Advertising / Graphic Design / Events Average Salaries in Colombo 2026
How much money does a person working in Advertising / Graphic Design / Events make in Colombo?
LOW
47,400
LKR AVERAGE
100,000
LKR HIGH
182,000
LKR
A person working in Advertising / Graphic Design / Events in Colombo typically earns around 100,000 LKR. Salaries range from 47,400 LKR (lowest average) to 182,000 LKR (highest average, actual maximum salary is higher).
Salary Variance
The provided figure represents the median compensation that encompasses housing, transportation, and other perks. The salaries within the Advertising / Graphic Design / Events domain in Colombo exhibit significant discrepancies across various professions. In case you seek information about the remuneration of a specific position, please refer to the salaries listed below for respective job titles.
Salaries for specific jobs
| Job Title | Average Salary |
| Advertising / Graphic Design / Events | |
| Advertisement Fraud Analyst | 105,000 LKR |
| Advertising Account Executive | 117,000 LKR |
| Advertising Account Manager | 123,000 LKR |
| Advertising Account Planner | 65,400 LKR |
| Advertising and Promotions Manager | 163,000 LKR |
| Advertising Coordinator | 79,700 LKR |
| Advertising Data Analyst | 105,000 LKR |
| Advertising Manager | 157,000 LKR |
| Advertising Operations Manager | 172,000 LKR |
| Advertising Sales Director | 182,000 LKR |
| Advertising Strategic Planner | 105,000 LKR |
| Advertising Team Leader | 96,100 LKR |
| Animation Director | 132,000 LKR |
| Animator | 74,400 LKR |
| Art Director | 100,000 LKR |
| Art Manager | 106,000 LKR |
| Artificial Intelligence Advertising Analyst | 110,000 LKR |
| Artist | 86,000 LKR |
| Artworker | 59,500 LKR |
| Assistant Art Director | 77,000 LKR |
| Audio and Video Equipment Technician | 62,600 LKR |
| Audio Engineer | 69,700 LKR |
| Audiosual Technician | 59,600 LKR |
| Branding Consultant | 134,000 LKR |
| Broadcast Administrator | 104,000 LKR |
| Catering Sales | 66,700 LKR |
| Catering Trainer | 75,800 LKR |
| Color Consultant | 68,700 LKR |
| Commercial and Industrial Designer | 61,000 LKR |
| Conference Organiser | 76,100 LKR |
| Content and Media Production Lead | 120,000 LKR |
| CopyWriter | 72,500 LKR |
| Creative Content Strategist | 130,000 LKR |
| Creative Designer | 77,900 LKR |
| Creative Director | 104,000 LKR |
| Creative Technologist | 127,000 LKR |
| Crowd Management Specialist | 103,000 LKR |
| Design Strategist | 107,000 LKR |
| Designer | 61,400 LKR |
| Desktop Publisher | 51,100 LKR |
| Digital Campaign Manager | 103,000 LKR |
| Digital Media Manager | 121,000 LKR |
| Digital Media Strategist | 132,000 LKR |
| Director of Events | 174,000 LKR |
| Director of Graphic Design | 97,000 LKR |
| Director of Social Media Marketing | 134,000 LKR |
| Event Experience Designer | 117,000 LKR |
| Event Security Specialist | 98,400 LKR |
| Event Technology Consultant | 99,200 LKR |
| Event Technology Integration Specialist | 90,900 LKR |
| Events and Promotions Manager | 162,000 LKR |
| Events Director | 171,000 LKR |
| Exhibit Designer | 84,200 LKR |
| Exhibit Display Coordinator | 74,900 LKR |
| Exhibit Display Manager | 108,000 LKR |
| Experiential Designer | 99,900 LKR |
| Finisher | 52,800 LKR |
| Gamification Specialist | 111,000 LKR |
| Graphic Artist | 64,200 LKR |
| Graphic Design Specialist | 75,900 LKR |
| Graphic Designer | 65,200 LKR |
| Graphics Artist | 65,900 LKR |
| Graphics Design Supervisor | 85,700 LKR |
| Group Creative Director | 114,000 LKR |
| Imagery Analyst | 61,800 LKR |
| Imaging Technologist | 60,400 LKR |
| Immersive Storyteller | 88,700 LKR |
| Interaction Designer | 51,800 LKR |
| Lead Generation Specialist | 124,000 LKR |
| Media Analyst | 85,000 LKR |
| Media Executive | 108,000 LKR |
