Minimum pay for marketing specialists.... Having difficulties

avenuel on 05/06/2020 - 02:00
Last edited 10/06/2020 - 12:19

Hi

I am trying to help my friend who just graduated from uni with a marketing degree.

He initially had difficulties finding the job obviously with COVID hitting, making it almost impossible.

Because of that very reason I think some employers are exploiting these desperate job seekers..

Basically he landed an interview and got the job but the salary is $40000 plus superannuation on a full time basis.

That is to my understanding well below the minimum wage imposed by the FAIR WORK.

WIth Fair Work I know there are specific awards and rates that apply to some workers such as restaurant workers but I couldn't find any award that specifically provides a pay guide for marketing consultants / marketing specialists.

Do you guys have any idea what the applicable award might be if any…?

Thank you fam :)

Education & Work

Comments

  • Hybroid on 05/06/2020 - 02:05
    +64

    salary is $40000 plus superannuation on a full time basis.
    That is to my understanding well below the minimum wage imposed by the FAIR WORK.

    How does your understanding work?

    The national minimum wage is currently $19.49 per hour or $740.80 per 38 hour week (before tax).

    Even if we assume your friend worked non-stop 52 weeks a year (they don't), that's $740.80*52 = $38,521.60

    $40,000 > $38,521.60.

    Also, if you guys are embarking into professional careers, drop the 'fam' bit. Not teenagers anymore.

    • futureminime on 05/06/2020 - 08:34
      +7

      Even if we assume your friend worked non-stop 52 weeks a year (they don't), that's $740.80*52 = $38,521.60

      Your maths and logic is fine, but most people who are full time employed work 52 weeks a year don't they? In that they are paid by their place of employment for services for 52 weeks and should get $38,521.60?

      52 Weeks - Public holidays - Personal/carers/sick leave (10 days) - Annual Leave (20 days) ~~ 43-46 weeks of actual work (depending on your state, about 10-14 days public holidays.

      • arkie0 on 05/06/2020 - 09:16
        +3

        Some professionals are old stuck up douche bags.

      • payton on 05/06/2020 - 10:15
        +12

        yeah, professionals whose target market are teenyboppers ie. staff whose job is to post on the company's facebook page and respond to queries there
        also used for endearing oneself to avocado munching yuppies

      • gentlecrack on 07/06/2020 - 09:38

        Employed by uncle in his family-owned professional cafe?

    • arkie0 on 05/06/2020 - 09:15
      +4

      Hi Fam,

      What Hybroid said applies to non award / EA / misc award contracts. It is most likely a non award contract but the contract itself will let you know if a specific award applies or you can just ask the employer.

      List of awards - https://www.fairwork.gov.au/awards-and-agreements/awards/lis…
      For example if the role was marketing (or any role for that matter) at a uni. min wage would be - HEW Level 1.1 41,389.18

      PS - Fam 100%

  • bobbified on 05/06/2020 - 02:08
    +40

    Everyone has to start somewhere… $40k is a basic entry level office worker salary.

    • ozhunter on 05/06/2020 - 03:45
      +9

      Except that he is a marketing specialist.

      • Melb69 on 05/06/2020 - 04:06
        +20

        Then he will be a manager after a week, with small increase in salary, and more workload.

      • Hellfire on 05/06/2020 - 07:19
        +23

        A marketing specialist usually has a few years experience. A recent graduate will be a marketing assistant or coordinator.

      • bobbified on 05/06/2020 - 10:17
        +23

        Fancy titles really don't mean anything.
        The important thing Op's post is:

        my friend who just graduated from uni with a marketing degree.

        In other words, he's a grad.

      • CLoSeR on 05/06/2020 - 11:28
        +13

        A graduate is not a Marketing Specialist.

        • ozhunter on 05/06/2020 - 13:45
          +3

          I italicized it, but should have added a 'lol' or smiley face to my comment.

          • darkly on 06/06/2020 - 10:09
            +3

            @ozhunter: Maybe he needs to market himself better…

        • netjock on 06/06/2020 - 10:27
          +1

          Maybe it is confusion with marketing major. Specialist academic at marketing. Certainly not a seasoned marketer.

