VRA 2021 Session survey results

1. Cash Rules Everything Around Me
March 23, 2021
Moderators + Session Organizers:
Kendra Werst (she/they) Andrew Wang (any pronoun)
Julia Murphy (she/her) Summer Shetenhelm (she/hers)

2. C.R.E.A.M. Survey
February 25 - March 12
64 responses
VRA-L

3. Demographics

4. Race
● 86% White
● 5% Asian or Asian American
● 3% Black or African American
● 2% Hispanic, Latino/a/e, Latinx, or Spanish origin
● 0% American Indian, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian,
Pacific Islander, another race
● 5% I choose not to answer
Gender Identity
● 84% Cis Female
● 8% Cis Male
● 2% Non-binary
● 0% Trans Male, Trans
Female, Gender Fluid
● 3% I choose not to
answer
Age
● Minimum: 26
● Maximum: 73
● Average: 45.3

5. Education
● MLIS: 42
● Non-MLIS Master’s:
25
● Doctorate: 3
● Does not capture
credentials in
progress

6. Bachelors
(BA/BS/BFA/AB)
Top 3:
● Art History: 14
● History: 6
● Studio and Fine Art: 4

7. Non-MLIS Master’s

8. Work Experience

9. Years of Experience

10. Internships
(Related to VR, image management, or digital assets)
● 31 (48%) reported never having an
internship
● 26 (41%) reported ‘Yes, while
enrolled as a student’
○ 16 (25%) while pursuing MLIS
● 15 (23%) reported ‘Yes, at least one
unpaid internship’
● Of those reported (15), average was
2.27 internships

11. Workplace Type
(Current or last)
● 50 (78%) work in a four-year
college/university
● “Other” includes non-profits, art
school, and film archive

12. Employment Status
(Current)
● 50 (78%) reported full time status

13. Professional Status
(Current)
● Non-tenure track staff: 37 (58%)
● “Other” includes supervisors,
consultant, and non-tenure staff

14. Place of Employment
(Current or last)
● Urban: 37 (58%)
● Temporarily remote: 23 (36%)

15. Work Responsibilities
(Top 10 responses, current or last)
● Top 3: Cataloging/metadata
creation (73%); Digitization (66%);
Instruction (50%)
● “Other” includes instructional
support, product/software
management, data consultation,
web editor, DAM, project
management, art school librarian,
guest lectures, technical support

16. CASH RULES EVERYTHING

17. Starting Salaries
(47 responses)
Max: $65,000
Min: $11,000
Average: $38,163
Current (or latest) Salaries
(57 responses)
Max: $110,000
Min: $21,000
Average: $59,980

18. Current (or latest) Salaries
(16+ Years of Experience)
Average: $60,424
Current (or latest) Salaries
(0-5 Years of Experience)
Average: $54,698

19. Current (or latest) Salaries
(Highest cost of living)
Average: $65,614
Current (or latest) Salaries
(Lowest cost of living)
Average: $49,167

20. Benefits
(Top 10 responses, current or last)
● Top 5: Paid sick leave (88%);
medical insurance (86%); dental
insurance (86%); paid vacation
time (86%); retirement savings
(84%)

21. Have you attempted to
negotiate?

22. Have you attempted to negotiate? What did you achieve through negotiating?

23. Opinions

24. Advice

25. Advice for Newer Members
Ask about their raise system. Does it exist? Do they offer annual bonuses
instead? What triggers a raise - merit, cost of living, time spent in position,
and/or other?
Always negotiate for the highest salary possible before [accepting] a new job and don't
worry that you will be judged for doing this. You will most definitely be asked to learn new
skills and do tasks that are outside of the job description being presented to you. Also keep
in mind that many colleges and universities only offer cost of living raises regardless of
how well an employee is performing. This negotiation may be your only opportunity for a
significant salary increase.

26. Advice for Newer Members
I volunteered to work for no pay to establish a relationship with my future
employer.
Negotiate!
Whenever your job responsibilities change dramatically try
to get reclassified and more compensation.

