Entry-level Advertising Salaries? (Chicago, Lansing, Mark: job market, buyer, school)

[Brian_D]

Hey guys - frequent reader, first time poster - as a recent college grad who is moving to the city soon, this site has been extremely useful and a great source to find answers to all of the questions I've had.

Again, I'm 22 and a recent college grad from Michigan, with a bachelor's degree in advertising & marketing. I'm still in the process of finding a job, but am confident I will land something soon as I've had extensive contact with a handful of advertising agencies in regards to entry-level positions.

My question: what is a typical entry-level salary for advertising professionals in the city? Examples of entry-level/jr. positions I have been applying for include Associate Producer, Assistant Planner/Buyer/Strategist, etc. I was under the initial impression that 30K is the normal starting point for green talent, but after some extensive Googling, I've found some conflicting numbers and wanted to hear what you guys think.

Many thanks in advance!!

[emathias]

Originally Posted by Brian_D

Hey guys - frequent reader, first time poster - as a recent college grad who is moving to the city soon, this site has been extremely useful and a great source to find answers to all of the questions I've had.

Again, I'm 22 and a recent college grad from Michigan, with a bachelor's degree in advertising & marketing. I'm still in the process of finding a job, but am confident I will land something soon as I've had extensive contact with a handful of advertising agencies in regards to entry-level positions.

My question: what is a typical entry-level salary for advertising professionals in the city? Examples of entry-level/jr. positions I have been applying for include Associate Producer, Assistant Planner/Buyer/Strategist, etc. I was under the initial impression that 30K is the normal starting point for green talent, but after some extensive Googling, I've found some conflicting numbers and wanted to hear what you guys think.

Many thanks in advance!!

30k sounds about right.

[chet everett]

If the "recent college grad from Michigan" part means that you've earned a degree from a respected program (like the one from the school in East Lansing...) and you have a nice internship under your belt that probably puts something right around $24-30K as realistic floor at a "reputable" advertising firm.

If you degree is not from a program as well regarded, you have not done an internship, and the firms you've talked to are less than gleaming examples of advertisings finest the wages offered you might be signficantly less. Worst case they might be essentially a "job shop" that pays you just a few hundred per project.

At the other end of the spectrum if you have gotten leads from friends / professors / folks you met through internships it is not out of the realm of possibility that they all think you are stellar / have the work ethic of a ox after a monsoon and if you have even prior unpaid experience you might line up something that goes into the $40K territority ...

There are pretty much ALWAYS lots of layoffs and upheavels in the advertising business in Chicago and the survivors are those that can DEMONSTRATE a level of talent and hard work that even firms that lose big clients / major revenue sources will call back when they land another important account. Learn how to be "indespenible" and bounce back when the opportunity presents itself OR find another line of work...

Originally Posted by Brian_D

Hey guys - frequent reader, first time poster - as a recent college grad who is moving to the city soon, this site has been extremely useful and a great source to find answers to all of the questions I've had.

Again, I'm 22 and a recent college grad from Michigan, with a bachelor's degree in advertising & marketing. I'm still in the process of finding a job, but am confident I will land something soon as I've had extensive contact with a handful of advertising agencies in regards to entry-level positions.

My question: what is a typical entry-level salary for advertising professionals in the city? Examples of entry-level/jr. positions I have been applying for include Associate Producer, Assistant Planner/Buyer/Strategist, etc. I was under the initial impression that 30K is the normal starting point for green talent, but after some extensive Googling, I've found some conflicting numbers and wanted to hear what you guys think.

Many thanks in advance!!

[jlawrence01]

Originally Posted by Brian_D

My question: what is a typical entry-level salary for advertising professionals in the city? Examples of entry-level/jr. positions I have been applying for include Associate Producer, Assistant Planner/Buyer/Strategist, etc. I was under the initial impression that 30K is the normal starting point for green talent, but after some extensive Googling, I've found some conflicting numbers and wanted to hear what you guys think.