      • AlanHB on 07/06/2020 - 07:27

        He will be - right now he's just a guy with an expensive piece of paper.

      • angryatstupid on 10/06/2020 - 12:11

        Perhaps he should do a better job of marketing himself.

    • poboy on 05/06/2020 - 08:34
      +1

      Not sure the state or the company, but it does sound a tad low. But as there are so many people with marketing qualifications (that don't know what they are doing), then a small wager can be offered. Sure, it's a retention risk, but hey?

      Marketing specialists have a low skills moat and therefore command less money at the start.

      Your friends shouldn't get so worked up though. It's about experience for the first few years, then jump ship.

    • berry580 on 06/06/2020 - 20:28
      +1

      Entry level marketing specialist.
      I.e. assistant.

  • plmko on 05/06/2020 - 03:39
    +68

    Wow first job out of uni at day 0 and already looking up fair work hahaha

    • Melb69 on 05/06/2020 - 04:04

      I would have thought he would have at least an idea off other classmates or through Seek offers as to what salaries might be like. Take the job and keep looking elsewhere. Get some experience. It's the only way he will be able to distinguish himself from other grads out of Uni. From you Fam

    • Thrift on 05/06/2020 - 04:30
      +4

      "Money please!"

  • brendanm on 05/06/2020 - 06:16
    +59

    Zero experience in a sector with no shortage of qualified employees? Should be on at least $100k.

    • mbck on 05/06/2020 - 07:50
      +20

      Plus an high investment car as bonus!

      • holdenmg on 05/06/2020 - 09:40
        +19

        AMG = A Marketing Graduate

        • brendanm on 05/06/2020 - 10:37
          +5

          Spooky

    • [Deactivated] on 06/06/2020 - 09:37

      Funny thing is, of the people I know who work in marketing, the two most successful are people who never finished their marketing degrees (one pretends he has, the other one just worked and uses their experience as a qualification). It really shows you how useless a marketing degree is.

      • berry580 on 06/06/2020 - 20:43

        Not sure why you got neg'ed.
        But I guess it can be difficult to suck it up when you notice the employer cares more about your attitude, enthusiasm, etc than your hard earned degree (yes, sleepless nights before assignments are due counts I suppose)

      • serpserpserp on 06/06/2020 - 21:04

        This can be applied to a lot of professions. Usually people who don't have degrees tend to work harder when they get opportunities because they have nothing to fall back on.

    • This Guy on 06/06/2020 - 22:33

      Fam, what about their covid supplement? $150k if they need to leave their house.

  • RockyRaccoon on 05/06/2020 - 06:30
    +7

    Just graduated from University, I would think an employer would have to invest so much into retraining this specialist, that they should be paying the employer $40k a year.

    And your friend would be far better educated than they are now.

    Or get a job at Uni teaching/tutoring others their specialist skills, as the ones they have aren’t of any value anywhere else.

    Btw if they can’t even research the correct pay scales, they have to have a friend come to a bargain site, join up and ask the new found, never to be seen again “fam’’, for them. What researching skills were they taught at Uni?

    One thing ‘fam’ does, is call it like it is. ‘Your dreaming!’

  • TEER3X on 05/06/2020 - 06:54
    +21

    Should've become a tradie dlckhead with a Hilux

    • brendanm on 05/06/2020 - 10:38

      Rangers are the tradie vehicle of choice nowadays

      • TEER3X on 05/06/2020 - 13:52
        +1

        I respect those tradies though

  • Donaldhump on 05/06/2020 - 07:29
    +8

    Simple, if they don’t like the salary don’t accept it. If they would rather sit st home until they get their dream salary then do so.

    If they are a specialist (which they are not, they have a degree with no experience) , then you would have employers throwing themselves at them

  • Cheap Steve on 05/06/2020 - 07:38
    +24

    Your friend just needs to explain to his new employer that the starting salary for an Ozbargainer is $150k pa - take it or leave it.

    • Donaldhump on 05/06/2020 - 09:36
      +11

      when did we agree to a pay drop?