| Media Planner | 83,400 LKR |
| Media Production Coordinator | 76,500 LKR |
| Media Production Manager | 134,000 LKR |
| Media Project Manager | 142,000 LKR |
| Media Relations Representative | 116,000 LKR |
| Media Sales Executive | 129,000 LKR |
| Meeting and Event Planner | 76,500 LKR |
| Mobile Advertising Specialist | 131,000 LKR |
| Motion Graphic Artist | 83,600 LKR |
| Motion Graphics Designer | 81,700 LKR |
| Multimedia Artist | 63,600 LKR |
| Multimedia Specialist | 60,400 LKR |
| NFT Designer | 76,100 LKR |
| NFT Specialist | 80,200 LKR |
| Photographer | 54,800 LKR |
| PPC Campaign Manager | 103,000 LKR |
| Print Production Manager | 117,000 LKR |
| Product and Brand Manager | 164,000 LKR |
| Sales Promotion Manager | 168,000 LKR |
| Search Engine Optimization Specialist (SEO) | 73,900 LKR |
| Sketch Artist | 69,700 LKR |
| Social Media Event Strategist | 86,400 LKR |
| Social Media Executive | 129,000 LKR |
| Social Media Graphic Designer | 80,700 LKR |
| Social Media Manager | 126,000 LKR |
| Social Media Marketing Manager | 130,000 LKR |
| Social Media Strategist | 133,000 LKR |
| Special Events Supervisor | 102,000 LKR |
| Technical Typist | 47,400 LKR |
| User Experience UX Designer | 71,700 LKR |
| UX Designer | 62,800 LKR |
| Virtual / Augmented Reality Advertiser | 104,000 LKR |
| Virtual / Augmented Reality Event Producer | 86,700 LKR |
| Virtual / Augmented Reality Showroom Designer | 82,900 LKR |
| Virtual Events Planner | 84,700 LKR |
| Virtual Trade Show Manager | 83,000 LKR |
| Voice Search Optimization Specialist | 107,000 LKR |
| Web Accessibility Designer | 83,100 LKR |
| Web3 Designer | 82,500 LKR |
| Webinar Designer | 86,800 LKR |
Advertising / Graphic Design / Events Jobs Pay Scale and Salaries in Colombo
Median Salary, maximum and minimum salary, minimum wage, starting salary, and the salary range
Salary Range, Minimum Wage, and Starting Salary
Salaries in Advertising / Graphic Design / Events in Colombo range from 47,400 LKR (starting average salary) to 182,000 LKR (maximum average salary, actual maximum is higher). To clarify, the number presented is not the legally mandated minimum wage. Rather, it represents the lowest figure reported in a salary survey that involved thousands of participants and professionals from across the entire country.
Median Salary
The median income in the field of Advertising / Graphic Design / Events is 96,200 LKR, implying that half of the workforce in Colombo earns less than this figure, and the other half earns more. It represents the central value of salaries. As a rule of thumb, you would prefer to be part of the group earning above the median wage, situated on the right-hand side of the salary distribution chart.
Percentiles and Salary Scale
Two values that are highly correlated with the median are the 25th and 75th percentiles. By examining the salary distribution diagram, it is possible to determine that 25% of individuals employed in Advertising / Graphic Design / Events in Colombo earn less than 78,000 LKR, while 75% of them earn more. Additionally, the diagram reveals that 75% of individuals earn less than 113,000 LKR, while 25% earn more than that.
Pay Scale Structure
Data was regrouped into brackets to provide a better understanding of what salaries can be expected. This approach was deemed more accurate than relying solely on the average salary, as it offers greater insights into the distribution of salaries in the field of Advertising / Graphic Design / Events in Colombo. The analysis revealed that roughly 65% of all reported salaries fell within the range of 60,500 LKR to 91,300 LKR. Approximately 20% of salaries were below the 60,500 LKR mark, while 10% ranged from 91,300 LKR to 105,000 LKR. Only 5% of individuals earned a gross salary of 105,000 LKR or higher.