27. Advice for Newer Members
Think outside the box and recognize how many ways the skills required to
manage visual resources transfers into non-academic communities. I have
a great job, but I think if I were looking for another I would cast a much
wider net. Also, the earlier you get your raises the better (especially when
negotiating up front). Each thousand dollars adds up when you consider
that future raises are figured on that base salary. And, don't underestimate
the value of insurance and long-term financial planning. If it's an employer
benefit, or comes out pre-tax, that's another bit that helps.

28. Advice for Newer Members
Be born into wealth! In all seriousness, don't be afraid to leave what is
perceived to be "a good job" in pursuit of something that pays you more
fairly. Don't rely on work sponsored programs to begin your retirement
savings. Opening a Roth IRA is a great place to start. Even if you can't save
much right away, it it can be a part of your personal finance education.

29. Advice for Newer Members
Don't hesitate to negotiate during the hiring process. When taking my current job, when I asked to negotiate my starting
salary, my female UL replied: I am so glad you asked. Women often don't ask. In my previous job, as one of four new hires
(three women, one man), I failed to ask because I felt intimidated by the prospect of having that conversation with a
much older male UL, and as a woman, I felt that I needed to be accommodating and unassuming. Later I learned that each
of us three women had failed to ask; whereas the man did was making a couple thousand dollars more than we did. Not
that he was anymore qualified -- it was simply that he asked. It never hurts to ask. If a higher starting salary is not an
option, inquire about additional one-time or ongoing increase in professional development funding, paid parking, or other
alternatives. I'd also argue that even if a negotiation doesn't yield additional compensation, venturing to ask 1)
communicates a willingness to engage in difficult conversations, and 2) can serve as the foundation of a healthy
professional relationship with your higher ups. Asking also served me in growing my confidence. In saying this, it is
important to acknowledge my privilege as a white cis-woman. I understand that the task may not be as easy for others
and that the ask might be received or interpreted very differently.

30. Advice for Newer Members
Never work more than you are supposed to (time and in duties)--make every effort to
advocate for yourself! That could mean pushing for a title change or an updated job
description. Sometimes, it just means cc'ing more colleagues on particular emails to make
sure you aren't secretly being given inappropriate extra work! It is very easy when starting
out to want to please your new supervisor and department and then take on way more
than is required of you or stay later than is expected/legally accepted. We do not always
have the privilege to push for certain things in our jobs, but remember, by not
overextending yourself you are ultimately helping those who come after you be fairly
compensated.

31. Advice for Newer Members
Always ask for more (salary, prof dev, etc). Know what you are worth and what you need to
make to reasonably live in the city to which you are moving. Ask for salary ranges
*before* you interview. Ask about workspace benefits (i.e. hardware and
software/equipment, ergonomics set up for your workspace, etc).

32. Advice for Newer Members
It was definitely hard for me to negotiate and I really didn't. I think talking to your peers if possible can help
you get a sense of what is normal. For my second job I was paid very fairly but for my first one I probably
should have asked for more, but since I was in a vulnerable spot and really needed the job, I didn't feel
comfortable doing it.
It might feel awkward but be transparent with your colleagues about salaries. The secrecy employers
demand on this subject is what keeps us underpaid.
Document all that you do, all the hats you wear, especially the computer and technical skills you have. Try to
be compensated at the rate of a technical computer person or technical librarian.
Always negotiate and (if necessary) let your prospective employer know what your bottom line is for
compensation based on your personal expenses
Start saving immediately! Not all institutions provide matching funds for retirement. Even small amounts set
aside early bring benefits later.

33. Questions for More Experienced Members
1. Were you able to leverage experiences/skills achieved outside of the field of visual
resources when negotiating for a higher salary or "employee level"?
2. Salary (and benefits) negotiation for a middle management position
3. I am interested to hear of anyone who has successfully unionized, tried to unionize,
and/or who had upper-management take pay reductions before layoffs.
4. How do I ask about the salary on a job posting that doesn't include it? How do I
phrase that question?