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Entry Level Museum Collection Manager Jobs (NOW HIRING)

$74K/yr

One year of specialized experience which includes: reviewing exhibit designs and development; handling of artifacts and collection management; supporting museum lectures or educational programs such ...

$74K/yr

One year of specialized experience which includes: reviewing exhibit designs and development; handling of artifacts and collection management; supporting museum lectures or educational programs such ...

... for a collection of about a thousand art and ethnographic objects according to current museum ... The Collections and Curatorial Manager's primary role is to steward the acquisition, documentation ...

Museum Educator

Atlanta, GA · On-site

$18.35 - $19.35/hr

This position reports to the Manager of Guest Experience and is a (15-23 hours per week) part time, ... Support data collection * Provide superior customer service * Maintain a safe and welcoming ...

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Entry Level Museum Collection Manager information

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$25K

$47.8K

$68.5K

How much do entry level museum collection manager jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 12, 2026, the average yearly pay for entry level museum collection manager in the United States is $47,831.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $40,500.00 and $52,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the easiest museum jobs to get?

Entry level museum positions such as museum assistants or clerks are generally the easiest to obtain, often requiring minimal experience and offering on-the-job training. These roles typically involve administrative tasks, visitor support, or basic collection handling, making them accessible for those new to the field.

Is it hard to get hired at a museum?

Securing an entry level museum collection manager position can be competitive, as it often requires relevant education such as a degree in museum studies, archaeology, or a related field, along with internship or volunteer experience. Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and familiarity with collection management software can improve chances of hiring, but entry-level roles typically have a straightforward application process for candidates with the necessary qualifications.

What is the difference between Entry Level Museum Collection Manager vs Museum Registrar?

AspectEntry Level Museum Collection ManagerMuseum Registrar
Required CredentialsBachelor's degree in Museum Studies, Art History, or related fieldBachelor's degree in Museum Studies, Art History, or related field
Work EnvironmentAssists with collection care, documentation, and research in museums or galleriesManages collection records, accessioning, and cataloging in museum settings
Employer & Industry UsageUsed in museums, galleries, cultural institutionsCommonly employed in museums, archives, and cultural organizations

Both roles typically require similar educational backgrounds and work in museum environments. The Museum Registrar focuses more on record-keeping, accessioning, and cataloging, while the Entry Level Museum Collection Manager often handles collection care and research support. These positions are essential for maintaining and organizing museum collections, with overlapping skills but different primary responsibilities.

How to get museum collections experience?

Entry level museum collection managers typically gain experience through internships, volunteer work, or assistant positions at museums or cultural institutions. Developing skills in cataloging, conservation, and using collections management software such as PastPerfect or TMS can improve job prospects; a background in art history, archaeology, or related fields is also beneficial.

Can I become a museum curator without a degree?

While a degree in museum studies, history, or a related field is common for museum curators, some entry-level museum collection manager positions may be available to candidates with relevant experience, strong organizational skills, and knowledge of collections. However, advancing to a curator role typically requires formal education and specialized training in conservation, curation, or related areas.
More about Entry Level Museum Collection Manager jobs
What are the most commonly searched types of Museum Collection Manager jobs? The most popular types of Museum Collection Manager jobs are:
What job categories do people searching Entry Level Museum Collection Manager jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Entry Level Museum Collection Manager jobs are:

U.S. Department Of Defense rating

7.8

Company rating: 7.8 out of 10

Based on 518 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

26th of 46 rated military and defense


Job description

About the Position: Serves as Museum Curator of the National Mounted Warrior Museum. Responsibilities include long-range planning, development, coordinating and administering all matters pertaining to the museum operation.
Qualifications:

Who May Apply: Only applicants who meet one of the employment authority categories below are eligible to apply for this job. You will be asked to identify which category or categories you meet, and to provide documents which prove you meet the category or categories you selected. See Proof of Eligibility for an extensive list of document requirements for all employment authorities.

  • 30 Percent or More Disabled Veterans
  • Current Department of Army Civilian Employees
  • Current Department of Defense (DOD) Civilian Employee (non-Army)
  • Domestic Defense Industrial Base/Major Range and Test Facilities Base Civilian Personnel Workforce
  • Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan
  • Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act
  • Military Spouses, under Executive Order (E.O.) 13473
  • Non-Appropriated Fund Instrumentality (NAFI)
  • Non-Department of Defense (DoD) Transfer
  • People with Disabilities, Schedule A
  • Priority Placement Program, DoD Military Reserve (MR) and National Guard (NG) Technician Eligible
  • Priority Placement Program, DoD Military Spouse Preference (MSP) Eligible
  • Priority Placement Program, DoD MR and NG Preference Eligible Tech Receiving Disability Retirement
  • Priority Placement Program, DoD Retained Grade Preference Eligible
  • Reinstatement
  • Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA) of 1998

In order to qualify, you must meet the education and/or experience requirements described below. 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). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Your resume must clearly describe your relevant experience; if qualifying based on education, your transcripts will be required as part of your application. Additional information about transcripts is in this document.
Basic Requirement for Supervisory Museum Curator:
A. Degree: Bachelor's degree (or higher) in museum work; or in an applicable subject-matter field such as Museum Studies or American History. (Transcripts required at the time of application.)
OR
B. Combination of Education and Experience: Courses equivalent to a major, as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. (Transcripts required at the time of application.)
OR
C. Experience : Four years of experience that provided knowledge comparable to that normally acquired through the successful completion of the four year course of study as shown in A above.
In addition to meeting the basic requirement above, to qualify for this position you must also meet the qualification requirements listed below.
Specialized Experience for GS-11: One year of specialized experience which includes: reviewing exhibit designs and development; handling of artifacts and collection management; supporting museum lectures or educational programs such as military history; and managing artifact conservation and preservation. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the second lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-09).
OR
Education: Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree in a field which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position, such as: Military History, etc.
OR
Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide the total number of completed graduate semester hours (or equivalent) beyond the second year (total graduate semester hours minus 36) by 18. Add the two percentages.
Specialized Experience for GS-12: One year of specialized experience which includes:(1)Performing technical research for the restoration and preservation of museum artifacts, and archival material in a museum/historical collection; (2) planning and designing museum exhibits for a large museum; (3) identifying proper storage, security, and protection of museum artifacts or historical collection; and (4) creating public focused museum/historical collection educational written material such as booklets, brochures and news articles. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-11).
You will be evaluated on the basis of your level of competency in the following areas:
  • Administration and Management
  • Communications and Media
  • Project Management
  • Technical Competence

Time in Grade Requirement for GS-11: Applicants who have held a General Schedule (GS) position within the last 52 weeks must have 52 weeks of Federal service at the next lower grade or equivalent (GS-9).
Time in Grade Requirement for GS-12: Applicants who have held a General Schedule (GS) position within the last 52 weeks must have 52 weeks of Federal service at the next lower grade or equivalent (GS-11).
To be referred, applicants must meet applicable time-in-grade and qualification requirements within 30 days of the closing of the announcement.Education:Some federal jobs allow you to substitute your education for the required experience in order to qualify. For this job, you must meet the qualification requirement using experience alone--no substitution of education for experience is permitted.Employment Type: OTHER

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