There seems to be a commonality running through the several
threads of late about why we all are not paid well enough
and what we should do about that.  Perhaps this is a dead
horse, but I've just caught up on my backlog of digests and
want to say that my (our) salaries here are public
information because we work for a public institution.  The
local newspaper publishes lists of which state employees get
the highest wages (for all to carp about), and while we're
not on that list, the info is easy to get.  We don't talk
about it openly on staff, I think because we're afraid we
might be making more or less than the next person, but the
info is quite readily accessible.

The last three museum jobs we advertised were "entry level"
jobs.  Two required BA's when advertised in AVISO.  We got
about 75 applications each time.  30 of those weren't even
vaguely qualified, but the remainder included lots of BA's
MA's and some PhD's.  We invariably hire folks who are more
qualified than the requirements.  Two BA level jobs here
have been re-rated to be MA level jobs in the last four
years, with concomitant wage range raises. We can't hire
"local" because there isn't anyone local who's not already
working for us and who is qualified.  We HAVE hired people
from this state who've moved elsewhere and want to come
back.

Applicants CAN write us letters indicating they'd do us the
favor of taking our job(s) if we'd pay more, but those
letters get discarded out of hand.  I should go out of my
way to hire someone with an attitude?  I can't change the
wage scale without going to the legislature which meets only
every two years, and then I have to convince them that this
is warranted.   I also can't change the amount of money
allocated for wages for a given position in the middle of a
budget period - the money just doesn't exist in our system.
I do work on the legislature to increase wages whenever I
get a chance, but when I get many, many over qualified
applicants who ARE willing to work for the money I can
offer, it rather destroys the argument that we need more
money.  It's hungry out there.

We have clean air, low crime, excellent benefits, good
schools, and an extremely low turn over rate, so our jobs
must be OK.  Even if we all (me included) complain about how
we should be paid more.

We don't have funds to pay Interns, but sometimes pay for
housing and food through an arrangement with a local
college.  Again, we have many more applicants than
positions.  If you want to make lots o'$, then perhaps you
should try a different profession.  Or maybe you should look
at living costs, since the same $ will go further in some
places than in others.

I've enjoyed reading the diverse opinion, but some of it is
rather unreal.  No one OWES you a job, no matter how
fervently you think you're the best.

Opinions expressed here are mine, of course, and not
necessarily those of my employer.


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C. L. Dill, Museum Director
State Historical Society of North Dakota
612 East Boulevard
Bismarck  ND  58505-0830
P: (701)328-2666
F: (701)328-3710
E:  [log in to unmask]
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