Masthead releases salary survey results

Congratulations to Masthead magazine (sub req'd) for its new, improved salary survey data in the just-published Jan-Feb issue. Among the many improvements is the use of median figures, rather than misleading averages and its division of consumer magazine data into small/medium and large (>50,000 circ). In addition, the survey tried to get a handle on sales commissions and to pinpoint how valuable experience is. Compliments to Gloria Ma, who compiled the data from in-magazine and online sources) and Editor Bill Shields.

Of particular interest are the median salaries for some of the bellwether jobs in the industry

Publishers (large) $100,000
Publishers (small/medium) $36,000

Editor (large) $51,000
Editor (small/medium) $40,500

Art Director (large) $59,000
Art Director (small/medium) $30,000

Advertising manager (large) $56,500
Advertising manager (small/medium) $67,000

Production manager (large) $61,100
Production manager (small/medium) $42,500

Circulation director (large) $69,450
Circulation director (small/medium) $45,350

Some caution is warranted in reading this and the rest of the data in the survey. For one thing, editorial people are much more forthcoming and responsive. For another, in some categories, the number of respondents is quite small, with as few as one or two people providing data. A total of 572 people responded which Masthead says is 27% more than last year.

Still, it is the only such source I know of and it's welcome. Looking over its results, it seems like an accurate representation of compensation. Worth picking up a copy at the newsstand even if you're not a subscriber (although I wonder why not).

[Fair disclosure. Though I don't think it makes a difference to my views, readers should be aware that I am paid, each issue, to write the Good Question column in Masthead.]