      • [Deactivated] on 06/06/2020 - 01:07
        +1

        He's cheap; we're not. I'm not getting out of bed for less than half a mil.

      • serpserpserp on 06/06/2020 - 21:05
        +1

        When covid happened we decided to go from 200k to 150k.

  • IIGnomeII on 05/06/2020 - 07:52
    +7

    Just looking over your post history and seeing that you are in your late 20's on $110k in consulting role I would assume you have an idea that you start at the lowest pay bracket and base role to develop skills and work your way up the pay scale ladder by getting experience, being amazing at your job or company hopping.
    If however this is for you as you have retrained to get into marketing expecting that you were going to walk into a job to sustain a lifestyle you are accustomed to then I would say you need to reset your expectations as this is the norm in any industry (not all industries start on $40k).

    Take the sacrifices on the chin for a couple of years then test the market to see what value you have.

    • Melb69 on 05/06/2020 - 21:16
      -1

      You can get a high 6fig salary after graduating if in the right industry and area of interest. Most have to start on a low wage at the start.

      • netjock on 06/06/2020 - 10:30

        High 6 fig as in closer to $999,999? You should post as a deal.

        Would go back to uni for 4 years and still make a profit on the ozbargain over over 10 years.

        • Melb69 on 06/06/2020 - 15:01
          +1

          HA. Ok maybe more like 170k with other perks. If your lucky.

          • serpserpserp on 06/06/2020 - 21:06

            @Melb69: What job pays that straight out of uni?

            • [Deactivated] on 06/06/2020 - 23:34

              @serpserpserp: Mate did CS, offered a job during second year paying 86k, not sure what he's on now after graduating.

              • AlanHB on 07/06/2020 - 07:31

                @[Deactivated]: Wouldn't that suggest that youhe degree was meaningless?

                • [Deactivated] on 08/06/2020 - 11:56

                  @AlanHB: What do you mean? Probably haha

              • serpserpserp on 08/06/2020 - 10:25

                @[Deactivated]: Obviously talented beyond his degree then. Lots of CS grads come out and don't command big money for their first job.

                • [Deactivated] on 08/06/2020 - 11:57

                  @serpserpserp: I don't know, I've known him since highschool, I've helped him a bit here and there as well during uni but don't have a coding background. He's always telling me how smart other people are in the course.

            • AH on 17/06/2020 - 22:26

              @serpserpserp: Trading firms - 160k - 200k
              Software Companies - 130k - 220k

              • 12Ghast on 18/06/2020 - 12:33

                @AH: For fresh graduates in Australia, it's just over 100k AUD for software companies and trading firms. Optiver pays the most out of trading firms afaik and it's a 170k starting package. One could obviously go overseas to the US, but competition is a lot harder.

                • AH on 18/06/2020 - 13:02

                  @12Ghast: Salary or stock? Optivers 170k is 100k salary, rest bonus and signon, Tech companies range in the 130k plus zone if you take total compensation like you are doing optiver.

                  • 12Ghast on 18/06/2020 - 13:11

                    @AH: Damn, that's higher than I thought. Akuna is 90k salary + bonus and signon.

  • RandomNinja on 05/06/2020 - 07:57
    +3

    If this is your friend's first marketing role, the pay is less important than the experience they will gain. Once they have a year or two under their belt, it will be much easier to find a role that pays more.

    • netjock on 06/06/2020 - 10:31

      For some people and extra $2k is more important than experience.

  • floppy on 05/06/2020 - 08:50
    +9

    I work in marketing, have found that most if not all entry level marketing jobs have a starting salary of around $40K-$50K. The titles specialist and coordinator are both entry level titles (unless you work at a large agency).

    I pretty much did a marketing degree and from what you 'learn' at uni, not much of it can or will be applied into most marketing positions. Due to this a lot of workplaces realise that experience is the main factor when employing in marketing, so entry level will get the lowest pay as they will need to train you up. That and also entry level marketers are a dime a dozen, so many out there.

  • HeWhoKnows on 05/06/2020 - 08:56
    -5

    OP
    FIRSTLY You have no idea what you are talking about
    SECONDLY Id kindly suggest that its clearly none of your business so just humbly butt out of this one

    ITS YOUR FRIEND'S CHOICE OF CAREER AND CHOICE OF JOB - NOT YOURS!

