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I’m making 55k in Chicago. Am I underpaid?
Thoughts on $50k for a visual designer in NYC?
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I’ve made more at holding cos across the board at publicis, WPP, and Omnicom. Two indies in between.
Subject Expert
$20K higher isn't "low wages"—that's a massive difference that compounds over years. The Big 4 resume boost matters early career (0-3 years), but after that? Clients and hiring managers care way more about your actual work and results.
The holding companies know they can underpay because people accept the brand name. Independent shops have to compete on compensation since they can't offer the WPP prestige.
You've already got the Big 4 on your resume. Unless you're gunning for a CMO role where pedigree matters, take the money. That $20K gap becomes $100K+ over five years.
How many years are you into your career? That changes the math on whether prestige still matters.
Agree that in general $20k is a pretty significant difference, even $200,000 to $220,000 if changes your take home a noticeable amount.
That said $20k compounds over years if you aren’t laid off or don’t end up leaving, which is relatively common in this industry. I also disagree on the name recognition thing not mattering after three years. When you’re 20 years into your career nobody cares what you did the first 10 years. An agency with a name (or more importantly blue chip clients) goes a long way.
Do I like holding cos? Absolutely not. Do I think they come with big advantages? Absolutely.
Mentor
I worked at Accenture Song before going in-house. My perspective is it was great early career to learn best practices and they have higher ladder to climb. So salary might be lower but the top of the pyramid is higher.