Salary Comparison by Years of Experience
How does a person's salary progress over time?
The experience level is the most important factor in determining the salary. Naturally, the more years of experience the higher the wage.
Generally speaking, employees in Advertising / Graphic Design / Events in Colombo having experience from two to five years earn on average 32% more than freshers and juniors across all industries and disciplines.
Professionals with experience of more than five years tend to earn on average 36% more than those with five years or less of work experience.
As you hit the ten years mark, the salary increases by 21% and an additional 14% for those who have crossed the 15 years mark.
Those figures are presented as guidelines only. The numbers become more significant if you consider one job title at a time.
Salary Comparison By Education
How does the education level affect your salary?
It is well known that higher education equals a bigger salary, but how much more money can a degree add to your income?
We compared the salaries of professionals at the same level but with different college degree levels across many jobs in Advertising / Graphic Design / Events in Colombo, below are our findings.
Workers with a certificate or diploma earn on average 17% more than their peers who only reached the high school level.
Employees who earned a Bachelor's Degree earn 24% more than those who only managed to attain a certificate or diploma.
Professionals who attained a Master's Degree are awarded salaries that are 29% more than those with a Bachelor's Degree.
Finally, PhD holders earn 23% more than Master's Degree holders on average while doing the same job.
Is a Master's degree or an MBA worth it? Should you pursue higher education?
A Master's degree program or any post-graduate program in Sri Lanka costs anywhere from 450,000 LKR to 1.4M LKR and lasts approximately two years. That is quite an investment.
Employees can't expect any salary increases during the study period, assuming they already have a job. In most cases, a salary review is conducted once education is completed and the degree has been attained.
Many people pursue higher education as a tactic to switch to a higher-paying job. The numbers seem to support this tactic. The average increase in compensation while changing jobs is approximately 10% more than the customary salary increment.
The decision really depends on the situation and experience among many other factors. Putting all variables aside, if a person can afford the costs of higher education then the return on investment is definitely worth it. Degree costs can be recovered roughly in a year or so.
Salary and Compensation Comparison By Gender / Advertising / Graphic Design / Events / Colombo
Though gender should not have an effect on pay, in reality, it does. So who gets paid more: men or women? In the field of Advertising / Graphic Design / Events in Sri Lanka, the average difference between the salary of male and female employees is 10%.
| Male | 88,100 LKR | |
| Female | -9% | 79,800 LKR |
Average Annual Salary Increment Percentage / Advertising / Graphic Design / Events / Colombo
How much are annual salary increments in Colombo for individuals working in Advertising / Graphic Design / Events? How often do employees get salary raises?
Professionals working in Advertising / Graphic Design / Events in Sri Lanka are likely to observe a salary increase of approximately 10% every 16 months. The national average annual increment for all professions combined is 9% granted to employees every 17 months.
The term Annual Salary Increase usually refers to the increase in 12 calendar month period, but because it is rare that people get their salaries reviewed exactly on the one-year mark, it is more meaningful to know the frequency and the rate at the time of the increase.
How to calculate the salary increment percentage?
The annual salary Increase in a calendar year (12 months) can be easily calculated as follows: Annual Salary Increase = Increase Rate x 12 / Increase Frequency
Worldwide Salary Raises: All Countries and All Jobs
Salary Packages and Schemes
Not all compensation increases are reflected directly in the salary. Some companies offer upgraded packages to their staff instead of cash money. The figures displayed here account only for direct increments to the base salary.
Bonus and Incentive Rates / Advertising / Graphic Design / Events / Sri Lanka
How much and how often are bonuses being awarded?
48% of surveyed staff in Advertising / Graphic Design / Events reported that they haven't received any bonuses or incentives in the previous year while 52% said that they received at least one form of monetary bonus.
Those who got bonuses reported rates ranging from 3% to 6% of their annual salary.
| Received Bonus | 52% | |
| No Bonus | 48% |
Types of Bonuses Considered
Individual Performance-Based BonusesThe most standard form of bonus, where the employee is awarded based on their exceptional performance.