    PS When economic times are bad (as they are) marketing jobs are the first ones to go!

    • netjock on 06/06/2020 - 10:34

      You know the entitlement culture. We all know it exists. People just too scared to say it in public. That is why you get these posts here. Big dust up over $2k at entry level.

  • Seraphin7 on 05/06/2020 - 09:28
    +4

    The "minimum" will be the base minimum wage as has been outlined above.

    It's probably best not to refer to someone who "just graduated from uni with a marketing degree" as a "marketing specialist".

    • RockyRaccoon on 05/06/2020 - 09:56
      +7

      But isnt that the first lesson in marketing 101

      Start with the BS from day one

  • Baysew on 05/06/2020 - 09:43
    +4

    He initially had difficulties finding the job

    Your friend may not be such a great marketing specialist.

  • nubzy on 05/06/2020 - 09:45
    -7

    40k to work full time in an office in marketing doesn't sound too appealing to me. I'd rather freelance from home and retain my freedom.

    • dcep on 05/06/2020 - 10:53
      +9

      how to freelance with zero experience and empty portfolios

      • nubzy on 05/06/2020 - 11:06

        Everyone has to start somewhere. You start by advertising online at discounted rates, do good work, build strong relationships and build from there..

        • RockyRaccoon on 05/06/2020 - 11:25
          +9

          Sorry this is as fanciful as the OPs post.

        • dcep on 05/06/2020 - 11:33

          advertise skills that you don't have ?

          • nubzy on 05/06/2020 - 11:42
            -1

            @dcep: Perhaps it doesn't work for this specific field, but I am in a very similar field and this is exactly how I started.

            • serpserpserp on 08/06/2020 - 10:27
              -1

              @nubzy: You could save us time and just tell us the field you work in… Why the big secret?

  • Muzeeb on 05/06/2020 - 10:31

    I'm confused. I have no idea about this profession. What roles/tasks would a marketing specialist normally perform?

    • whooah1979 on 05/06/2020 - 10:48
      +1

      Company rep.

      • dcep on 05/06/2020 - 10:53
        +4

        you mean talking and communicating like everyone else ?

        • greatlamp on 06/06/2020 - 10:32
          +2

          You have to understand the product brochures inside out.

          (Writing marketing material is a more senior position, and far too important to leave to some grad.)

  • [Deactivated] on 05/06/2020 - 10:47
    -1

    Seek legal advice

  • CLoSeR on 05/06/2020 - 11:30

    It sounds ballpark for a graduate starting first role. They have a lot to learn, don't be in a rush for the money as it will come with time and experience.

    If they are skilled in the role, opportunities will become available for career advancement.

  • Davo1111 on 05/06/2020 - 11:33

    marketing degree.

    one of the most common degrees ever.

  • Drakesy on 05/06/2020 - 11:53

    Honestly, many employers these days are taking advantage of the large influx of graduates. Graduates that come out of university in this economy are coming into a largely congested market.

    One that has been gradually reducing starting salaries since the "boom times", i know at least in Perth engineering grads during the mining boom were being taken on at ~$80,000 minimum. This has over time reduced to $50-$60k, the only department that hasn't is government.

    So my advice is talk with your feet, if you don't like the offer then don't take it. I started on mid $50's and when the pay rises didn't come as rapidly as I hoped I re-wrote my resume and looked for alternatives (you can always come back to where you started, but loyalty these days doesn't get you very far in terms of pay, at least in engineering).

    Oh an unfortunately 'marketing' as much as it is a degree doesn't automatically set you up for high entry level pay, imho do the time and then once you have the training on the resume trade up.

  • Muffinman01 on 05/06/2020 - 12:13
    +5

    As someone who works in the industry, I can tell you that everyone's job titles make them seem much more important than they are. A marketing specialist is an entry level role, and the salary reflects this. In all likelihood your friend could become a 'digital manager' as one example in 6 months time which sounds fancy, but in reality is a small step up and might be a $45-50k salary. Marketing firms in particular try and be cool and clever with their job titles, with even junior positions being called specialists or managers etc.

