A survey I conducted for MAAM several years ago indicated that, while many
people still go into the profession, people begin to leave after 10 years
in the field, and only a few percent remain after 15 years.  This
suggests that as they accumulate responsibilities (such as having to feed
and clothe children), museum professionals can no longer afford to
maintain their high ideals and they leave the field, albeit reluctantly,
for something more lucrative. While business-minded individuals know that
such attrition can be overcome by hiring from the large pool of new
graduates, aren't we as professsionals sorry to lose the expertise these
people offer in the field we love?

Another concept I haven't seen voiced regarding the reason for low
salaries is the historical aspect (perhaps we all take it as a "given")-
museums were staffed by affluent males who could afford to volunteer or
work for low salaries, and later by women who had their husbands' salaries
to fall back on and didn't need the money either.

Bonni-Dara Michaels