The exchange rate is irrelevant when comparing salaries in different
countries unless you plan to actually exchange your currency. In terms of
cost of living it is apples for apples - i.e. US$40,000 buys roughly the
same in the US as NZ or AU $40,000 buys in those respective countries,
although I accept the comments from others about regional differences in the
US which is probably true of other countries to a greater or lesser extent.
It is safe to say, however, that our Marketing & Development Officer would
much rather have the standard of living that her NZ$40,000 buys her here
than what US$18,000 could buy her in rural Wisconsin or anywhere else for
that matter.

I'm not sure what you mean when you say that you don't think NZ could pay
its staff too much unless you refer to the exchange rate (which is a
misleading argument for the reason above)?? NZ museum salaries are generally
very good compared to what I see in Aviso or the Museums Australia Jobsheet,
which I guess explains why so many US and Australian museum workers apply
(and frequently get) good jobs here.

I didn't mean to start a big discussion, just my initial reaction to the
salary offered for the job described prompted my question. I guess the job
title was misleading also - not knowing anything about the museum or the
location, the title Development Director implied to me that the museum was
perhaps a lot bigger than it actually is and the person requirements in
terms of experience and qualifications likewise suggested a position of
greater worth than was offered.

Anyway, an interesting conversation and thanks for those who replied offlist
with your experiences and opinions.

Greg

Greg McManus
Director
Rotorua Museum of Art & History
Te Whare Taonga O Te Arawa
Government Gardens
Rotorua
NEW ZEALAND
Tel.  64 7 349 4350
Fax. 64 7 349 2819
Mobile 025-2714328
[log in to unmask]


-----Original Message-----
From: Melissa Neidorf [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Thursday, 23 September 1999 05:12
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Development Director


Dont forget the US$ conversion to NZ$. I am from Australia originally and
it seems that in the US there is a extremely wide variation in the pay
scales in Museum positions, most of it seems random after a while!
Enterprise bargaining is the standard practice and there is a range, but
compared to wage structures like NZ and AUS, it is very different. I really
don't think NZ could pay its staff too much.

-----Original Message-----
From:   Issaquah Historical Society Info [SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
Sent:   Wednesday, September 22, 1999 12:09 PM
To:     [log in to unmask]
Subject:        Re: Development Director

I'm hoping that this a part-time position! Even in the world of
not-for-profits (perhaps *especially* in the world of not-for-profts!),
Development Director is traditionally a high-paid (well, relative to other
positions within the non-profit world...) position.  In my experience,
Development Assistance salaries start at this range ($18K - $22K), with
Development Associates in the $24 K -$28 K range and Development Directors
starting at $30K-some and going as high as $60K - $80K depending on the
size
of the non-profit.

Erica S. Maniez
Museum Director, Issaquah Historical Society
[log in to unmask]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On
> Behalf Of William Thornton
> Sent: Tuesday, September 21, 1999 4:18 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Development Director
>
>
> Welcome to the world of not for profits....
> Will Thornton
>
> >>> "McManus,Greg" <[log in to unmask]> 09/21 3:50 PM >>>
> Forgive me if this is a stupid question, but is this salary for a
> part-time
> position or is it seriously the fulltime salary for the position/person
> description described?? Is it a mistake?? If it is not a mistake
> it is very
> scary and I am completely out of touch with museum pay scales around the
> world and we pay our staff way too much...
>

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