,000 3,000,000
ORGANIZATION TYPE
Advertising / Marketing Agency 11 60,000 96,818 20,000 250,000
Branding Agency 12 104,000 99,583 50,000 150,000
Communications Firm 15 100,000 121,600 20,000 370,000
Graphic Design Firm 36 89,750 94,483 20,000 230,000
Interactive Agency 9 100,000 94,111 25,000 140,000
Multi-disciplinary Design Firm 49 91,000 165,032 14,000 3,000,000
EXPERIENCE Less than 1 year 1 28,000 - - -
1 - 3 years 35 25,000 28,270 10,000 60,000
3 - 5 years 46 38,000 44,325 10,000 130,000
5 - 9 years 118 48,000 53,458 10,000 200,000
10 - 14 years 149 55,000 60,513 10,000 150,000
15 - 19 years 120 65,000 100,590 10,000 3,000,000
20 years or more 225 70,000 89,408 10,000 825,000
Salaries
OVERTIME &BENEFITS
Subplot Design Inc.Vancouver, British Columbia
55
OVERTIME & BENEFITSMore than 70% of respondents are not compensated for overtime work, which is consistent with 2012 survey results, although up from 78% who reported not receiving overtime compensation in the 2010 results. The majority of those respondents who are compensated for overtime receive a combination of payment for work and/or time off in lieu of pay.
Not surprisingly, those working in government are most likely to receive overtime pay (65%) and those working in advertising are least likely (15%).
The most frequently offered benefits are paid sick leave, paid vacation (beyond what is required by law) and dental insurance.
Overtime & Benefits
“RGD OFFERS ALL OF THE PERKS A
PROFESSIONAL DESIGNER WOULD
WANT AND REPRESENTS A GREAT
EXAMPLE OF WHAT AN INDUSTRY
ASSOCIATION SHOULD BE.”
– FRANK CHARTRAND RGD
56Overtime & Benefits
PAID OVERTIME?
WORK HOURS
METHOD OF COMPENSATION FOR OVERTIME
Regular hourly rate/wage
AVERAGE ADDITIONAL PERFORMANCE-BASED
COMPENSATION
24% 14% 25% 37%
Time off in lieu Combination of above
$6977
More than regular hourly rate/wage
30%Yes
70%No
57Overtime & Benefits
OVERTIME COMPENSATIONPercent within each job title who receive overtime compensation.
Account Coordinator
Account Manager/Director
Art Director
Brand / Content Strategist
Communications / Marketing / Brand Manager
Community / Social Media Manager
Content Editor / Manager
Copywriter / Editor
Creative / Design Director
Design Educator
Design / Creative Service Manager
Designer
Front-end Developer
Information Architect
Production Manager
Project Manager / Coordinator
Senior Designer
UX / UI Designer
29%
17%
46%
27%
29%
36%
13%
18%
19%
27%
36%
39%
33%
23%
29%
39%
26%
0%
Percentage % 20 30 40 500 10
58
OVERTIME COMPENSATIONPercent within each employer type who receive overtime compensation.
Overtime & Benefits
Advertising / Marketing / PR Agency Communication Design Firm
Publishing / MediaNon-profitInteractive / Web / Mobile / Digital Agency
Education Institution
Environmental Design Firm For Profit Government
43%
65%
23%
31%
27%
35%
15%
42%
25%
59
BENEFITS RECEIVED
Paid sick leave
Paid personal time off
Paid vacation (beyond what is required by law)
Professional Member Dues
Medical insurance - individual coverage
Medical insurance - family coverage
Dental insurance
Disability insurance
Life insurance
Defined benefit (pension) retirement plan
Defined contribution or other retirement plan
On-site gym / gym membership
Education / Professional development funding
Parking
Cellular / Data plan reimbursement
Flex-time
Stock options
Company car / allowance
Mileage reimbursement
Parental / Elder care leave
Employee assistance or wellness program
Other
72%
42%
64%
14%
58%
51%
69%
47%
48%
25%
21%
18%
38%
26%
15%
29%
9%
2%
22%
10%
24%
6%
Overtime & Benefits
FUTURE OF THE INDUSTRY
JacknifeToronto, Ontario
Photo: Chris Thomaidis
61
FUTURE OF THE INDUSTRYSurvey respondents are incredibly optimistic about the future of their profession. More than 36% are very optimistic and an additional 42% are somewhat optimistic while less than 5% are either somewhat or very pessimistic.
