An idea from TinapBeana, it's amazing that the minimum wage hasn't changed! When I was a freshman in college (back in 1998), I got paid $5.15 for doing clerical tasks at admissions office. That was hard enough to pay for expenses and everything else. 8 years have passed, I'm sure a lot of things have gone up in prices (just look at gasoline). I jump to Federal Reserve Bank for a quick calculation, the inflation-adjusted amount should be $6.40.
The state of New Jersey minimum wage is $7.15. What's the minimum wage in your state? How about tipped employees?
$5.15!
November 20th, 2006 at 07:27 pm
November 20th, 2006 at 10:06 pm
Min wage here in Oregon 2006 is $7.50. Oregon employers may not offset wages with tips.
November 20th, 2006 at 10:08 pm
http://www.dol.gov/esa/minwage/america.htm
November 21st, 2006 at 01:01 am
I do know they have different rates though for farm work, you can still get paid by the pound of fruit or veggies you pick.
November 21st, 2006 at 02:13 am
I've been working with some of our libraries to adjust their budgets for next year to account for this. Unfortunately, not all boards will also raise the other employees' wages accordingly. So an assistant who shelves books will be making almost as much as the library director who has all the responsibility.
November 21st, 2006 at 04:41 am
November 21st, 2006 at 06:00 am
November 21st, 2006 at 07:55 am
November 21st, 2006 at 07:56 am
That's depressing... and yet also amazing for those who can voluntarily handle such a small amount.
November 21st, 2006 at 09:19 am
salary has increased 839% since '59. stamps have increased 780%. gas has increased 876% (2.19 vs 0.25 per gal). minimum wage has only increased 515%.
November 21st, 2006 at 09:50 am
November 21st, 2006 at 09:23 pm
sounds like even waiters and waitresses get paid $7.50 an hour, great!
November 21st, 2006 at 09:25 pm
hm...do i want $60 or 25-lb of apples for a day's work?
November 21st, 2006 at 09:32 pm
don't directors of library make at least $75,000 to $100,000? they can't be making the same.
November 21st, 2006 at 09:34 pm
i guess in the south (say GA, SC, FL) that minimum wage can be on the low side.
November 21st, 2006 at 09:36 pm
what state are you located?
November 22nd, 2006 at 03:18 am
When I was the library director here in town I made $7.00 an hour. Since I've left that job I've been in close touch with what's going on because they hired me as their bookkeeper. This year they will finally bring their director's pay up to $9 an hour. And keep in mind that she only works 30 hours a week, so that's not much.
I think the general public has a misconception of what librarians make since it's considered a part of the education field.
I often wonder how many small businesses would hire someone to run their company, with all the responsibility that entails and pay them less than $10 an hour? People often don't realize what all librarians do. They often think that they check out books and then read in their spare time. ;-)
Sorry for the rant...I've just seen too many librarians struggle to make it on the pay the board gives them and the board expect more and more from them.
November 22nd, 2006 at 06:16 am
oh my, that is surprising! i'd think a title like "director" would have bigger monetary returns. it's not great that education is so important, yet the monetary reward is somewhat lacking.
libraries are great. i began using the library to save some money on book-buying. being a librarian is tough!