The gender pay gap for marketing and communications staff working in charities has narrowed, with men earning 10 per cent more than women in 2015 compared to 15 per cent more last year, according to a staff survey. 

The Charity Marketing and Communications Salary Survey 2015, which was published yesterday by CharityComms and TPP Recruitment, found the average salary for male staff was £39,075 and for women it was £33,611.

The overall average salary was just over £34,000, which was roughly the same as last year.

At all levels staff could earn more by working in the private sector.

A director in the charity sector earns an average of £61,319 whereas the equivalent in the private sector earns 30 per cent more at £80,000.  Those at assistant level in charities earn an average of £22,555, 11 per cent less than the private sector equivalent.

The disparity between private and voluntary sector increases as you go up the pay scale with managers in the voluntary sector earning £35,847 and their private sector equivalents earning 26 per cent more at £45,000.

CharityComms and TPP received 788 responses to a survey and used data from 260 roles advertised with TPP.

More than half of the respondents, 54 per cent, said that communications is has become more valued over the past year, which was a slight increase on the previous year.

Staff employed at animal charities had the highest salaries, earning on average around £42,000 per year while staff at hospice charities had the lowest average salary of just under £28,000.

London-based staff also had higher salaries than those outside the capital, earning on average more than £35,000 per year. Those outside the capital had an average annual salary of just over £29,000.