Media buyers and planners feel more satisfied with their pay and benefits than they did last year, with 41.4 percent of respondents in a Media Life salary survey saying they were satisfied, compared with just 34 percent who said so last year. Some 42.5 percent described themselves as less than satisfied, compared with 48 percent last year (via MediaBuyerPlanner). The biggest gains in salary satisfaction were reported at large and small agencies, whereas planners and buyers at midsize agencies did not report being happier.

While happiness with compensation has grown, compensation itself doesn't seem to be growing at a tremendous rate. Respondents didn't report any major jumps in salary: 40 percent responded that people are getting raises, but those raises are about what they received the year before; 39 percent responded that salaries are rising modestly, with top people getting decent raises but no trickle-down effect.

Just over 16 percent of respondents said they had more bargaining power, agreeing with the statement, "I have more leverage this year than last. My agency is willing to pay more and I received a nice bump." Last year that figure was 15.9 percent.