    The salary is slightly above minimum wage for an entry level position, so not sure there are any issues with the firm.

  • OzRolla on 05/06/2020 - 12:40

    40k is the going rate for a Marketing grad. These companies usually have a lot of applicants from Graphic Design and Journalism backgrounds too. If I was him, I'd take the role as a starting point into the industry.

  • lainey13 on 05/06/2020 - 19:35

    Ah this takes me back 15 years when I graduated! Thats what mine was.

    • Trying2SaveABuck on 05/06/2020 - 23:06

      15 years ago 40k as a graduate was alright….

  • Trying2SaveABuck on 05/06/2020 - 21:57
    -7

    40k is mass rubbish - teachers start in $68,846 a year and only work about 42 weeks a year and get all public holidays if that puts it into perspective however market is a bit of a over saturated in the marketing field so i guess it makes sense

    I guess it is the destination not the journey get experience find something better ideally you wouldnt want to stay in that position for longer then a year i mean i 6 weeks tafe course real estate agents get 40k starting salary….

    • kerfuffle on 06/06/2020 - 01:13
      +5

      teachers start in $68,846 a year and only work about 42 weeks a year and get all public holidays

      Clearly doesn't know any teachers …

      • Trying2SaveABuck on 06/06/2020 - 07:59
        -2

        Two of my good friends are teachers actually…

        • kerfuffle on 06/06/2020 - 08:27
          +1

          Then you'd know that they also spend their school holidays preparing lessons and what not and that it's not just a 9-3 job like you make it out to be.

          • Trying2SaveABuck on 06/06/2020 - 09:03

            @kerfuffle: Never said it was a 9-3 job teachers I know subscribe to programs thats does a lot of the prep for them ie lessons plans, learning out comes they realistically do an extra 1.5 hours a day so essentially 9-4:30?

            Teachers moan a lot but if use the tools at there disposal they have a pretty good job

            The only part they complain about are idiot parents they have to deal with

            • SydStrand on 06/06/2020 - 09:16
              +3

              @Trying2SaveABuck: Then your friends are fortunate enough to work in schools where their worst problem is dumb parents. I have two teacher friends, and one of them is in a public school in a poor area; she has to wrangle Jonahs from Tonga daily, often has to buy lunch for her students whose families didn't pack one, has to supply her own classroom, etc. And as far as I know, she definitely didn't start at 68k.

              • Trying2SaveABuck on 06/06/2020 - 09:45
                +8

                @SydStrand: That does sound hard but the old my mate argument isnt enough when you look at the facts….

                Teacher salary is state dependant (im in Vic) let me clarify it is actually 70k graduate salary now according to education.vic.gov which i think it a pretty good starting point and the teachers with 8+ years experience they are looking at around 106k

                https://www.education.vic.gov.au/hrweb/Documents/Salary-Teac…

                Keep in mind it is a 42 week a year job - dont believe all the BS you see on TV with teachers complaining they are pretty well looked after they also have a special super fund and get special rates on home loans vi the teachers Union and if you become principle you get a special pension after so many years of services. - im sure it is a hard job but if your on 106k by around the age of 30 plus super and benefits i think you have done alright in life there are far worse professions out there

                Australia teachers are the most well compensated teachers in the world - they like to say they arent paid well to push for better pay raises and conditions (also gets them public support) and it is now an old misnomer that they are poorly remunerated - keep in mind we have some of the lowest standards to become a teacher in the western world with Atar scores as low as 40 in some states getting into a graduate teaching degree

                • Drakesy on 06/06/2020 - 10:38

                  @Trying2SaveABuck: +1

                • serpserpserp on 06/06/2020 - 21:17

                  @Trying2SaveABuck: Teachers just don't like the fact that they cap out on earnings at 30 years old. I think when you are staring down the barrel of 30 years or so of the same wage (even if it is decent) you get pretty jaded at people who did all kinds of other degrees that are getting paid more. They always try and dismiss the extra leave, it might not be 100% their own leave but the summer holidays they can do the stuff they need to in about 2 weeks so they get the rest of the holiday time off. I mean the reason they don't get paid more is the extra time off. Just accept it, it is ok to accept the perks of your job.