When I graduated, I was unlucky that the job market was really bad. Fortunately, I had a few offers, all 500+ miles from home.

When I hire someone these days, I establish a min-max salary for the position. The minimum is the least that I will pay for the position, the max the most.

I ALWAYS ask the applicant what they want to make either in the initial screening or before I make an offer. If the wants a lot more than the max, why interview them? They will not be happy. If they ask too little, I can offer the MIN and they will be overjoyed. In reality, I am looking for the best person and the salary is not the most important point.

In other words, if you ask for $30, you might get it. BUT you may be working next to a person with similar experience at $35.

Just my 0.02 worth.

[Brian_D]

Thanks for the quick replies, guys.

Chet: Yes, my degree is from a reputable 4 year program - Central Michigan University. In addition to an aesthetically professional portfolio of past work and samples (graphic design, campaign work, spec ads, copywriting), I completed 2 internships, in my field, during my 4 years of school. My initial thought was that because of these factors, I would be pricing in around $30 starting, but as you said, it varies greatly from agency to agency. The agencies which I have been in talks with are all reputable, have offices across the globe, and carry large staffs.

Also, yes indeed, I am lucky enough to have some great leads from friends who are in the business, in the city, right now. I'm getting the impression that if you have a contact in the industry, they will more often-than-not go out of their way to help you break in. It seems that people empathize with how difficult it is to get started - it's really nice to see.

JLawrence: Thanks for the insight on the min/max figure. It makes complete sense that employers would do this to feel out their candidates, and enable themselves to pursue affordable talent. I just wanted to be sure that I did my research/due diligence and don't throw out a number that would either A.) be too high and result in instant disqualification or B.) underprice myself and be working at 0.10 on the dollar.

I'm really not picky at all with the starting salary to be honest, I am just curious what the going rate for jrs. with my level of talent is. I just want to have enough to afford a small studio and ride the CTA to work. I understand this business is all about getting experience, and I'm determined to do whatever it takes to work my way up. Advertising is my passion and I am really hungry to just get to work. I would take really anything reasonable to get my foot in the door and get some experience, but I just wanted to get an idea of what is commonplace. Thanks guys!

[chet everett]

Originally Posted by Brian_D

... friends who are in the business, in the city, right now. I'm getting the impression that if you have a contact in the industry, they will more often-than-not go out of their way to help you break in. It seems that people empathize with how difficult it is to get started ...

The "survivor mindset" pretty much demands that you have connections. For folks in the ad business in Chicago those connection WILL mean the difference between getting a job both "starting out" and WHEN you are out of work and need another break. The other thing is that down the road, when you've been cut and rehired lots of times, there will be a time when those connections may also be the difference between being able to line up enough work / clients to keep going on your own / be part of a different kind of not having enough of either and needing to switch careers. There is a well worn path from ad firms to the client & media sides and alternatively to a whole lot of things that end up being second careers.

I don't mean to sound too bleak but the traditional places for firms to spend ad dollars (TV, radio, newspapers, magazines...) are all hurting. Some quite badly. Additionally the "new media" of the web has already experienced some significant hiccups -- remember when AOL, MySpace, Second Life and Yahoo were "hot"? Notice how Facebook stock has cratered? Even mighty google has had its missteps -- Google TV Ads Program to Close Down Soon | PCWorld Business Center
Every time there is a change direction / shift in focus it means people lose their jobs. If people have not stepped on others and are respected for the work they can still do it goes a long way...

[ChiNaan]

Originally Posted by brian_d

thanks for the quick replies, guys.

chet: yes, my degree is from a reputable 4 year program - central michigan university.

Oo RLY?

[caverunner17]

Depends on the company. I'm also a 2012 grad with a Marketing degree from a small private IL school. Had three offers (after a bunch of interviews and hundreds of job applications). Two were for 38k, one was for 45k from a large company.

Try looking into marketing specialist positions or whatnot. Pay seems to be higher