My job as a classification specialist with the Federal
Government (one who evaluates and sets pay levels for
Federal jobs) allows me to persue my avocation as a
volunteer and board member of a museum. I can't speak to the
salary levels paid to museum professionals across the
country, but the assumption underlying this thread is
incorrect. If the salary level is correct, the position
listed is NOT a professional position. $15,000 per year for
a full-time position equates to the pay for an entry level
GS-3 in the Federal Government. This would compare to a
clerk-typist, receptionist, or technical support person with
pretty limited experience. To qualify for this level, a
person would need little or no experience above a high
school diploma.

Most journey level professional positions (i.e., requires an
appropriate degree and several years of experience for
qualification) such as biologists, engineers, and
librarians, start at the GS-9 level (around $30,000). An
entry level professional going into a training position
could be as low as GS-5 (degree, no experience) ($20,000).

Technical support positions do not require a degree to
qualify. Most of the positions I work with typically range
from GS-4 to GS-7 ($18-26,000). Many of the people I am
familiar with are degreed and are using the positions to get
work experience and exposure to make themselves better
qualified for professional positions.

I hope this very short course clarifies things a little.

Sorry - I don't have any inside track for getting a Federal
job. With the ongoing downsizing and turmoil for Federal
employees, few permanent positions are being filled from
outside and many of us aren't very secure that we'll have a
job this time next year.

Dick Morris
Volunteer and Board Member,
Museum of Alaskan Transportation and Industry