Company Performance BonusesOccasionally, some companies like to celebrate excess earnings and profits with their staff collectively in the form of bonuses that are granted to everyone. The amount of the bonus will probably be different from person to person depending on their role within the organization.
Goal-Based BonusesGranted upon achieving an important goal or milestone.
Holiday / End of Year BonusesThese types of bonuses are given without a reason and usually resemble an appreciation token.
Bonuses Are Not Commissions!
People tend to confuse bonuses with commissions. A commission is a prefixed rate at which someone gets paid for items sold or deals completed while a bonus is in most cases arbitrary and unplanned.
What makes a position worthy of good bonuses and a high salary?
The main two types of jobs | |
| Revenue Generators | Supporting Cast |
Employees that are directly involved in generating revenue or profit for the organization. Their field of expertise usually matches the type of business. | Employees that support and facilitate the work of revenue generators. Their expertise is usually different from that of the core business operations. |
Example: | Example: |
Revenue generators usually get more and higher bonuses, higher salaries, and more frequent salary increments. The reason is quite simple: it is easier to quantify your value to the company in monetary terms when you participate in revenue generation.
Bonus Comparison by Seniority Level
Top management personnel and senior employees naturally exhibit higher bonus rates and frequencies than juniors. This is very predictable due to the inherent responsibilities of being higher in the hierarchy. People in top positions can easily get double or triple bonus rates than employees down the pyramid.
Hourly Average Wage / Advertising / Graphic Design / Events / Colombo
The average hourly wage (pay per hour) in Advertising / Graphic Design / Events in Colombo is 580 LKR.This is the rate they get paid for every worked hour.
About The Hourly Pay Rate
The hourly wage is the salary paid in one worked hour. Usually, jobs are classified into two categories: salaried jobs and hourly jobs. Salaried jobs pay a fixed amount regardless of the hours worked. Hourly jobs pay per worked hour. To convert salary into hourly wage the above formula is used (assuming 5 working days in a week and 8 working hours per day which is the standard for most jobs). The hourly wage calculation may differ slightly depending on the worked hours per week and the annual vacation allowance. The figures mentioned above are good approximations and are considered to be the standard. One major difference between salaried employees and hourly paid employees is overtime eligibility. Salaried employees are usually exempt from overtime as opposed to hourly paid staff.
What is the minimum hourly rate of pay?
The minimum pay rate per hour for people working in Advertising / Graphic Design / Events in Colombo is 270 LKR. This is the minimum as per the gathered data in the salary survey not the minimum hourly rate mandated by law.
Salary Comparison By City
| City | Average Salary |
| Colombo | 100,000 LKR |
Government vs Private Sector Salary Comparison
Where can you get paid more, working in a private company or the government? The difference between the public or government sector salaries and the private sector salaries in Sri Lanka is 8% on average across all career fields.
| Private Sector | 86,300 LKR | |
| Public Sector | +8% | 92,900 LKR |
Salary Statistics and Calculation Guide
What is considered to be a good and competitive salary in Advertising / Graphic Design / Events in Colombo?
A good and competitive compensation would range anywhere between 96,200 LKR and 113,000 LKR. This is a very rough estimate. Experience and education play a very huge part in the final earnings.
Gross Salary (before tax) and Net Salary (after tax)
All salary and compensation figures displayed here are gross salary figures, that is the salary before tax deductions. Because taxes may differ across sectors and locations, it is difficult to accurately calculate the net salary after tax for every career.
Base / Basic Salary
The base salary for jobs in Advertising / Graphic Design / Events in Colombo ranges from 47,400 LKR to 78,000 LKR. The base salary depends on many factors including experience and education. It is not easy to provide a figure with very little information, so take this range with a grain of salt.
What is the difference between the median and the average salary?
Both are indicators. If your salary is higher than both the average and the median then you are doing very well. If your salary is lower than both, then many people earn more than you and there is plenty of room for improvement. If your wage is between the average and the median, then things can be a bit complicated. We wrote a guide to explain all about the different scenarios.