Salaries and costs
Creative pay in Glasgow tracks just below London, with strong variation by specialism and portfolio strength. Junior designers tend to earn around £22,000 to £28,000. Midweight roles often fall between £30,000 and £40,000. Senior designers and art directors can earn between £45,000 and £60,000. Digital marketers span £26,000 to £50,000 across executive to manager levels. Contract day rates for creatives usually range from £200 to £400, with niche motion and UX work at higher rates. Temp agencies may quote hourly pay around £15 to £35 for studio support and content work. Recruitment fees typically range from 15% to 25% for permanent hires. Agency costs for temp cover include charge rates that bundle pay, National Insurance, holiday pay, and margin. Clear terms on rebates, replacement windows, and notice periods help both businesses and candidates.
Qualifications
Hiring managers often look for degrees from art and design schools, strong portfolios, or CIM and CIPR membership for marketing and PR. UX and UI roles may cite HCI modules and recognised bootcamps. Production and post roles value Avid, Adobe Creative Cloud, Resolve, and Cinema 4D proficiency. Many recruiters will screen for evidence of live briefs, internships, or agency placements, as well as soft skills such as stakeholder communication and time management.
Regional or geographic variations
Pay and demand vary across the city. Studios around the City Centre, Merchant City, and Finnieston tend to move faster for agency life. Media and broadcast clusters at Pacific Quay often ask for production, editing, and runner experience. Brand teams in the West End and at Skypark lean toward in-house design and digital roles. Commuter links via the M8, Central Station, and Queen Street widen the labour market to Paisley and East Dunbartonshire.
Hiring challenges
Portfolio depth can be thin in niche areas like motion graphics, game UI, and product design. Managers often need shortlists with domain context, like FMCG packaging or higher education campaigns. Time to hire can stretch when stakeholder sign-off spans marketing, product, and compliance. Staffing agencies and recruitment consultants help by shaping briefs, testing software proficiency, and scheduling portfolio walkthroughs. Clear budgets, titles, and line management cut down on dropouts and support retention.
Roles and career paths
Agencies place graphic designers, art directors, copywriters, social media managers, PPC executives, PR consultants, studio managers, and account handlers. Product teams hire UX researchers, UI designers, content designers, and service designers. Motion designers, editors, and animators feed broadcast and brand content work. Career paths often move from junior to midweight to senior, then into lead or manager. Account handlers step into senior account manager roles, then into account director roles. Many creatives shift into in-house brand teams for stability and broader business exposure.
Temporary, permanent, and contract work
Local employers use temp agencies for campaign spikes, studio cover, and events. Contract work suits fixed projects, like site rebuilds or brand refresh phases. Permanent hires anchor capability in brand, traffic, and client services. Jobseekers can register with an agency for temp or contract assignments, then pivot into permanent roles as their portfolio grows. Recruiters advise on IR35 status for longer contracts and keep timesheets simple for weekly pay.
Key sectors and employers in the region
Design and marketing roles appear across universities, health, culture, and sport. Retail, fintech, and housing associations run busy content calendars. Film and TV work near the river supports editors, runners, and coordinators. Games and animation add demand for character work, rigging, and environment art. Startups need brand and product design to support MVP launches and investor decks.
Regulatory and compliance standards
Creative recruitment agencies in Glasgow manage right-to-work checks and references. Some roles need DBS checks for education and public sector briefs. IR35 assessments matter on longer contracts. Health and safety briefings are common for on-location shoots or events. Clear NDAs cover unreleased campaigns and client data. GDPR rules govern candidate and portfolio handling, so secure file transfer and consent are required.
Hard to fill positions
Senior UX and service design roles can be slow to land, given pressure on research depth and product analytics. Skilled motion designers with 3D capability are in short supply. Integrated account directors who can lead strategy and growth are often busy in post, so notice periods can be lengthy. Recruiters widen nets to passive candidates, refine propositions, and present case study packs to speed decisions.
Seasonal trends
Hiring lifts in late Q1 when budgets land. Summer brings contract briefs for festivals and tourism. Q4 has campaign traffic for retail and charity, then a brief pause over the holidays. Graduates from the Glasgow School of Art and local universities join the workforce in late spring, so agencies plan portfolio days and taster projects.
Quick facts and frequently asked questions
What recruitment fees do creative agencies charge in Glasgow?
Most firms quote 15% to 25% for permanent roles, with temp and contract work billed at a clear charge rate that covers pay and on-costs.
How can I hire staff quickly for a campaign launch?
Share a clear brief, target salary or day rate, location or hybrid pattern, and portfolio must-haves, then ask recruiters for a shortlist with availability and references.
Do creative recruitment agencies in Glasgow cover remote roles?
Yes, many clients hire hybrid or remote teams, but studio access may be required for shoots, workshops, or edits.
What should candidates bring when they register with an agency?
Bring an up-to-date CV, a tidy online portfolio, to work ID, and links to recent projects or reels.
Are there temp agencies for studio support and content work?
Yes, recruiters place studio assistants, art assistants, and content creators on short notice, with hourly pay agreed in advance.
What are typical pay rates for junior creatives?
Juniors often see £22,000 to £28,000, with higher figures for strong software skills or placements.
Do recruiters cover executive search for leadership roles?
Yes, executive search is common for creative directors, heads of design, and marketing leaders, with retained or staged fees.
Can agencies help with retention after hire?
Recruiters advise on onboarding, salary reviews, and career paths, which improves retention and supports long-term team health.