The greatest threat to the design industry, according to respondents, is lack of awareness about the value of design, with the secondary, much lesser concern being shrinking budgets.
Future of the Industry
"THE E-NEWSLETTER, WEEKLY
WEBINARS AND EXTENSIVE VIDEO
ARCHIVE PROVIDE EXCELLENT
CONTENT THAT IS INFORMATIVE,
THOUGHT-PROVOKING AND WELL-
PRESENTED. AS A RESULT OF MY
MEMBERSHIP, I AM ABLE TO STAY UP-
TO-DATE ON SALARIES AND BILLINGS,
LEGAL ISSUES AND OTHER FACTORS
AFFECTING OUR INDUSTRY."
– CLIFFORD VISCOUNT RGD
62
OPTIMISMOPTIMISM FOR THE FUTURE OF PROFESSION
WHAT RESPONDENTS FELT WAS THE GREATEST THREAT
TO THE DESIGN INDUSTRY
36% 42% 18% 3% 1%
Very optimistic Somewhat optimistic Uncertain Somewhat pessimistic Very pessimistic
54%
4% Other
3%
Lack of awareness about the value of design
Lack of qualified talent coming out of schools
16% Shrinking budgets
9% Crowd-sourcing
9% Lack of job opportunities
5% Lack of qualified talent to meet changing market demand
Future of the Industry
63
WHAT RESPONDENTS FELT WILL HAVE THE GREATEST IMPACT ON THE
DESIGN INDUSTRY IN THE NEXT TWO YEARS
ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINABLE INITIATIVES
35%
6%
Mobile’s continued proliferation
Experience and cross-disciplinary design
Big data and visual interpretation
Experience design/innovation
20%
6% Accessibility requirements
2% Other
31%
Finding most environmentally friendly materials
Working with local suppliers
Incorporating sustainability principles
Considering the whole life-cycle of a project
Turning off office computer(s) when not in use
Pro bono work for green organizations
Joining groups that foster sustainable practices
Donating to organizations for betterment of world
Carpooling/Taking transit/Biking to work
Other
9%
16%
9%
7%
18%
11%
4%
8%
15%
2%
Future of the Industry
(Note: Respondents could select more than one option.)
64Future of the Industry
OPTIMISM BY REGION
British Columbia
Alberta
Prairies
Ontario
Greater Toronto Area
Eastern Ontario
Northern Ontario
Central Ontario (excl. GTA)
Southwestern Ontario
Quebec
Atlantic
Northwest Territories and Nunavut
29%
34%
40%
38%
39%
39%
45%
32%
46%
27%
20%
25%
45%
49%
40%
41%
42%
40%
36%
41%
33%
49%
55%
75%
22%
13%
17%
17%
14%
18%
12%
23%
17%
21%
22%
0%
3%
2%
3%
4%
4%
2%
7%
3%
3%
3%
3%
0%
1%
2%
0%
< 1%
1%
1%
0%
1%
1%
< 1%
0%
0%
Very OptimisticSomewhat Optimistic Uncertain
Somewhat Pessimistic Very PessimisticREGION
q30 design inc.Toronto, Ontario
WHY RGD
66
WHY RGDRGD ADVOCACY
RGD’s advocacy has many action points - actively defending industry best practices; promoting policies that broadly benefit the industry; increasing awareness about the value graphic design brings to business and society; speaking out on issues of concern; intervening on behalf of members and the profession as a whole. In particular, RGD provides information about and combats the unethical practice of spec work, doing work for free as part of new business pitches or contests.
RGD CERTIFICATION
In a world of increasing competition, graphic design professionals need to be able to set themselves apart. Putting the RGD designation after your name lets clients know that you are a professional practitioner of graphic design, that you have many years of experience and education and that you understand not only their design needs, but also their business objectives. RGDs promote their certification by using the RGD designation after their name, by placing a special RGD logo on their websites and promotional materials, and by including a one-pager on the value of hiring an RGD in proposals.
AWARENESS
RGD works to promote the value graphic design can bring to business communications through a variety of initiatives. The annual DesignThinker of the Year Award, a partnership with Rotman School of Management recognizes a Canadian corporate leader who uses design and innovation to achieve business success. Design at Work showcases the value design brings to local communities. The annual So(cial) Good Design Awards celebrate design with the power to incite positive action.
