Advertising and creative professionals can broadly expect better salaries in Sydney than in Melbourne, according to Firebrand Talent Search’s esalarysurvey.

Creative directors in Sydney, for example, can demand $135,250 (median), while in Melbourne the median salary is $105,000.

The creative sector saw salaries 18% higher in Sydney, and a 13% difference in advertising and media, but Greg Savage, Firebrand’s global chief executive, says this does “not necessarily reflective of cost of living differences between the two cities”.

The survey also shows that 22% of advertisers and 13% of creative professionals in Melbourne receive bonuses, compared to 27% in both sectors in Sydney.

Savage said the results of the survey left him “mildly surprised”, adding “the Firebrand recruiting business is seeing slightly more hiring demand in Melbourne right now, so if anything, Melbourne salaries might move up before Sydney does”.