Low-Level Advertising Peons Snag an Average of $30k Per Year
Low-Level Advertising Peons Snag an Average of $30k Per Year

The self-appointed industry bible conducted this survey of barely relevant marketing players' salaries. Not to be outdone, Tom Heathcliff and PostAdvertising.com proudly present the first public survey of associate salaries. What do these all important cogs make?

The average advertising associate—bottom-level coordinators, creatives, account and administration—took home $30,000, according to an exclusive Intergalactic Post Advertising HQ analysis. Nice pay, but nothing compared to the 40K hauled in by Saatchi & Saatchi front desker ^Sandra Fernandez. Ms. Fernandez was lured to Saatchi last year with a package including a "new hire unlimited snack clause," assuring she would always get access to Chex Mix and Goldfish in the kitchenette. Also included in her package, she gets invited to every goodbye party (boozeathons for departing employees), maternity leave surprise parties and bagel Fridays. She tops the list of LLG (Low Level Gophers) in a salary survey produced for Post Advertising by Equivent, a compensation research firm.

deb spiegel, post advertising salary survey

Next is <Deb Spiegel, Publicis: Life got pretty good when Spiegel was promoted to associate coordinator—her salary was raised 3K to $38,000, and she was taken out to a Bennigan's lunch by her manager. In addition, Spiegel was mentioned in a company-wide email announcing everyone who was promoted—which included VP Terrence Bloome (annual salary $1.2 million).

colin smythe, post advertising salary survey, postadvertising

Colin Smythe>, Leo Burnett: Smythe, a junior copywriter on the Mars account, wasn't passed up when the free iPod Nanos were distributed. "The Nanos were our way of saying thanks for your hard work," Group Account VP Alexis Maristos (annual salary $550k) said. "Colin definitely deserved it." This perk, valued at $300,  brought his salary up to an impressive $37,000.

andy handfinger, post advertising salary survey, postadvertising

<Andy Handfinger, agency.com: Handfinger, an account associate, makes a base salary of $25K. But he moonlights as the office cocaine dealer, bringing him up to a nifty $34,754. In addition, he stole a laptop from Delivery Manager Brynn Jones last year and sold it on ebay, giving him a $2,000 bonus.

jessica felton, post advertising salary survey, postadvertising

Jessica Felton>, BBDO: Executive Assistant Felton makes a handsome 28K per year, but her compensation nearly doubles if you take into account the amount of beer and liquor she imbibes during company functions. Take, for example, the summer outing, a cruise around Manhattan. According to proxy statements, Jessica consumed approximately $700 worth of high-end tequila and Icelandic vodka. The total booze bonus for the year was close to 8K, bringing her up to $35,000 for the year.

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August 1. 2008 4:01 PM

sleeping in my party dress

sleeping in my party dress < Postadvertina extraordinaire! Supplements her salary by drinking at 20+ Diet Cokes from the company fridge per day and at least two pots of coffee.

sleeping in my party dress

August 1. 2008 2:47 AM

macintyre

Let them see the Post Advertising light, where great work is not measured in dollars earned, but hearts and minds won. Win the hearts and minds of consumers, keep them coming back like moths to flame and you will be pimpin' like Lil Wayne in a Semi-Truck Limo in no time. Make the great work rain baby, and the chedda shall come. Be brave, brandolytes.

macintyre

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March 11. 2010 10:31 PM

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