Marketing and creative salary benchmarks and trends

Name: Insights at a glance
Creator: Robert Half

2027 Canada Salary Guide

Get customized salary insights

sg27-web-hero-DONOTSHARE-0826-us-en-3072x1229

Job seekers: Explore opportunities and grow your career.

This is not the final Salary Guide. Do not share this preview before September 10 to avoid distributing information that may change before launch. This draft version is intended for internal review and training purposes only.

As the mix of content, data and digital capabilities across marketing and creative work continues to evolve, hiring managers are aligning pay more closely to what roles now require, selectively exceeding budgeted salary ranges for professionals with specialized skills. Content is increasingly data-informed, and AI-enabled tools are reshaping how teams operate.

Professionals who combine creative and content skills, digital execution and analytical insight can command higher offers. But the ability to apply those skills with sound judgment is what separates standout candidates. They know their value, making it harder for employers to compete for them when pay falls below market rates or roles expand in scope without corresponding salary adjustments.

Hiring managers: Meet with us to get customized salary insights and guidance so you can build offers candidates say yes to.

Salary Calculator

Salaries by job category

The salaries below default to national averages. Select a job category and city to find figures for a specific market. Starting compensation can vary significantly based on a candidate’s skills, experience and certifications, as well as other factors including industry; company size, complexity or revenue; and demand for the role. To reflect this variability, we report our compensation data in 3 levels: low, mid and high.

Agency Account Management

Content and Social Media

Design and Production

Digital Marketing

Marketing and Communications

UX Design and Development

Job Title

Low

Mid

High

Account Director

97250

107250

124750

Account Supervisor

76250

84500

99500

Account Manager

60250

76000

91250

Account Coordinator

52750

57750

63000

Low

The candidate is new to the role or has limited experience and is still developing core skills.

Mid

The candidate has moderate experience in the role or one similar, meets most requirements and may hold transferable skills or relevant certifications.

High

The candidate has extensive experience in the role, demonstrates advanced skills and often brings specialized certifications or industry experience.

2027 marketing and creative compensation trends

Insights at a glance

6 in 10

of marketing and creative hiring managers are offering salaries above their planned ranges to secure top talent.

87%

cite the need to secure candidates with specialized skills as a reason.

66%

are paying more for AI-related skills, with 32% reporting those salary premiums are higher than for other tech skills.

Specialized skills by job category

Content and social media

Organizations are paying more for high-impact skills tied to critical initiatives and to compete for in-demand talent.

Brand and product strategy

Partnership strategy

SEO/GEO

Design and production

Organizations are paying more for high-impact skills tied to critical initiatives and to compete for in-demand talent.

Brand identity

Creative direction

Immersive world-building

Motion design, animations and short-form video

UX/UI design

Marketing

Organizations are paying more for high-impact skills tied to critical initiatives and to compete for in-demand talent.

AI-powered marketing

Martech capabilities

Performance and KPI tracking

Product marketing

Rewards that motivate career moves

When base pay is similar across opportunities, marketing and creative professionals weigh other factors heavily when considering a job change. Benefits, perks and incentives can help companies strengthen offers and stand out to in-demand candidates. Top benefits and perks that motivate job changes include:

Work‑life balance and flexibility

Paid time off, remote work options, flexible schedules

Financial incentives

Bonuses, profit‑sharing programs

Explore more total rewards insights

Marketing and creative: Roles, industries, certifications

Roles requiring specialized skills in areas such as marketing automation, social media and digital strategy are expected to have salary growth above the projected +1.2% average for marketing and creative positions.

+5.9% Marketing automation specialist

+5.0% Digital strategist

+3.6% Social media manager

+3.2% Community manager

+3.1% Product manager

+2.9% Demand generation manager

Employers in these industries need skilled professionals to advance customer acquisition, digital engagement, brand differentiation and e-commerce growth:

Advertising

Consumer products

Financial services and insurance

Health care

Manufacturing

Professional services

Retail trade

Technology

Certifications can justify higher pay when they validate expertise in marketing technology, campaign management, data analysis and project execution.

CRM Certification for Salesforce

Google Ads Certification

Google Analytics Certification

Hubspot Inbound Marketing Certification

Project Management Professional (PMP)

Semrush

Smarter hiring. Better jobs. Personalized guidance.

Get salary insights you can act on

Build a more competitive talent strategy with a personalized consultation from Robert Half. Get customized salary insights

Need to hire?

Connect with in-demand professionals fast to expand your core team or staff a critical project. Hire talent

Looking for a new role?

We can help you find a position that aligns with your goals, skills and lifestyle. Find a job

Questions? Contact us at 1.855.367.6901

More to explore

Marketing and Creative Salary Trends in Canada Explore the latest marketing and creative salary trends. Learn which roles, skills and certifications can boost earning potential.

Labour Market Overview Stay on top of Robert Half and Statistics Canada job posting data to learn about today’s hiring market.

2026 Canada Marketing and Creative Hiring and Employment Trends Get insights into the state of the marketing and creative job market in 2026, including which roles and skills are most in demand.

Pay and Compensation Highlights Dive deeper into salary and total rewards trends across a range of professional roles and industries.

AI in Recruiting AI is transforming hiring in Canada by adding complexity. Navigate the changing landscape with our AI in Recruiting insights.

Trends and salaries by professional field

Get 2027 starting salaries and salary insights in other professional fields.

Finance and accounting

Technology

Legal

Administrative and customer support

Human resources

The salary benchmarks in the Canada Salary Guide From Robert Half are the result of a rigorous, multistep process designed to reflect projected market trends for 2027. They are based on actual compensation for professionals Robert Half has placed nationwide, along with third-party job posting data from Textkernel that we use for independent validation. Learn more about our salary methodology.

Non-salary data referenced in the Canada Salary Guide is based on online surveys developed by Robert Half and conducted by independent research firms. Respondents include hiring managers and workers from small (10-99 employees), midsize (100-999 employees) and large (1,000-plus employees) private, publicly listed and public sector organizations across Canada.