Let’s be real-if you’re a creative, marketer, designer, writer, strategist, dev, or somewhere in between, you need to know what people are actually getting paid in your role. Not what your mate reckons. Not what someone on Reddit said. Real data. Real numbers.
Luckily, Aquent’s done the legwork. Their 2025 Salary Guide is out, and it’s one of the most comprehensive breakdowns we've seen across creative, marketing, and tech roles in Australia.
- 5,556 salaries analysed
- 100+ job roles covered
- Design. Marketing. Tech. Content. Strategy. You name it.
We’ve dug through it for you. Here’s what matters-and what you should be asking for in 2025. But if you want the full info, download the guide on their website, it’s free.
What Are People in Your Role Earning?
Digital Designer
- Median: $85,000
- Range: $70,000 – $98,000
- YoY Change: +13.3%
Copywriter
- Median: $83,500
- Range: $67,750 – $90,000
- YoY Change: +9.9%
Creative Director
- Median: $150,000
- Range: $122,500 – $171,000
- YoY Change: +8.7%
SEO Manager
- Median: $90,000
- Range: $80,000 – $109,500
- YoY Change: –10.0%
UX Designer
- Median: $100,000
- Range: $85,000 – $110,000
- YoY Change: +3.6%
Email Marketing Specialist
- Median: $99,100
- Range: $90,000 – $102,000
- YoY Change: +10.1%
Campaign Manager
- Median: $111,800
- Range: $90,000 – $130,000
- YoY Change: +24.2%
Finished Artist
- Median: $85,500
- Range: $71,750 – $95,000
- YoY Change: +14.0%
Front-End Developer
- Median: $105,000
- Range: $87,000 – $120,000
- YoY Change: +6.3%
Note: These are base salaries only, not including super or bonuses. Location, experience, and company size still matter-but this gives you a rock-solid reference point.
Roles That Took a Hit
Not everything's sunshine and 10% raises. A few roles have actually dropped:
- SEO Managers: –10%
- Senior Strategists: –9.4%
- Heads of eCommerce: –8.8%
- Video Editors: Flatlined
If you’re in these roles and haven’t had a raise in a while... it might be time to have a little chat.
Roles That Got a Serious Pay Bump
Some roles came out swinging this year:
- Campaign Managers: +24.2%
- Finished Artists: +14%
- Account Directors: +14.8%
- Brand Managers: +26.3%
- Content Producers: +20%
- Community Managers: +25.2%
That’s not just inflation. That’s demand talking.
Salary Chat Starters (Keep These Handy)
- Graphic Designers (Median): $73,870
- Senior Copywriters: $108,500
- Senior Digital Producers: $124,000
- Digital Product Managers: $145,000
- AR/VR Designers: $105,000
- AI Content Auditors: $85,000
- Prompt Engineers: $120,000 (yep, it’s a real gig)
Don’t leave money on the table. Use this data when updating your rates, or in your next negotiation.
Gender Pay Gaps? Yep, Still a Thing
We’re making progress-but we’re not there yet.
- UI Designers: Women earn 15.4% less
- SEO Managers: Women earn 26.6% less
- Content Marketing Managers: In 2023, women earned 20.7% more (that gain dropped slightly this year)
Keep this in your back pocket. It matters-especially at negotiation time.
What Do You Do With This Info?
Here’s the move:
- Use the data Screenshot your band. Bookmark the Compare My Salary Tool.
- Update your rates Your CV, rate card, or freelance pitch should reflect today’s market- not what you charged in 2021. Also ask your network, don’t be weird talking about money. It’s important.
- Ask for more Try this line: “Based on current industry benchmarks and scope, I’d love to revisit my compensation…” That’s not greedy. That’s informed.
Converting Salary to Freelance Rates
If you’re freelancing, don’t just divide your salary by 40 hours and call it a day.
Why? Because you’re covering everything: your gear, insurance, sick days, quiet months. You’re the business. You deserve more.
Step 1: Calculate Your Base Rate
Formula: (Annual Salary ÷ 52) ÷ 40 = Hourly Rate
Example: Digital Designer
- Salary: $85,000
- Base hourly: $40.87/hr
Now add 30–40% for freelance overheads:
- 30% markup: $53.13/hr
- 40% markup: $57.22/hr
Step 2: Adjust for the Project
Not all jobs are equal. Factor in:
- Tight deadlines: +20–30%
- High-profile clients: +15–20%
- Specialised work (AR/VR, AI tools, etc.): +25%+
Step 3: Adjust for the Freelance Lifestyle
You’re not billing 40 hours/week every week. Between admin, marketing, and unpaid consults-you need breathing room. A good rule? Your freelance rate might need to be double your full-time equivalent.
Freelance Rate Examples
Digital Designer
- Freelance Hourly: $53.13/hr
- Day Rate (8 hrs): $425.04
Copywriter
- Freelance Hourly: $52.19/hr
- Day Rate: $417.50
Creative Director
- Freelance Hourly: $92.31/hr
- Day Rate: $738.50
UX Designer
- Freelance Hourly: $62.50/hr
- Day Rate: $500.00
SEO Manager
- Freelance Hourly: $56.25/hr
- Day Rate: $450.00
Campaign Manager
- Freelance Hourly: $69.19/hr
- Day Rate: $553.50
How Does This Compare to Fiverr & Upwork?
Short answer: not great.
These platforms can be great for volume work and global exposure-but they also pit creatives against each other in a race to the bottom. You’re not just competing with local talent-you’re up against freelancers from countries with a lower cost of living.
Upwork Stats:
- Graphic Designers: $15–$35/hr USD average
- Most sit around $25/hr
Hourly vs Project Rates?
It’s the eternal debate.
Hourly works well for ongoing support. Project-based makes more sense for defined scopes. And then there’s the “client’s-an-absolute-pain tax,” which you should definitely factor in.
Truth is: no two projects are the same, and they shouldn’t be priced the same either.
If you’re unsure what to charge-ask your network. There’s zero shame in that. We’re not competing. We’re building something better together.
The real enemy? Shitty clients who ghost or don’t pay. Let’s gang up on them.
Final Word
This isn’t about being greedy-it’s about being valued.
You bring strategy, creativity, adaptability, and big ideas. Your pay should reflect that.
So:
✅ Know your worth
✅ Back it up with data
✅ Help your mates charge better too
✅ Back it up with data
✅ Help your mates charge better too
Because the more we all raise the bar, the more we all get paid what we deserve.
Shoutout to Aquent
Aquent have done an amazing job with this report and the design alone deserves an award. Download it here if you want to dive deeper. For a full range of base salaries for 100+ job roles across marketing, design, and technology, visit their real-time, salary comparison tool, Compare My Salary .