1

Collections Museum Jobs in Washington (NOW HIRING)

Museum Curator

Washington, DC · On-site +1

$169K - $197K/yr

Ensuring timely and accurate maintenance of The Museum System (TMS) database entries for permanent collections and exhibition objects. * Evaluating loan requests from other institutions to borrow ...

Museum Curator

Washington, DC · On-site +1

$169K - $197K/yr

Ensuring timely and accurate maintenance of The Museum System (TMS) database entries for permanent collections and exhibition objects. * Evaluating loan requests from other institutions to borrow ...

Museum Curator

Washington, DC · On-site +1

$143K - $187K/yr

... for collections in his/her charge. * Write/review texts for brochures, leaflets, the National ... Degree: museum work; or in an applicable subject-matter field. OR * Combination of education and ...

Museum Curator

Washington, DC · On-site +1

$169K - $197K/yr

... collections and through domestic and international loans. Directs scholarly exhibition planning ... Degree: museum work; or in an applicable subject-matter field. OR * Combination of education and ...

Museum Curator

Washington, DC · On-site +1

$169K - $197K/yr

... collections and through domestic and international loans. Directs scholarly exhibition planning ... Degree: museum work; or in an applicable subject-matter field. OR * Combination of education and ...

Museum Technician PT

Alexandria, VA · On-site

$18.67 - $32.85/hr

N/A Part-time Museum Technician The City of Alexandria is located in northern Virginia and is ... Experience with Proficio or other archaeological database for cataloguing, collections management ...

Part-time Museum Technician The City of Alexandria is located in northern Virginia and is bordered ... Experience with Proficio or other archaeological database for cataloguing, collections management ...

next page

Showing results 1-20

Collections Museum information

See Washington salary details

$14

$24

$34

How much do collections museum jobs pay per hour?

As of Jul 27, 2026, the average hourly pay for collections museum in Washington is $24.31, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $20.14 and $27.21 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the Collections Museum position, and why are they important?

To excel in a Museum Collections role, you need a solid background in art history, museum studies, or a related field along with experience in collection management. Familiarity with collection management software such as TMS (The Museum System), barcoding tools, and proper handling and cataloging techniques is vital. Strong attention to detail, organizational skills, and effective communication are important soft skills for managing and documenting artifacts. These attributes are crucial for ensuring the long-term preservation and accessibility of museum collections and for collaborating successfully with curators and other staff.

What is a Collections Museum job?

A Collections Museum job involves managing, preserving, and organizing artifacts, artworks, or historical objects within a museum. Professionals in this role ensure proper documentation, storage, and conservation of collection items. They may also collaborate with curators, researchers, and educators to make collections accessible to the public through exhibitions and programs. Strong attention to detail and knowledge of preservation techniques are essential in this field.

What are the typical daily tasks for someone working in museum collections management?

Professionals in museum collections management spend much of their day cataloging and documenting new acquisitions, conducting regular condition checks, and arranging proper storage of artifacts. They frequently collaborate with curators, conservators, and exhibition teams to prepare pieces for display and to ensure collections are maintained according to industry standards. Other responsibilities include managing database records, preparing objects for loans or travel, and responding to research requests from both internal staff and the public. This role requires a balance of hands-on work with physical objects and administrative tasks that support the long-term integrity of the museum’s holdings.

What are popular job titles related to Collections Museum jobs in Washington? For Collections Museum jobs in Washington, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What cities in Washington are hiring for Collections Museum jobs? Cities in Washington with the most Collections Museum job openings:
Infographic showing various Collections Museum job openings in Washington as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 80% Full Time, 17% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 90% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 5% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $50,566 per year, or $24.3 per hour.
Museum Specialist (Offsite)

Museum Specialist (Offsite)

