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Art Museum Assistant Jobs (NOW HIRING)

DENVER ART MUSEUM INC

Assistant Preparator

Denver, CO · On-site

$21 - $26.25/hr

This position is based at the Denver Art Museum, which only has a pay-to-park option. Discounted parking is available. Free RTD Eco Pass. What You'll Do * Assist with gallery preparation activities ...

New

21c Museum Hotels

Art Handler

Louisville, KY

... entire museum team, the Art Handler acts as a custodian for collection and loaned objects. Under the directive of the Registrar and Collections Manager, the Art Handler may also assist with ...

21c Museum Hotels

Art Handler

Louisville, KY · On-site

... entire museum team, the Art Handler acts as a custodian for collection and loaned objects. Under the directive of the Registrar and Collections Manager, the Art Handler may also assist with ...

21c Museum Hotels

Art Handler

Louisville, KY

... entire museum team, the Art Handler acts as a custodian for collection and loaned objects. Under the directive of the Registrar and Collections Manager, the Art Handler may also assist with ...

Milwaukee Art Museum

Setup Technician

Milwaukee, WI

$15.61/hr

Set up and tear down of events taking place at Milwaukee Art Museum. Flexible availability is a ... Maintains cleanliness of events equipment such as chairs and tables * Assist with placing of ...

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How much do art museum assistant jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 10, 2026, the average hourly pay for art museum assistant in the United States is $20.43, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $14.42 and $23.56 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is an art museum assistant?

Art Museum Assistants are professionals who support the daily operations of an art museum. Their responsibilities typically include greeting visitors, providing information about exhibits, assisting with tours, maintaining gallery spaces, and supporting administrative tasks. They also help with event coordination, education programs, and sometimes assist in handling artwork under supervision. This role requires strong communication skills, attention to detail, and a passion for art and education.

How to become an art museum assistant?

To become an art museum assistant, candidates typically need a high school diploma or equivalent, with some positions preferring or requiring postsecondary education in art, history, or related fields. Relevant skills include good communication, customer service, and familiarity with art collections or museum operations; previous experience in retail or hospitality can also be beneficial. Some museums may require background checks or training on security procedures and handling artwork.

What are some common challenges faced by art museum assistants in their daily responsibilities?

Art Museum Assistants often juggle a variety of tasks, such as assisting with exhibit installations, guiding visitors, and handling administrative duties. One common challenge is balancing the need to provide excellent visitor service while ensuring the safety and security of the artworks. Additionally, adapting to a fast-paced environment, especially during special events or high-traffic periods, requires strong organizational and communication skills. Working collaboratively with curators, educators, and other staff is essential for a smooth museum operation.

What is the difference between Art Museum Assistant vs Art Gallery Assistant?

AspectArt Museum AssistantArt Gallery Assistant
Required CredentialsHigh school diploma or associate degree; some roles may prefer art-related certificationsHigh school diploma; certifications are optional but beneficial
Work EnvironmentLarge museum settings, often indoors, with exhibits and educational programsSmall to medium gallery spaces, often more customer-facing and sales-oriented
Employer & Industry UsageMuseums, cultural institutions, non-profit organizationsPrivate galleries, art dealerships, commercial art spaces
Common Search & Comparison IntentUnderstanding roles in museums, career options, job responsibilitiesWorking in art sales, customer service, gallery operations

While both roles support art display and customer engagement, an Art Museum Assistant typically works in larger museum settings focusing on educational and curatorial support, whereas an Art Gallery Assistant is more involved in sales, customer service, and gallery operations in smaller or private galleries.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an art museum assistant?

To thrive as an Art Museum Assistant, you need a background in art history or museum studies, attention to detail, and organizational skills, often supported by a bachelor's degree in a related field. Familiarity with museum management software, collection databases, and basic conservation tools is typically required. Strong communication, customer service, and teamwork skills help you engage visitors and support museum staff. These capabilities are crucial for ensuring smooth museum operations, excellent visitor experiences, and proper care of the collection.
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Art Museum Assistant jobs near you
Infographic showing various Art Museum Assistant job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 75% Full Time, 20% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 98% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 1% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $42,504 per year, or $20.4 per hour.

Assistant Conservator, Easel Paintings

Seattle Art Museum

Seattle, WA • On-site

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 3 days ago

Job description

ABOUT THE ROLE
 
The Assistant Conservator will assist with the conservation of Old Master, Modern and Contemporary easel paintings in the Seattle Art Museum (SAM) collection.
 
