2

Entry Level Museum Tour Guide Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Educator

Manhattan, NY · On-site

$23.34/hr

Because the museum is only accessible via guided tour, Educators serve as the primary face of the museum, engaging with thousands of visitors from across generations and around the globe. Position ...

Visitor Experience Guide

Louisville, KY · On-site

$12.75 - $14.75/hr

Kentucky Derby Museum is a 501(c)(3) non-profit charitable organization that sits on the front ... Maintains and ensures proper upkeep of tour vehicles, including golf carts and electric shuttles ...

Visitor Experience Guide

Louisville, KY · On-site

$16.75 - $22/hr

The Museum welcomes over 258,000 visitors annually; a large percentage of those visitors come from ... Maintains and ensures proper upkeep of tour vehicles, including golf carts and electric shuttles ...

Museum Management Function : Manages Employees and Policies Reports to : Operations Manager, VP of ... Responsible for helping train and coach the admissions, collision, and tour guide personnel with ...

next page

Showing results 1-20

Entry Level Museum Tour Guide information

See salary details

$8

$18

$33

How much do entry level museum tour guide jobs pay per hour?

As of Jun 8, 2026, the average hourly pay for entry level museum tour guide in the United States is $18.81, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $14.42 and $21.15 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are some common challenges faced by entry level museum tour guides, and how can they be overcome?

Entry level museum tour guides often face challenges such as managing diverse groups with varying interests, answering unexpected questions, and keeping tours engaging for all ages. Building a strong foundation in the museum’s collection and practicing clear communication can help address these difficulties. New guides benefit from shadowing experienced colleagues and seeking feedback to improve their presentation skills and adaptability. Over time, confidence grows as guides become more familiar with the exhibits and learn to tailor their tours to different audiences.

What does an entry level museum tour guide do?

An entry level museum tour guide leads visitors through exhibits, sharing detailed information about the displays and answering questions. They help make the museum experience engaging and educational by highlighting key artifacts, explaining their historical or cultural significance, and ensuring visitors follow museum rules. Tour guides often tailor their presentations for different age groups and interests. Additionally, they may assist with event setup or provide directions within the museum.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an Entry Level Museum Tour Guide, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Entry Level Museum Tour Guide, a solid grasp of the museum's subject matter, strong verbal communication skills, and at least a high school diploma are generally required. Familiarity with audio tour devices, presentation software, or digital ticketing systems is beneficial. Exceptional interpersonal skills, enthusiasm, and the ability to engage diverse audiences help guides stand out. These skills ensure engaging, informative tours that enhance visitor satisfaction and support the museum’s educational mission.
More about Entry Level Museum Tour Guide jobs
What cities are hiring for Entry Level Museum Tour Guide jobs? Cities with the most Entry Level Museum Tour Guide job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Museum Tour Guide jobs? The most popular types of Museum Tour Guide jobs are:
What states have the most Entry Level Museum Tour Guide jobs? States with the most job openings for Entry Level Museum Tour Guide jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Entry Level Museum Tour Guide jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Entry Level Museum Tour Guide jobs are:
Infographic showing various Entry Level Museum Tour Guide job openings in the United States as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 25% Locum Tenens, and 75% Full Time. Highlights an 99% Physical, and 1% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $39,124 per year, or $18.8 per hour.
Tour Guide at Villa Louis Historic Site - LTE

