Marketing salaries 30% higher in Australia than the UK

The latest was organised in October 2024 jointly with ICON, a 3,000 strong association for professional services marketers across the Asia-Pacific region. It was completed by  263 marketers – 70% from PM Forum and 30% from ICON.

Salaries and paid time

Ninety-one per cent of firms have their base salary reviewed annually. Eighty-eight per cent are entitled to paid leave, 7% to paid overtime and 53% (2023 46%) to paid volunteer time. Forty-five per cent of respondents believe themselves to be paid less than their peers, with only 4% feeling that they are paid more.

Professional bodies, recruitment consultants and peer discussions are viewed as the most reliable source of salary data. Line managers and HR teams are viewed as no more reliable than the office grapevine.

Benefits and bonuses

Although 95% receive benefits (the most common being pension scheme contributions and flexible home working arrangements) and 75% receive a bonus, commission or profit share, the latter is worth less than 10% of base salary for 87%. Twenty-seven per cent (2023 23%) of those receiving a bonus consider their firm’s system to be ineffective at encouraging the type of behaviour sought by management, with 39% (2022 45%) considering it to be effective.

Performance reviews

Seventy per cent of firms use self-assessment forms to collect data for reviews, with ‘previously set objectives’ being the primary input (86%). Financial performance is just 5%. Members would prefer more frequent reviews.

The most important aspects of the review process remain as in 2023: ‘Drafting goals in consultation with line managers’; ‘The process being designed to help identify and use strengths’; and ‘Frequently receiving praise, positive feedback and public recognition for contribution’.

Only 58% (2023 67%) of line managers are seen as effective at agreeing objectives, with 25% poor at providing clarity over remuneration outcomes; discussing career development; and identifying learning and development needs.