The IFA’s annual review of pay in archaeology suggests that wages are going backwards for almost all grades. The average annual pay for diggers fell from GBP13,232 last year to GBP12,903 this year. Supervisors' pay fell from GBP14,806 pa to GBP14,765 pa in the same period. Pay for field officer and project manager grades also fell, but there were increases for SMR and specialist posts.

The author of the review said that the IFA recommended minima were becoming increasingly influential, but warned that the IFA needed 'to increase them more aggressively if archaeology graduates are to have any chance of paying off their top- up fees.' The IFA minima for the period covered by the review were GBP12,720 pa for excavators, GBP14,817 pa for supervisors and GBP19,185 pa for managers.

The review was based on pay rates quoted for jobs advertised with the IFA and on BAJR and was published in The Archaeologist earlier this year.

BAJR EXTRA ..... pay levels associated with Grades have been increased in line with Govt pay Levels... with new pay levels appearing in May. The IFA, Prospect and BAJR are in discussion to deal with pay and conditions.....BAJR EXTRA

Web Links :

Prospect Union

IFA