My job in Belgium: How much does a city hall archivist earn?

What is your job?
I am a depot worker in the Ghent city archives. We handle archive applications, locate the files and send them. For example, if someone from a city service is looking for a file from 1993, we will retrieve it from the archive and send it to the right person or service. I have been doing this job for only a year. I had sat the general tests to join the city administration when this lovely job was offered to me. They advised me to apply as quickly as possible.

Do you like your job?
Yes, at first you're a bit uncertain, because you're not sure what to expect, or whether it's going to be your thing. But eventually I knew it was my kind of job, I really like it.

Would you change jobs for a higher salary?
That remains to be seen. If it's a much higher salary then maybe. We also have a baby and so you think more about the future. I need to consider more than just the salary: this sector is right for me, it's a nice job, job security...

What do you actually earn?
I earn around €1,400 to €1,500 net, that is between €1,800 and €2,000 gross, because I have only been employed in the service since last year. Seniority bonuses do not apply to me yet.

What do you think of your salary?
Excellent, but earning more would also be nice or course. I've worked on a lot less, so you learn to live on that. I started at €1,200 and from there it’s always increased. Now I'm on the salary of my previous job. My previous job was also around €1,400.

How many hours do you work per week?
That depends from day to day. We work on a sliding scale. Sometimes you can begin at 7.30 but then you stop at 16.00. One day that can be 7.5 hours, the other eight hours. It’s changeable.

Do you save?
Yes, I can save. Together with my wife, we can put a little aside each month.

Do you think about your pension?
I sometimes think about it. But I worry that by the time I can retire, I could be 85 or so. So yes, I'm thinking about that, but you can predict so little these days. After a while, you sit yourself down and you say to yourself, we'll deal with it when the time comes.

What is your biggest expense?
If something has to be done on the car. But that's usually just the annual expenses: inspection, maintenance, repairs. But they can add up.

What can you definitely not spend money on?
On expensive cars, even if I could, I wouldn’t. I prefer to drive a good car, which costs less and drives well, than to show off. They are all beautiful, but I do not want to make people so jealous that they want to deliberately damage the car - just give me a regular car.

What do you gladly spend money on?
Toys and clothes for my son, and fun things for my dog. I always think that I can always get something for myself later. I'd rather spend money on my son, the dog and unexpected gifts for my wife.

What would you do if you won the lottery?
Build a home for my family. And I would definitely put something aside for my son. Not that he would just be given lots of money. He must first go to work so that he knows what standards and values are and if he then needs something, he’d have to weigh up the pros and cons and think about the consequences. His idea or the reason for asking for the money would have to be explained to his mother and me - that's my idea. I would also use the money to help my family. The rest, we will see, should it ever really happen. I would keep working though. Sitting at home is not for me. I can always do that when I'm old and worn out.