Adam, I agree with you and I don't agree at the same time.

I consider myself more of a systems administrator who also knows SQL to the level a good junior DBA would (I have no experience with design, but I can secure, backup and tune a SQL server pretty well, do DTS etc...) and I recently came across an opening for a SysAdmin where they wanted 8+ years of experience, an MCSE or MCDBA, knowldege of Linux, SQL, MySQL, Cisco, Apache, IIS, AS/400, Exchange, Sendmail and you have to carry a pager. This is in Atlanta. They were looking to pay $55,000 max.

Now, I asked some people about this and got two opinions...

1. The company has no concept of what a person like that is worth in the current market
2. The company knows but doesn't want to spend that much

In either case, the company will find someone to fill that position but, more than likely, the person will not stay more than a year. The person who fills that job will either be some down-on-his-luck out-of-work really good SysAdmin (like myself ) or will be a total liar. The person will either leave for more pay or be fired for incompetence.

I also agree with the previous post on it being damned near impossible to find a "junior DBA" position unless you happen to be in a company where they need that skillset and you can convince them to train you.