National salary survey offers interesting insights

JOY ORLEK THE CAPE TOWN freight industry fares worst in the salary stakes, with sales management staff earning 37% less than their Johannesburg counterparts and 26% less than Durban staff. This is one of the intriguing findings of a salary survey undertaken by business consultant Chris Richards, which includes data from 27 companies across the full spectrum of the industry. It’s the third since 1999, and for the first time looks at the salaries of sales staff in all three major centres – Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town. Customs affairs personnel also come under the spotlight as do company policies on issues like cell phones and thirteenth cheques. For example 48% of the companies interviewed neither provide nor assist with the buying of cell phones for any staff, while 46% provide them for sales personnel. Business development managers in Johannesburg were clearly in the pound seats, recording an average 36% increase in salary in 2004 compared to 2002 while staff in a special sales function, which includes those responsible for global and key accounts, fared worst with their salaries decreasing by an average of 4%. Copies of the survey are available from Chris Richards.