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That’s the reality of modern capitalism. Those at the top of the pyramid see their pay increase while those at the bottom see theirs stagnate or shrink. Eventually, when you can’t pay the bottom any less, you start decreasing salaries in the middle and upper-middle tiers. When you reach the point where you refuse to cut your own salary because you're at the top, you fire the “expensive” talent directly beneath you, only to rehire for that same position at a lower rate.
In the meantime, people across the industry see these cuts and cling to their current jobs, accepting more responsibility for the same pay. That’s how an ACD who made $115k–$130k pre-pandemic is now told that $110k is a “good” offer. By accepting these lower-paying gigs, a new precedent is set that spreads through the rest of the industry—affecting everyone except those at the very top.
You’re right that’s low for the role, but the experience level for ACD has dropped significantly too. When people are asking why they aren’t ACDs with 5 years experience that’s a devaluation of the title.
This is very true. Also feels like a very amorphous title across the industry. Often instead of the first rung of a CD ladder it can mean senior with sprinkles on top, or creative director shouldering the unglamorous jobs, or middle feedback layer of an eternal hierarchy sandwich. Or any combination of the above.
1) Know your worth and try to negotiate.
2) I know you don’t want to hear this, but be happy that you still have a job even if it’s not the salary you are expecting. Everyone is replaceable, and agencies know that AI is going to make people less needed.
Standing by to pick up the pieces of the failed AI pipeline agency has tried to push through 🫡
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Thanks for the comments. I know and I agree. Just sad.
The agency business model in the form it is now is dying. That’s why. It’s been dying a slow death over the past while, but will accelerate significantly with this new ai paradigm we are in. Salaries for creatives have either stayed stagnant or declined (which means declined with inflation) over the last 20-30 years. The holding company moves in the past couple of years are the clearest sign of this decline. I think there is still a business here. But clearly, not in the form it is now.