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.