#PayME(SC)
MESC recognizes the pressure to continue doing work we love in a field that historically offers unsustainably low wages. Moving forward, with the acknowledgment of this historical gap between the cost of living and actual wages, the salary range for all job postings we receive will be scrutinized against the rubric for wages in Los Angeles County outlined by California’s Department of Housing and Community Development State Income Limits for 2023. Pay scales will be flagged with their corresponding income ranges (Example: “This job is categorized as low income in LA County”). MESC’s aim is to draw attention to this pay disparity in our field in the hopes that it continues to move toward increasing compensation to be in line with a living wage.
The American Alliance of Museums (AAM) kickstarted this initiative by requiring museums to post their pay scale. The first step to a change is transparency, and the next step is to examine how pay compares to cost of living. By calling attention to pay ranges and their connection to wage categories MESC hopes that institutions will see their compensation offerings in a new light, prompting change.
We would also like to share additional information about pay equity within the Museum Field, and provide you with some tools to better understand income limits and living wages across California. For more information please check out this articles and resources:
Living Wages: Art Museum Leaders Confront Persistent Staff Compensation Challenges (June 8th, 2023)
Topics: Diversity, equity, and inclusion; Museums; Talent development and management
Tags: Art museum directors; Art museums; DEI; Museum staff; Museums; Pay equity
2023 State Income Limits by County
DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIVISION OF HOUSING POLICY DEVELOPMENT - 2023 STATE INCOME LIMIT.
Review this document for infomration about income limits for your county.
Cost of Living by County Search Tool
Whether you're planning for an upcoming move or just curious about the cost of living in other cities, the PayScale Cost of Living Calculator is the place to begin your research (or daydreaming). Just enter your salary and job title as well as your current location and the city where you're considering a move. Not only will we show you the cost of living difference, but we'll let you know how much you need to make in the new location to maintain your current standard of living. Get started!