Thank you very much to those professionals out there who are not automatically critical but who are willing to simply help out a colleague and answer a question.  I really appreciate it and I got a good idea of the pay ranges for a job like mine.  (which range from $14,000-27,000).

 

To respond to Mr. Maurer's messages, I have a few choice words which I will not write and a few that are appropriate to share.  I do take partial blame for leaving out some pertenent information in my posting:  this is NOT my first job (and I've actually never sold lemonade:), I have throughly thought out working in the museum profession, many of the positions listed for jobs similar to mine (like on Aviso) do not list salaries, I like where I work, I live in Waco, Texas, my museum has 3 staff members including myself, and a budget of around $200,000.  Including this information may have saved some of your questions.

 

"This young lady had not done any of her homework. After seeing the pay

ranges she may decide on going to law school or computers. Working for

someone is different than being an independent contractor.  In our system

of enterprise you have a perfect right to make the enjoyment equal the

pay.  You must do it for yourself, it is not the employer's task to make

you happy."



I am well aware of the pay discrepancies between the corporate world and the museum world.  I WANT to work at a museum.  Contrary to what Mr. Maurer implied, I am not trying to make the "big bucks".  I am simply trying to make enough money to pay my mortgage payment, support my family, and pay for groceries.  He indicated in his last message that $18,000-20,000 would be an appropriate starting place and that this salary may make me not want to work in a museum.  I will forgive this error this time because I did not provide a definition to my term "underpaid".  This starting figure that he suggested is actually $8,000 MORE than what I currently make.  Therefore, when I am seeking a raise, it isn't about being rich, it is about surviving.



"Correct the bad part of it. Find a new job or ask for more money."



As indicated in my original message, I am seeking more money, that was the point!  I just wanted to use the list serv as a way of surveying the real museum community to give myself a better idea, which everyone else seemed to understand.  I never said I was dissatisfied with the job.  As I stated in my message, I am sitting down with the Ex. Director to discuss the job description and the salary, perhaps reading the message completely before being judgemental is something for Mr. Maurer to consider.  Or maybe he should try a Nicoderm CQ patch with the morning coffee next time!



My situation is different too because I don't have the option of picking up and moving.  I have to stay in Waco for awhile due to family situations and school, and if you have ever researched the museum job market in Waco, well you'd know that simply finding another museum job is not an option.



Again, thank you to those of you who recognize when a fellow museum person is doing their best to seek out information and make informed decisions.  Your input is greatly appreciated!



 





	-----Original Message----- 

	From: William Maurer [mailto:[log in to unmask]] 

	Sent: Tue 12/17/2002 1:28 PM 

	To: [log in to unmask] 

	Cc: 

	Subject: Re: Pay scales

	

	



	So I guess the first day giving up smoking is not the day to answer money

	questions. Sorry.

	

	Let me explain it again now that I took a break. I look at this question

	two ways.  First, you either are happy in your job or you are not.  If

	you are happy and enjoy your work, all is right with the world. The

	satisfaction of the work and the pay are together on the plus side. If

	you are unhappy in your job, then either the work part or the pay part is

	wrong.  Correct the bad part of it. Find a new job or ask for more money.

	

	

	But for the cheery - "Hi, I am a graduate student ready to conquer the

	world - How much am I worth?" My answer is still, "Not much more than a

	volunteer and you know how much we pay them." (Rereading this I realize

	this is a "corporate" attitude. Boils down to "If you don't like the job,

	I will get someone else" Not the nicest way to look at it. Museums are

	kinder and gentler!)

	

	Gaining experience is where the increased money is in this field and in

	any other. Or - seriously - maybe there is more money in the

	specialization of museum work found in fundraising or grant writing.

	

	This young lady had not done any of her homework. After seeing the pay

	ranges she may decide on going to law school or computers. Working for

	someone is different than being an independent contractor.  In our system

	of enterprise you have a perfect right to make the enjoyment equal the

	pay.  You must do it for yourself, it is not the employer's task to make

	you happy.

	

	 Not until Melissa sits down with the Director who will say, "This is

	what I - and that is capitalized - want you to do" and for those tasks "I

	will pay you this much" can our student make any proper decision.  Hence

	my suggestion that she make out the list of what she sees her duties to

	be.  Each point can then be itemized and almost graded. She may go in and

	 think that  the Director will say, "$25,000 and it is certainly great to

	have you with us" when the Director will probably give an answer, "That

	the budget has a top and bottom salary for your position. With your

	experience you fit here."

	

	Probably starting about $18,000 -  $20,000 is the answer Melissa will

	hear. Then, and only then, will she be able to make a decision to take

	the job or not.

	

	My present salary is about one third of what I made on the outside in the

	"other" world as an officer in a corporation. I made a conscious decision

	ten years ago that I wanted to get more involved in history and therefore

	found historic house museum work.  I am happy and content with my salary

	and my job. I was not happy - content is better - with the bigger bucks

	and a job that I had for twenty years that kept me from vacations, study,

	my historic interests and my family.

	

	That is where I am coming from.  Sorry if you took my remarks as being

	mean and nasty. Or bitter and rude.

	

	Sincerely,

	

	Bill Maurer

	

	________________________________________________________________

	Sign Up for Juno Platinum Internet Access Today

	Only $9.95 per month!

	Visit www.juno.com

	

	=========================================================

	Important Subscriber Information:

	

	The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes).

	

	If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes).