6th September 2006, 10:56 AM
The average wage in the UK for a new graduate is 20k. I have been working in archaeology for 4 years - not long I know - and for the 1st time I am earning more than 15k. I have spent the last 2 days pulling my hairout trying to budget paying off loans, credit cards and overdrafts, all stemming from my stint at University, paying rent, bills - oh yeah and eating.[xx(] I worked out that if I payoff my Student Loan at the current rate I'll be free of debt in mmm 150 years! I look at my non-archaeology friends who graduated with me, or never went to Uni earning 25k plus, and ask why? I love this job, but loving it doesn't pay the bills or feed me (and I don't want to live with my mum and dad for the rest of my life). With tuition fees, massive loan debts etc, graduate archaeologists cannot be expected to live off these wages, we need to rethink our entire attitude to archaeology. The only way is to properly professionalise our careers, not this semi-legislated mire that we seem to work in at the moment. Once we truly start to take ourselves seriously, then perhaps others will too. Then perhaps 2 years or so down the line promising graduates won't be leaving to get a 'proper job'.