Tour Guide at Villa Louis Historic Site - LTE

State of Wisconsin

Prairie Du Chien, WI • On-site

$15/hr

Part-time

PTO

Posted 25 days ago


State Of Wisconsin rating

7.8

Company rating: 7.8 out of 10

Based on 126 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

20th of 50 rated states


Job description

Introduction
The Wisconsin Historical Society , considered one of the nation's finest historical institutions, is a State of Wisconsin government agency as well as a mission-driven entrepreneurial organization. The Wisconsin Historical Society (WHS), founded in 1846, ranks as one of the largest, most active and diversified state historical societies in the nation. As both a state agency and a private membership organization, its mission is to help people connect to the past by collecting, preserving and sharing stories. At its core, WHS believes that increasing the public's knowledge of history has profound societal, cultural, and economic benefit. Its library, archives and collections, historic sites and museums, historic preservation office, and extensive educational programs and community outreach are focused on our vision to enrich and transform lives through unparalleled access to history. Click here for more information about WHS' mission, vision, and core values.
Position Summary
Villa Louis is a National Historic Landmark Historic house, museum and grounds in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin. The site offers guided tours from May - October and special events at other times of the year.
Professional level work is performed under limited supervision of the Site Manager or Site Director. Guides are stewards of the buildings and collections of the Wisconsin Historical Society, and are responsible for daily cleaning and collections care to ensure that we can share Wisconsin's stories for generations to come.
Specific duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
  • Open and close site as needed
  • Provide comprehensive guided tours to student groups as well as the general public
  • Assist with special events and public programs
  • Logistics support (tracking tour numbers)
  • Assist with other administrative tasks as needed
  • Sell tickets and merchandise in museum store using point of sale system.
  • Engage in all aspects of group management at Villa Louis
  • Report to Site Manager or Site Director about concerns with tour or site
  • Site or Collections care under the direction of the Site Manager or Site Director
Work Schedule:
8-32 hours per week in season; 9:30 am - 5:30 p.m., weekend hours required, evenings and additional availability as needed for special events
Salary Information
Pay is $15.00 per hour with a weekend differential of 80 cents per hour. This classification is in schedule and class 18-00.
Please note this is a Limited Term Employment position so it does not include paid time off or benefits upon hire.
Job Details
A criminal background check will be conducted by WHS prior to an offer of employment to determine if the circumstances of any conviction may be related to the job.
This is a Limited Term Employment (LTE) position and limited to 1,039 hours. This position will be part time and average 8 - 30 hours per week.
Wisconsin residency is required for Limited Term Employment positions.
Limited Term Employment (LTE) positions are not civil service classified positions, do not give any rights to permanent civil service classified positions and do not lead to permanent status.
WHS does not sponsor work visas. Any appointment made will be contingent on the applicant being able to prove valid status to work in the United States.
Qualifications
  • Knowledge of (or willingness to learn) interpretive methodologies, including guided tours
  • Knowledge of (or willingness to learn) site specific history
  • Knowledge of (or willingness to learn) professionally-recognized collection care principles and practices.
  • Knowledge and ability to develop and install exhibits (or willingness to learn).
  • Knowledge of material culture, its connection to cultural history, and the ability to build these elements into interpretation (or willingness to learn).
  • Excellent oral communication skills with staff and the public. Ability to give presentations to the public.
  • Ability to work well with interns, volunteers, and employees.
  • Ability to pass a background security check and to become an employee bonded to deal with valuable collections.
  • Ability to use computer applications, including Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Access, Excel) and CounterPoint point of sale system and Acme ticketing system.

How To Apply
Apply online! To apply, click "Apply for Job" to start the application process. Then, you will access your existing account or to create a new account if you don't have an account. Once you are logged in, click "Apply for Job." Follow the steps outlined in the application process and submit your application.
Your letter of qualifications and resume are very important parts of your application and are used during our evaluation process to determine your qualifications as they relate to the job. For instructions on developing your resume and letter of qualifications for your application and what should be included in these materials, click here .
Submitted materials will be evaluated and the most qualified applicants will be invited to participate in the next step of the hiring process.
We are an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer seeking a diverse and talented workforce.
Questions can be directed to dawn.garcia@wisconsinhistory.or g or (608) 264-6670
Please see the Frequently Asked Questions for general wisc.jobs user information and technical assistance.
Deadline to Apply
Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

What State Of Wisconsin employees say

Pay

Benefits

Hours and flexibility

Workplace

Get the full story on Breakroom