RGD BENEFITS
In addition to the intangible benefits that RGD offers through advocacy, support of best practices and research, RGD Members also receive a variety of tangible benefits which include free magazine subscriptions, access to free, easily-accessible professional development in the form of weekly webinars, and access to a range of discounts. Discounts cover such things as health and liability insurance, stock photography, fonts, fitness memberships and special offers with relevant retailers.
DESIGNTHINKERS
Every November, RGD organizes Canada’s largest event celebrating all areas of communication design and the visionary work that graphic designer are doing across disciplines and around the globe. DesignThinkers provides an opportunity for professionals to hear the ever-evolving advancements in technology, accessibility, useability and engagement that are impacting the effectiveness of visual communications in the marketplace.
Why RGD
MozillaToronto, Ontario
ORGANIZERS
Photo: Chris Thomaidis
68
ORGANIZERS
RGD works to establish and promote professional standards and best practices in the graphic design industry. We certify designers who have documented levels of relevant education and experience, demonstrated understanding of business, design, research principles and ethics, and a portfolio of work that applies creativity, imagination, empathy and problem-solving skills to complex communication projects. RGD is a hub, promoting knowledge sharing, continuous learning, research, advocacy and mentorship.
RGD.CA
Creative Niche is a leading temporary staffing, permanent recruitment and executive search firm focused in advertising, communications design, data, digital, marketing, mobile, public relations, and social media throughout North America, Asia and Europe. Founded by entrepreneur and recruitment-industry expert Mandy Gilbert in 2002, our firm connects top talent with leading companies from across the globe. That includes the marketing departments of multinational corporations, as well as advertising, digital, marketing and public relations agencies. With a fanatical commitment to delivering both exceptional value to clients and career-boosting opportunities to talent, Creative Niche plays an active role advancing the creative and marketing communities, and is a proud partner of RGD.
CREATIVENICHE.COM
Organizers
SPONSORS
Marc Kandalaft DesignMontreal, Quebec
70
SPONSORS
Sponsors
Founded in 1982, Adobe Systems Incorporated builds award-winning software solutions for Network Publishing, including web, print, video, wireless and broadband applications. Its graphic design, imaging, dynamic media and authoring tools enable customers to create, publish and deliver visually rich content for various types of media. Based in San Jose, Calif., Adobe has annual revenues exceeding $1.2 billion.
ADOBE.COM
The Pixel Shop is a team of interactive strategists, designers and developers based in Toronto. Their passion is conceiving, designing and building one-of-a-kind online experiences for their clients. Everything they do is part of an integrated approach to the digital channel that spans strategy to deployment, whether it’s a mobile app, an enterprise-level content management system or a marketing campaign, they craft it with love and attention to detail second to none.
THEPIXELSHOP.CA
Designedge Canada is the country’s leading media brand for the graphic design industry, with a full suite of award-winning print, web, e-mail social media and event properties engaging designers across the country. Designedgecanada.com serves the Canadian graphic design industry with up-to-the-minute news, a national job board, classifieds, blogs, events calendar, contests, links and resources.
DESIGNEDGECANADA.COM
Umbra is a Toronto-based housewares company born over 30 years ago when graphic designer, Paul Rowan, couldn't find a nice window shade to hang in his apartment window. So, he made one. And others liked it. He soon teamed up with childhood friend, Les Mandelbaum, and Umbra (in Latin, "shade") was born. Today, Umbra is recognized all over the world for bringing thought and creativity to everyday items. An international team of in-house designers and global network make its original designs available in over 118 countries. A full collection can be seen in its Toronto flagship store and a newly opened store in Shanghai.
UMBRA.COM
Flash Reproductions is a Toronto-based printing company with a wide range of in-house printing and finishing services, including: traditional off-set printing, plastic and vinyl printing, letterpress, silk screening, embossing, die cutting, packaging, mouse pad manufacturing and bindery.
FLASHREPRODUCTIONS.COM
Paper has the power to inspire new thoughts and big ideas. Domtar's ingenuity has brought the world brighter whites, superior opacity, and a variety of textures with exceptional runnability. They have also led the way in sustainable forestry practices, and introduced the most extensive line of environmentally and socially responsible papers available. A good reputation means attention to every detail, from the multitude of paper choices available to the award-winning customer service, and the efficient delivery to your door.
DOMTAR.COM
71
PROMOTIONAL SPONSORS
Sponsors VERSION CE20141218