Smithsonian Institution

Suitland, MD • On-site, Remote

$70K - $91K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 16 days ago


Smithsonian Institution rating

8.6

Company rating: 8.6 out of 10

Based on 25 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

2nd of 29 rated museums


Job description

Summary
The Smithsonian Institution is the world's largest museum, education, and research complex, with 21 museums and the National Zoo. This position is located in the Offsite Storage division of the Office of Collections, National Museum of American History (NMAH). NMAH is home to more than 1.8 million objects and more than three shelf-miles of archival collections, preserving and sharing the greatest single collection of American history in the world.
Learn more about this agency
Duties
Help
The Museum Specialist (Offsite) supports NMAH's offsite collections program. This is a core operational function supporting preservation, accountability, and access to the museum's collections.
In this position, you will:
  • Select appropriate space and apply appropriate methods, materials and equipment, to move, house, and store objects.
  • Reorganize collections as needed to optimize space utilization in accordance with established collections management procedures and priorities.
  • Oversee object preparation for shipments, including the construction of containers and object supports, for safe and secure movement.
  • Gather, record, reconcile, and update collections information for the documentation of Offsite collections in manual and automated records.
  • Assume responsibility for the security and safety of assigned storage spaces and collections, applying established environmental monitoring procedures and reporting variances.
  • Document, preserve, store, and move objects, including objects with hazardous material components, in accordance with established safety and handling procedures.

Requirements
Help
Conditions of employment
  • Requires career/career-conditional status or eligibility.
  • Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered with Selective Service.

Conditions of Employment
Qualification requirements, including one year time-in-grade at the next lower grade level for promotion candidates, must be met within 30 days of the job announcement closing date. See the 'Required Documents' section for additional information.
For information on qualification requirements, see Qualification Standards Handbook for General Schedule Positions viewable on OPM Website.
Qualifications
Experience: You qualify for this position if you have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-07 level in the Federal Service. For this position, specialized experience is defined as providing collections management work for a historical museum or cultural institution including managing and preserving collections; using and maintaining a collection information system or database; and conducting directed research in support of a historical museum or cultural institution's collections, exhibitions, and other related projects.
Your resume must be no more than two (2) pages and should clearly demonstrate how your experience aligns with the responsibilities and specialized experience required for this position. Do not copy language directly from the vacancy announcement, as you will be deemed ineligible for consideration. Instead, provide detailed, descriptive information about your actual experience.
Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
Part-time and/or unpaid experience related to this position will be considered to determine the total number of years and months of experience. Be sure to note the number of paid or unpaid hours worked each week.
Or Education: 2 full academic years of progressively higher level graduate education or master's or equivalent graduate degree related to the position.
Special Instructions for Foreign Education: If you are qualifying by education and/or you have education completed in a foreign college/university described above, it is your responsibility to provide transcripts and proof of U.S. accreditation for foreign study. For instructions on where to fax these documents, see the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.
Or a Combination: Education and experience may be combined to meet the basic qualifications; For a full explanation of this option please see the Qualification Standards.
In an effort to streamline our hiring process, SI employees whose current position of record is in the same job series (1016) and who are in a Federal competitive service appointment as this advertised position, are not required to submit a transcript with your application package. However, if selected, you will be required to provide a copy of your transcript before your start date in the position.
Time-in-Grade Requirements: Under competitive merit promotion procedures, any individual who is currently holding, or who has held within the previous 52 weeks, a General Schedule position under a non-temporary appointment in the competitive or excepted service, must meet "time-in-grade" requirements (have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade of the grade for which you are applying).
Education
This job does not have an education qualification requirement.
Additional information
  • This position is included in the bargaining unit.

Recruitment Incentive: Recruitment incentive(s) may be authorized for this position. However, approval for incentives are contingent upon various availability. If authorized, certain incentives will require the incumbent to sign a service agreement to remain in the Federal government for a certain time period.
Note: This statement does not imply nor guarantee an incentive will be offered and paid.
Selections may be made for vacancies across the Smithsonian Institution (SI). By applying to this position, you agree to allow your application and other personal information to be shared with one or more SI hiring officials for employment consideration for same/similar positions within the location(s) identified in this announcement.
Expand Hide additional information
Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.
Benefits
Help
The Smithsonian offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes, in part, vacation and sick leave, holidays, health/life insurance, accident insurance, and excellent retirement program options.
Please see Benefits at https://www.si.edu/OHR/benefits for a complete description.
Flexible Spending Accounts - https://www.fsafeds.com/
Health Insurance - http://www.opm.gov/insure/health/index.asp
Leave - http://www.opm.gov/oca/leave/index.asp
Life Insurance - http://www.opm.gov/insure/life/index.asp
Long Term Care Insurance - http://www.ltcfeds.com
Retirement Program - https://www.opm.gov/retirement-services/

What Smithsonian Institution employees say

Pay

Benefits

Hours and flexibility

Workplace

Get the full story on Breakroom