2025 Salary & Hiring Trends: What Candidates and Employers Need to Know
In a fast-moving hiring landscape, staying in touch with salary expectations and market trends is essential — whether you're looking to recruit top talent, retain your existing team, or weigh up your next career move.
This latest salary snapshot has been compiled from real conversations with clients and candidates across the creative, marketing, digital and business development space. It covers salaries for both agency and client-side roles, from early-career to director level.
We've also gathered insights into what candidates are looking for in 2025 — and what the most successful employers are doing to attract (and keep!) the best people.
What Our 2025 Salary Survey Tells Us
Our data comes from hundreds of conversations with candidates and clients across the UK, spanning start-ups, boutique agencies, in-house teams, and global brands.
Candidates shared some of their top reasons for looking for a new role:
A change in career direction or new challenge
A more aligned company culture
Opportunities to learn new skills or broaden experience
Clearer career progression
These motivations go hand-in-hand with salary expectations — but it’s increasingly clear that culture, values and flexibility are just as important.
What Benefits Look Like in 2025
Candidates are becoming more selective — and benefits now play a big role in decision-making. Here’s what they’re telling us they value most:
Flexible and hybrid working
Enhanced pension schemes
25+ days holiday (with the option to buy more)
Annual bonus schemes
Gym memberships or wellbeing allowances
Dental and healthcare plans
Cycle-to-work schemes and subsidised parking
Support for professional development or qualifications
Offering a meaningful benefits package is no longer just a “nice to have” — it’s key to staying competitive in a candidate-driven market.
How Employers Are Attracting Top Talent
In our experience, the organisations that consistently attract great candidates are those who approach hiring in a strategic, human-focused way. Here's what we see working:
Hiring for Culture Fit — and Future Fit
It’s not just about ticking off skills. It’s about finding people who will thrive in your environment and grow with your business. Interviews should reflect this, with a strong focus on values and working style as well as capability.
Speeding Up the Hiring Process
Great candidates don’t stay on the market for long. The most successful employers are the ones who move quickly — with streamlined interview stages, fast feedback, and decisive offers.
Empowering Hiring Managers
Make sure your internal teams understand your culture and EVP (employer value proposition), so they can clearly communicate it throughout the hiring process.
Partnering with the Right Recruiters
We work closely with our clients to understand what “great” looks like for them — not just on paper, but in real terms. This gives us a better chance of getting it right first time.
Promoting Wellbeing, Inclusion and Career Growth
Companies with strong values, inclusive cultures and clear progression paths are winning the race for talent. Make sure your career pages reflect this authentically.
A Word of Advice for Employers
It’s a competitive market. We’d always recommend snapping up good candidates quickly rather than waiting for a bigger “batch.” Quality candidates know their worth, and they’re looking for more than just a pay cheque.
The most desirable talent is often drawn to brands that not only inspire them but also support them — with clarity, flexibility and purpose.
2025 Salary Guide (UK Averages)
Agency-side: Marketing, PR & Creative
| Role | Salary Range |
|---|---|
| Client Service Director | £60K–£80K |
| Account Director | £50K–£70K |
| Senior Account Manager | £35K–£50K |
| Account Manager | £30K–£40K |
| Account Executive | £25K–£30K |
| Creative Director | £50K–£80K |
| Senior Designer | £35K–£55K |
| Creative Designer | £25K–£35K |
| UX/UI Designer | £40K–£80K |
Client-side: Marketing, Content & BD
| Role | Salary Range |
|---|---|
| Marketing Director | £60K–£80K |
| Marketing Manager / Digital | £40K–£60K |
| Marketing Executive / Digital | £28K–£35K |
| Marketing Assistant / Digital | £23K–£28K |
| PR Manager | £35K–£55K |
| Content Manager | £35K–£55K |
| Social Media Manager | £35K–£45K |
| Content Writer | £20K–£40K |
| Graphic Designer | £25K–£40K |
| Business Development Executive | £25K–£35K + bonus |
| Business Development Manager | £35K–£50K + bonus |
| Graduates | £23K–£25K |
Note: London-based salaries typically trend £3K–£6K higher across the board.
Need Help Hiring — or Looking to Make a Move?
At Talent Search, we specialise in recruitment for the creative, marketing and digital industry — from entry-level to leadership. We combine genuine care with deep industry knowledge, and we’re here to help whether you’re:
Hiring your next star player
Reviewing your salary benchmarks
Looking for your next opportunity
Let’s talk. Drop us a message or give us a call — we’re always happy to help.
