Salary Benchmarking Research for Territory Studio

We are proud to share that Cogito has recently completed an extensive salary benchmarking research project for Territory Studio, examining remuneration in the creative industry.

For niche roles in creative industries, traditional benchmarking rarely reflects the reality of skills, responsibilities, or market expectations. For this reason, we carried out bespoke salary benchmarking, examining further motives and factors going beyond basic pay data.

What we found

The results revealed both challenges and opportunities for employers in the creative sector. Market uncertainty remains high, with ongoing industry strikes, competitor restructures, and tariff threats on UK film from the US leaving many professionals anxious about job security. Permanent roles are also limited, with this scarcity driving strong engagement with our research as candidates seek stability and clarity about their prospects.

Salary continues to be the strongest motivator for creative talent. VFX and film organisations tend to pay more competitively for VFX roles, while motion design competitors lead the way in engineering and finance positions. Alongside pay, benefits and flexibility are increasingly valued with 84% of respondents currently receiving hybrid working options and 81% saying they have access to healthcare. Nearly all (94%) said home working is a key consideration when evaluating new roles, with most preferring to work from home three days a week.

However, career development remains a significant gap. Only 4% of respondents reported having clear career pathways, and the lack of progression opportunities was cited as the number one “push factor” driving people to explore new roles. On the other hand, the main “pull factors” attracting and retaining talent are clear: competitive pay, flexible working patterns, and opportunities to work on interesting and meaningful projects.

What we did

Our research began by mapping professionals across a range of competitor organisations, identifying key roles and structures. From there, we conducted detailed telephone interviews with individuals in comparable positions to gather first-hand insights into their experiences and perspectives. These conversations were supported by extensive desk-based benchmarking, allowing us to produce robust comparisons across the sector.

This approach went beyond pay: we explored working practices, benefits, and motivators to understand what keeps people in their roles and what makes them consider moving.

Implications for Employers

• Stay competitive on pay: Accurate, role-specific benchmarking is essential to attract talent.
• Promote stability: With concerns around job security, employers who can demonstrate stability will stand out.
• Offer clear progression: Transparent career pathways are a major differentiator in a market where few competitors provide them.
• Highlight flexibility and culture: Recruitment marketing should emphasise hybrid working, flexibility, and the chance to work on exciting projects.

At a time of uncertainty, understanding what really motivates candidates gives employers the edge. Our research not only provided reliable salary data but also revealed the push and pull factors shaping talent decisions.

By leveraging these insights, organisations can design compelling offers, strengthen their employer brand, and secure the creative talent they need to thrive.

For further information on how Cogito can support your business, visit:

https://cogitotalent.com/