Recruitment and retention of talent has become an increasingly critical issue in the success of many organisations. Central to this, is an understanding of the levels of remuneration earned by staff and the reasons for leaving their employers.

View the entire 2006 Salary Survey in a PDF document. (If you do not have .pdf reader you can download a free version from www.adobe.com).

The Acorn Recruitment Salary & Employee Turnover Survey is designed to provide useful information and guidance on these important issues for businesses in North West Kent and North East Sussex.

The survey results are based on an analysis of the salaries and job histories of 749 office job seekers that live and work locally, who were interviewed by Acorn Recruitment during the period, 1 May to 31 July 2006.

Remuneration information is provided for seven of the most commonplace office-based positions and is broken down by length of experience in each role. In addition to the lowest and highest salaries earned, for greater statistical relevance, the lower quartile (LQ), median (MN) and upper quartile (UQ) pay levels are also displayed.

Accounts Assistant / Book-Keeper – Salary Data (£), Base: 66

Administrator – Salary Data (£), Base: 311

Customer Services Staff – Salary Data (£), Base: 106

Notes:

• Customer service roles can broadly be defined into two categories: call-centre and account management (not involving sales). Salaries within call-centres are usually in the region of the lower and median quartile.
• Acorn Recruitment has noticed that local property companies usually pay the highest salaries, where demand for this category of staff is particularly high.

Legal Secretary – Salary Data (£), Base: 46

Notes:

• Whilst there is insufficient data to give comprehensive information on 0 - 2 years experience, Acorn Recruitment has found that trainee legal secretaries generally receive £10,000 - £12,000 per annum. These salaries have remained stable for some time due to a large influx of trainees who qualifying at local colleges.
• Legal secretaries generally earn salaries between the lower quartile and median levels. However, a number of firms in Tunbridge Wells pay around the upper quartile value because of intense local competition for this category of staff.

Office Manager – Salary Data (£), Base: 110

Note:

Acorn Recruitment has observed large geographical differences in the salaries paid for Office Managers. In Borough Green, Sevenoaks and Edenbridge, salaries are likely to be in the lower quartile to median range. Whilst, upper quartile and above salaries are more likely to be found in Tunbridge Wells, Tonbridge, Swanley and Orpington.

Personal Assistant – Salary Data (£), Base: 66

Note:

In general, Personal Assistants receive salaries within the lower quartile to median range, only earning more when they undertake tasks such as office management and human resources.

Secretary – Salary Data (£), Base 44

Note:

Typical remuneration for this category of staff usually falls between the lower quartile and median salaries. Higher levels are paid where more advanced office skills are required.