This will be my last word on museum pay (I think).
 This is mainly for those young people who don't
think they can afford to work in museums.  It may
sound like sermonizing in places and I have never
worked in the corporate world so some advantages
of museum work may be the same as in the
corporate world.  Anyway, here we go with my
experiences:

1.  Some museums who aren't able to pay a living
wage, will offer housing to help compensate.

2.  The benefit packages offered at a museum:
insurance, retirement accounts, etc., need to be
figured into the salary to get a true picture of what
a museum is paying.

3.  Museums will pay for workshops and conferences
which improve your skills for your present job, but
also improves your chances of finding a better job
in the field.

4.  You can work in the museum field no matter
what your age.  I know of people in their 90's holding
paid museum positions.  You just need a working
mind. (in the case of curators, we are sometimes
considered eccentric and so can even get away with
having only part of a mind).

5.  No amount of money can make it easier to get
up in the morning if you don't love your job.  The best
job satisfies the soul--and sometimes that's worth more
than money.

For those complaining that they can't pay their bills, yes
you can--you just won't live in style.  Everytime my
husband and I move so I can take a new position, I am
our sole support until he finds a job and that includes
paying 2 student loans. We don't live fancy, but we're
comfortable and being a curator is worth it.