Everyone grumbles about their pay occasionally, but museum staff are more justified than most, if recent surveys are to be believed. Last March, the Museums Association (MA) published Pay in Museums, which found that 'almost everyone working in museums earns less than people working in comparable roles in other organisations'.
This month, the MA is launching draft guidelines on salaries for: curators, exhibitions and collections management staff; education and outreach staff; and front of house.
The guidelines suggest that the minimum entry-level salary for curatorial and education staff is set at £14,500 and for front of house staff £13,000, while salaries for senior staff in the above areas should be no less than £28,000 and £22,000 respectively.
The report makes no distinction between the type of museum because its aim is to acknowledge 'qualifications, knowledge, experience and, most importantly, responsibilities'.
Jobs are divided into five grades: entry/trainee (level 1) for people without postgraduate qualification; entry 2, which requires a postgraduate degree and/or experience; career 1 for staff with two to three years' experience: career 2 for people taking on strategy, advocacy, staff or delivery.
The senior category is for people who manage discrete areas and who need considerable experience. Mark Taylor, the MA director, said: 'It is vital that the MA emphasises the crucial role that salaries play in recruiting and retaining staff.'
He acknowledged that the salaries cannot be enforced and that Museums Journal will still carry advertisements that may not match the salary scales.
The guidelines have received support from the Museum Professionals Group and members of the MA council. Brian Hayton, the director of Hull's museums, said that they were 'excellent' and would influence decision-makers in local authorities.
Jane Hughes, speaking on behalf of the Museum Professionals Group, also welcomed the report. 'Some of the salaries are clearly aspirational, although the report does give examples of museums that pay these levels,' she said.
But it is unlikely that approval will be universal. There has already been dissent from a national museum, while Bob Clark, a museum consultant, said that many independent museums may not feel the recommendations applied to them.
'I can view things from the perspective of the cash-strapped independent governing body but, at the same time, independent museums do not have the right to exploit people.'
This month, the MA is launching draft guidelines on salaries for: curators, exhibitions and collections management staff; education and outreach staff; and front of house.
The guidelines suggest that the minimum entry-level salary for curatorial and education staff is set at £14,500 and for front of house staff £13,000, while salaries for senior staff in the above areas should be no less than £28,000 and £22,000 respectively.
The report makes no distinction between the type of museum because its aim is to acknowledge 'qualifications, knowledge, experience and, most importantly, responsibilities'.
Jobs are divided into five grades: entry/trainee (level 1) for people without postgraduate qualification; entry 2, which requires a postgraduate degree and/or experience; career 1 for staff with two to three years' experience: career 2 for people taking on strategy, advocacy, staff or delivery.
The senior category is for people who manage discrete areas and who need considerable experience. Mark Taylor, the MA director, said: 'It is vital that the MA emphasises the crucial role that salaries play in recruiting and retaining staff.'
He acknowledged that the salaries cannot be enforced and that Museums Journal will still carry advertisements that may not match the salary scales.
The guidelines have received support from the Museum Professionals Group and members of the MA council. Brian Hayton, the director of Hull's museums, said that they were 'excellent' and would influence decision-makers in local authorities.
Jane Hughes, speaking on behalf of the Museum Professionals Group, also welcomed the report. 'Some of the salaries are clearly aspirational, although the report does give examples of museums that pay these levels,' she said.
But it is unlikely that approval will be universal. There has already been dissent from a national museum, while Bob Clark, a museum consultant, said that many independent museums may not feel the recommendations applied to them.
'I can view things from the perspective of the cash-strapped independent governing body but, at the same time, independent museums do not have the right to exploit people.'