 
ABOUT SAM 
 
As SAM heads into its second century, we are boldly reimagining what we can and should be. Our goal is to be a model for the future of museums - a bold, dynamic hub of creativity, belonging, and cultural leadership, shaping the future of art and community. Embracing new ways of engaging communities and seeking innovative partnerships - all while keeping art and community at the center of what we do. This ambitious effort represents a transformative shift and radically redefining how art museums operate. This is a pivotal moment for SAM, and we are seeking great talent to join us on our journey. Working at SAM is not just a job-it's a chance to be part of a vibrant, creative community.
 
 
RESPONSIBILITIES 
  • Carry out conservation programs, including preservation, conservation, and restoration of works of art across all Seattle Art Museum sites, with a primary focus on paintings
  • Carry out all facets of examination, documentation, research, treatment, and long-term preservation of paintings in the museum's permanent collection
  • Accurately track and generate documentation of projects to be archived in the museum's collection database
  • Assist in preservation planning for the paintings portion of the collection
  • Assist in preservation planning and emergency preparedness and response as needed
  • Efficiently project manage treatment of works of art throughout the conservation process
  • If requested, serve as courier for at-risk works of art traveling to other institutions, carry out treatments, surveys, inspections and consultations as necessary
  • Research paintings from the museum collections and participate in sharing outcomes of research with the public and colleagues internally and externally. When appropriate present findings in lectures, displays and publications
  • Facilitate access to collections, supporting the museum's outgoing loan activities and exhibition schedule by preparing works of art for loan and display
  • Assist with supervision of conservation interns
  • Interact with a broad range of people, including museum visitors and the general public, donors, students, scholars and lenders, concerning conservation and preservation matters
  • Maintain the highest standards of museum practice through continued education, personal research, and active dialog with colleagues at other museums
  • Answer phone and mail inquiries about the collections preserved at SAM
  • Contribute to an institutional focus of delivering exceptional, welcoming, and inclusive customer service-creating positive, meaningful experiences for all visitors, every time
  • Participate in institutional learning opportunities to grow our collective understanding and integration of antiracism, cultural competency, and equity values into SAM's work
 
 
WE ARE LOOKING FOR 
Required Qualifications 
  • Master's degree or post-graduate diploma in Conservation, or equivalent combination of education and experience
  • Three years' experience in paintings conservation and preventive conservation, and evidence of strong bench skills
  • Knowledge of environmental requirements and controls for handling, storage, exhibition, and transportation of artwork
  • Ability to use hand and power tools and other equipment required in the conservation and transportation of artwork
  • Knowledge of materials used to make works of art and the chemical and physical processes of their deterioration
  • Knowledge of procedures relating to examination and preventive and corrective treatment of art objects, ability to remove unwanted material from delicate surfaces, perform structural repairs, match colors, and execute in-painting
  • Ability to work with extraordinary precision and attention to detail
  • Professional verbal and written communication, with an ability to tailor communications according to audience
  • Successfully assess priorities and work well with deadlines
  • Strong time management, problem solving, and analytical skills
  • Exercise discretion in maintaining confidentiality of sensitive information
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, Zoom, Asana, Slack and internet-based research
  • Ability to pass and maintain security background check clearance
 
FLSA Status: Full Time, Non-Exempt 
Reports To: Chief Conservator
Work Location: Seattle Art Museum - Downtown Location
 
 
BENEFITS 
 
Benefits include a fully employer paid HMP medical plan or an employee contribution PPO plan, dental, vision, and basic life insurance/LTD/AD&D, Flexible Spending Account, Short Term Disability, Supplemental Dental Insurance and participation in SAM's 403b retirement plan.
 
Following 1 year of service and 1,000 hours worked, SAM makes a discretionary 3% employer contribution regardless of participation and provides an employer match program. Historically, this contribution has been made annually.
 
Additional benefits include paid time off for vacation, PSST, bereavement leave, and jury duty, 11 scheduled holidays, 1 paid floating holiday, a subsidized unlimited Orca card, onsite fitness facility, and an EAP. FT Staff also receive a Patron level membership to SAM, a Tier III membership to the American Alliance of Museums and discounts to museum shop and programming.
 
Relocation is available for this role. 
 
 
ACCOMODATION 
 
The Seattle Art Museum will consider reasonable accommodations for all employees with disabilities to perform the essential functions/duties of this position. If you need an accommodation during the application or interview process, please contact [email protected]. For candidates, we ask that, if possible, you wait until you're invited to a screen, online technical assessment or interview before requesting an accommodation.

SAM is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and we are committed to fostering a respectful, inclusive, and welcoming workplace for all employees and volunteers. Guided by our mission to connect art to life and engage diverse communities, we strive to create a sense of belonging for all of the communities we serve. All qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, military status, or any other protected characteristic

Not sure you check every box? Research shows that candidates from underrepresented backgrounds often only apply if they meet 100% of the criteria. If you believe you could excel in this role, we encourage you to apply!   
$69,300 - $84,700 a year
with a target hiring range of $77,000
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