I have not followed the entire thread re: museum salaries, however, I will add my .02 worth as a young person who is soon to graduate with an MA in public history/museum studies. My graduate advisor has been very forthcoming about the salaries and prospects for a career in the museum field. I feel that most people who are politically aware must realize that the arts tend to be under-funded and have no illusions about the non-profit world. To pay graduate tuition, I have been working full-time in the for-profit sector. I am starting to send out resumes, and hope that the recruiters will not toss my resume into the trash when they see my salary history. In the corporate world, I am making two times what average starting pay is in museums. However, I have worked long and hard for my degree and I chose the field because I have always been interested in history and material culture. I know that to become a curator, I will have to start in an entry-level museum position and work up. I'm ever so willing to take the large pay cut, and hope that all of the recruiters out there will understand the motivation I have for the career. I recently had an internship director who told me that "museum pay is directly disproportionate to the fun you will have in the career." I know she's right! Thanks, everyone, for all the great information and friendly advice on the listserv. A. Geremia Graduate Student Middle Tennessee State University ========================================================= 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).