Designers are in demand, however, this is not translating into bigger wages, according to Design Week’s annual Salary Survey.

It found that junior London designers earned on average £19,830 in 2006, up from £19,140 the previous year. This compares to £16,906 for junior designers across the rest of the UK. 

Middle-level designers had average salaries of £27,267 in London, compared with an average of £23,637 outside of London.

The research found that senior designers in London earned an average of £35,404 in 2006, this compares to £31,435 in the rest of the UK.

According to the survey packaging and branding designers in London can earn between £19,800 and £61,682. This compares with £17,200 to £49,409 across the rest of the country.

Product designers in London earn between £20,333 for juniors to £47,833 for a creative director. Across the rest of the UK the figures are £16,583 for junior positions up to £39,750 for a creative director position.

Design Week said: “The figures supplied by recruiters do not show salary increases, even for areas such as digital design where demand is intense. Few designers’ salaries have outpaced inflation, and those for new management roles have weakened. However, nearly all are agreed that it’s a candidate-led market.”