Who makes more money? CW or AD?

AFAIK Copywriters make more money as they commonly climb further up the ladder than AD*s. That is, copywriters become Creative Directors, Copywriters become seniors faster and you can*t spit these days without finding a decent designer who might do as an AD in a pinch.



In other words, CW*s make more money.



If yyou*re choosing your title based on what future salaries might bring I kinda wonder if you*re any good at either. But that*s just me.

I don*t know about the long term, from what I*ve heard ADs make a little more at the same level as a CW.



But their job tends to require more hours and is much more actual work involved. Unless you have design and production people to lighten your load.



But I*m a CW, what the heck do I know?

psst. it*s dabitch...not Da Bitch. eek



And then again the whole money thing varies depending on your sex too. But that*s all hush hush. wink



Perhaps a better way to make the decision is if a gun was put to your head and you had to pick between the two, which would you go for?



Just because you choose the path of AD dosen*t mean you can become a CD. People do it. It can be tough, but it*s not unusual. Or vise versa. Or evetually you do both like you said.



Honestly I think the monetary differences between the two are minor and not worthwhile for using them as the deciding factor.

I have never met a team that didn*t have the exact same salary. I have never worked in a team where I didn*t make exactly as much - no more, no less - than my writer. I won*t make sweeping generalisations about how it might be over in the United states though. I don*t even know where you might be looking to begin your career MouseyMouse. Is it in a country where English is the main language?



However, I have also never had a Creative Director who once was an Art Director, so I stand by my ladder-knowledge. AFAIK, writers get promoted more often and faster and this is what brings them up to higher salaries. I*m not saying that it is impossble for an AD to become a great CD - Paul Arden comes to mind - it*s just not as common.



And if you do love writing, one would think that you would take note of how other people spell their surnames before assuming that is is two words instead. But again, that*s probably just me.

Cheers.



>>But thanks anyways for those who did answer my question.



You*re welcome.

hahahah well, it is advertising after all. Don*t we all wear black and sleep with each other to gain...ahem...position in the agency? wink

caffeinegoddess* touches on a valid points. The difference between AD and CW salaries is never as large as the difference between male and female AD & CW salaries.

How original. With fresh thinking like that you*ll go far. And make tons of money.

>> On a serious note, I don*t think it*s right to bash people and assume

>> things if you don*t know them.



Neither do I, but you started it. For future ref, you can click peoples names and see their own presentation pages. Mine states my name and asks people not to bother cracking jokes about it.

No worries MouseyMouse. See you around, and let us know how it goes with MouseyMouse*s Choice aye?



(ok that didn*t sound at all like Sophies choice I suck at cracking jokes at this hour. Meh.)

Hehe, thanks. (and yep DB and dab is ok)



I think Caff and Norwalk77 know better than me how the whole team-thing goes over in the states. work-wise I mean.

Definitely the inestimable caffeinegoddess got it right with the gun-to-head scenario.



The fact of the matter is, the best way to make money, either as CW or AD is to be really really good. And to be really really good you have to love what you*re doing.



As to your potential for career advancement, it*s true that there*s a bias toward CWs as CDs, but I think this is often to do with the the observation {HORRENDOUS GENERALISTAION ALERT!!] that copywriters tend to be more mouthy than art directors - tend to talk more in meetings, get into more fights in the corridor etc. There are of course about a billion exceptions, but even my creative director (a former CW) has coined the termed SAD (Silent Art Director) syndrome for what he sees going on in presentations, and it certainly holds true with 9 out of the 11 teams here.



As a result, the sad fact seems to be that most management can see the skill set a copwriter has (talking, being a pain in the arse, talking some more) transferring to a CD position easier than they can see that of an art director.



So the moral is, if you*re articulate enough, if you show yourself to have not just talent but people-management skills and a good grasp of debate, then a CD position is within your reach no matter what your discipline. Plus, there also seems to be a trend for Joint Creative Directors - at least here, where quite a few of our major agencies have BOTH a CW and an AD as Creative dept heads. Which, personally, I like to work under because you can treat them like your mum and dad - go to one of them for one thing and the other for another. Play them off against each other. Liberally use the phrase "But HE said I could..." Great scope for mayhem ensues...

I think most ADs would prefer us CWs never learn those programs. wink



I kid. Actually, CWs really have no need for learning those programs. All you need is word, or some such program and you*re set.



ADs on the other hand, do.

Until you get to a much more senior position, for the most part you will be responsible for using those programs to layout your ads and make them ready for printing, etc.



It*s usually only the more senior folks who hand over their sketches to a designer or art director lower on the totem poll to do the mac work. If you get a job at a small agency, you*re even more likely to have to be able to have these skills at any level.



Perhaps in the olden days ADs didn*t have to worry about such things, but I think now if you applied for an AD job without knowing how to use the required software, you might get laughed at.



Then again, I*m a copywriter, so what do I know grin

And I have a basic understanding of Photoshop, Dreamweaver and the like (although Illustrator is still a total mystery to me).



One thing that you might want to consider is how are you planning on putting your book together. I learned these programs so that I could work on spec ads for my book back in school.



And there*s nothing wrong with being visual and a copywriter. I think of myself as a visual copywriter.



_________________

<a href=http//caffeinegoddess.blogspot.com>Cup of Java</a>- strong, full-bodied, and freshly brewed.

If it*s money you care about, may I suggest a job in the Finance industry?



Whether you choose CW or AD, you*re gonna spend the first half of your career grossly underpaid...only to receive the salary you deserve during the second half of your career. And that*s assuming you don*t get laid off somewhere along the way, or end up shilling shite in some agency*s retail group. The real salaries are reserved for the lucky ones who managed to get the good work through.



Seriously, advertising, as a money making career, really isn*t worth the hassle nowadays. So if it*s money you*re looking for, go out, buy some suits, cufflinks, and a few pairs of loafers, and try to make it trading bonds or something.



Only do advertising if you absolutely must.

The one who has the most passion.