                  • Trying2SaveABuck on 06/06/2020 - 22:16

                    @serpserpserp: I get the career has a bit of a ceiling however teachers can do post grad and become a Assistance Principle and Principle

                    I think some head masters are sitting on around ~200k (I know executives at big big companies which require 70-80 hours a week making that kind of money - so it isnt a bad ceiling if you do the work)

                    But too be frank LOADS of jobs have ceilings that have much worse conditions then teachers - i accept the argument childcare educators are under paid - but high school and primary school teachers simply aren't

                    But my point was the put perspective to OPs friends situation he is getting more then a 1/3 less then a new grad teacher so it might be worth taking a job for the experience but dont build any loyalty because 40k a year is a very low salary if any profession that has a degree or a trade you would expect better even for a new graduate

                    I finished uni 2013 and my starting salary was 52k base i know it work in a different field but that was also 7 years ago….

                    Every field is different but as i said the expected (according to payscale) new grad salary for a marketing specialist is at LEAST 50k

                    • [Deactivated] on 06/06/2020 - 23:47

                      @Trying2SaveABuck: I'm studying to be a highschool math teacher, money didn't matter to me at the time but seeing friends in eng/comp sci finish faster than me and getting much higher paying jobs straight out of, if not during, uni sometimes makes me regret my decision haha. Also, there is a lot teachers have to do and a lot of pressure than what my comp sci friends do. 20 hours of teaching a week, lesson planning for those 20 classes, meetings and reports. Some teachers I've followed 8-3 hardly get more than a 10 minute break. Then they work till 5 and do some work at home/weekend. Most holidays are used for planning and your 4 weeks is over the Christmas period so it's very hard to go anywhere. The larger than average salary off the bat is nice but progress is very slow and then stagnates. Tbh $100k is enough to live comfortably but whether it's worth the 4-5 years of uni, debt and all the shit they have to deal with is debatable.

                      • Trying2SaveABuck on 07/06/2020 - 01:18

                        @[Deactivated]: The truth is not many people 'actually' love there job i've met dozens of people that tell me they 'love what they do' and nek min they complaining about the salary, people, work load, getting up early etc…

                        I reckon 90-95% of people would leave there profession for a little-to-decent bit better money and conditions.

                        So when regretting your choice, just remember if you chose something else you would probably regret that too …. at least what your doing allows you to make decent money

                        Sure we all have friends/family that do better financially but the average salary in Australia is around 83k a year as long as your above that you know your doing better then most

                        • [Deactivated] on 07/06/2020 - 01:25

                          @Trying2SaveABuck: yeah exactly, nurses can make more than teachers probably doing very similar hours. My sister's a nurse, she does her 8 hours and comes home. Sat and Sun is 1.5x and public holiday is 2x. It's nice, to be able to come home and not think about things. She works 4 days a week as a grad and will earn probably close to a grad teacher working 40-55 hour weeks spending less time at uni and can earn 125k without taking 8 years and without having to upskill that much or take on the stress/additional workload of leadership.

                          • Trying2SaveABuck on 07/06/2020 - 08:05

                            @[Deactivated]: The one big draw back for nurses and all health professionals is drugs assault you I give nurses that

                • StalkingIbis on 07/06/2020 - 11:15

                  @Trying2SaveABuck: Teacher salary is decent now. Youre welcome to go do it :)

    • lookingforTV on 06/06/2020 - 23:46

      Irrelevant. OP’s friend does not have a teaching degree and has a marketing degree. How is the argument of “if teachers get paid $68k, your marketing job should he $40k” any valid?

      • Trying2SaveABuck on 07/06/2020 - 12:34

        Fair point

        I was just trying to give OP context

        • lookingforTV on 07/06/2020 - 14:12

          The context you provided is bit devaluing of teachers though. There is no need for that. The grass is always greener from the outside and Australia overall (especially rural areas) wouldn’t have a shortage if it was such a great career choice.

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