A report from the Society of Digital Agencies, encompassing feedback from over sixty digital agencies from around the world, has shown a salary decline in 2012 for executive staff across the industry.

Despite the continuing growth and demand for digital output and increase marketing expenditure, salaries at the executive level have shrunk - with the UK suffering more than their North American counterparts.

“With strategy playing a larger role in the service offering of member companies, part of the downward drift can also be attributed to the recruitment of a greater diversity of both junior and senior strategists and planners during 2012,” the report said.

Some of the report highlights include:

  • Chief technology officers earned 5% less in 2012 than in 2011
  • Account directors suffered the worst salary decreases, with compensation down 16%
  • North American CTOs earned more ($189,522 - $237,560) than their European counterparts ($142,894 - $167,027)
  •  Average salaries for creative directors have declined to $105,290 and $142,894
  • More executives are being paid with variable compensation packages that include equity and stock

SoDA executive director Chris Buettner suggested that this discrepancy is due to the wider fiscal turmoil.

"It's tough at the top due to a variety of factors from shrinking client budgets to the macroeconomic implications of global economic health," he said in a statement.