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Gallery Associate Jobs in Chicago, IL (NOW HIRING)

Curator

Chicago, IL ยท On-site

$87K - $92K/yr

... gallery installations; and in organizing ambitious exhibitions built around this area of the ... An Associate level may also be considered with an additional 5 years' experience. Application ...

Develop and maintain professional relationships with all associates. Inform the manager of any ... active gallery space, cultural programming, and unique touches such as custom writing desks ...

Develop and maintain professional relationships with all associates. Inform the manager of any ... active gallery space, cultural programming, and unique touches such as custom writing desks ...

Culinary Stewart

Chicago, IL ยท On-site

$18.65/hr

Our caring and attentive associates reinforce our principal belief that guest service is our ... active gallery space, cultural programming, and unique touches such as custom writing desks ...

Develop and maintain professional relationships with all associates. Inform the manager of any ... active gallery space, cultural programming, and unique touches such as custom writing desks ...

Our caring and attentive associates reinforce our principal belief that guest service is our ... active gallery space, cultural programming, and unique touches such as custom writing desks ...

Server

Chicago, IL ยท On-site

Our caring and attentive associates reinforce our principal belief that guest service is our ... active gallery space, cultural programming, and unique touches such as custom writing desks ...

Room Attendant

Chicago, IL ยท On-site

$27.25/hr

... North Gallery District just minutes away. Let your adventure begin at Hotel Chicago Downtown ... and clean experience for hotel guests, associates, and vendors. Essential Duties and ...

Showing results 21-40

Gallery Associate information

See Chicago, IL salary details

$13

$31

$98

How much do gallery associate jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 7, 2026, the average hourly pay for gallery associate in Chicago, IL is $31.45, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $17.84 and $40.38 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a gallery associate?

Gallery Associates are professionals who assist in the daily operations of art galleries. Their responsibilities typically include greeting visitors, providing information about exhibitions and artists, assisting with sales, and maintaining the appearance of the gallery. They may also help with event planning, installing artwork, and managing inventory. Gallery Associates play a key role in ensuring a positive visitor experience and supporting the gallery's overall mission.

What is the difference between Gallery Associate vs Museum Assistant?

AspectGallery AssociateMuseum Assistant
Required CredentialsHigh school diploma or equivalent; some roles may prefer customer service experienceHigh school diploma; may require knowledge of museum operations
Work EnvironmentArt galleries, retail settings, customer-facing rolesMuseums, educational institutions, public exhibits
Employer & Industry UsageArt galleries, commercial art spacesMuseums, cultural institutions
Common Search & ComparisonYesYes

Gallery Associates and Museum Assistants both work in cultural and art environments, often sharing similar credentials and customer service skills. While Gallery Associates typically work in commercial gallery settings focusing on sales and visitor engagement, Museum Assistants are more involved in educational and exhibit support roles within museums. Both positions serve to enhance visitor experience but differ mainly in their work environment and specific responsibilities.

What are some typical challenges a gallery associate may encounter when preparing for an exhibition opening?

Gallery Associates often face challenges such as coordinating the timely arrival and safe handling of artworks, ensuring accurate labeling and installation, and managing last-minute changes in layouts or artist requirements. They also need to communicate effectively with artists, curators, and vendors while adhering to tight deadlines. Balancing administrative tasks with the physical aspects of installation requires strong organizational skills and adaptability, especially in fast-paced gallery environments.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a gallery associate?

To thrive as a Gallery Associate, you need a solid understanding of art history, strong customer service abilities, and typically a bachelor's degree in art or a related field. Familiarity with point-of-sale (POS) systems, inventory management software, and basic digital marketing tools is often required. Excellent communication, attention to detail, and interpersonal skills help in engaging visitors and supporting sales. These skills are crucial for creating a welcoming gallery environment, facilitating sales, and ensuring smooth daily operations.
What are the most commonly searched types of Gallery jobs in Chicago, IL? The most popular types of Gallery jobs in Chicago, IL are:
What cities near Chicago, IL are hiring for Gallery Associate jobs? Cities near Chicago, IL with the most Gallery Associate job openings:
Infographic showing various Gallery Associate job openings in Chicago, IL as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 62% Full Time, 25% Part Time, and 13% Temporary. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $65,407 per year, or $31.4 per hour.

$87K - $92K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

This job post hasย expired today.ย Applications are no longer accepted.


Job description

About the Metropolitan Museum of Art The Met presents over 5,000 years of art from around the world for everyone to experience and enjoy. The Museum lives in two iconic sites in New York Cityโ€”The Met Fifth Avenue and The Met Cloisters. Millions of people also take part in The Met experience online. Since its founding in 1870, The Met has always aspired to be more than a treasury of rare and beautiful objects. We are committed to fostering a collaborative and respectful work environment with a staff as diverse as the audiences we engage. Our staff members are art lovers who are passionate about working toward a common goal: creating the most dynamic and inspiring art museum in the world. At The Met, every staff member โ€“ from security officers to researchers to scientists and beyond โ€“ lives by our core values of respect, inclusivity, collaboration, excellence, and integrity. Respect: Engage one another with collegiality, empathy, and kindness, always. Inclusivity: Ensure that all are and feel welcome and valued. Collaboration: Reach across boundaries to exchange ideas and work together toward our shared mission. Excellence: Lead the cultural world in quality and expertiseโ€”and inspire curiosity and creativity. Integrity: Hold ourselves to the highest moral standards, admit when we fall short, and then evolve. GENERAL STATEMENT OF RESPONSIBILITIES & DUTIES: As Assistant Curator, or Associate Curator with commensurate experience, you are a forward-looking art historian specializing in 19th-century art with a particular focus on paintings. In this role, the curator will be responsible for the research, display, study, growth, and care of this area of the European Paintings collection. The ideal candidate will be passionately interested in paintings; in shaping the department's future; in advancing the Museum's mission of public engagement and outreach through gallery installations; and in organizing ambitious exhibitions built around this area of the collection. The curator will be integral to the exciting project of reenvisioning the presentation of the permanent collection. The Museum may recommend that a new hire at Assistant Level be awarded credit for time worked in the same or similar role with comparable responsibilities as outlined in the Regulations for Curatorial, Education, Library, Conservation, and Scientific Research employees. An Associate level may also be considered with an additional 5 years' experience. Application Deadline: August 14, 2026 PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES & DUTIES: Commitment to scholarship in fields of specialization, and to communicating the results of that scholarship, both to a broad public and specialist communities; Curate gallery installations with the attendant tasks of research, label writing, working with paintings technicians, and participating in related digital platforms; Research, generate and produce scholarly publications on works in the collection under his/her/their curatorial responsibility, contribute to entries in The Met's online collection database; Organize path-breaking exhibitions that help to redefine an artist, period, or work of art; Participate in the Museum's public education and outreach programs; Develop and maintain good working relationships with donors, trustees, and colleagues from other institutions in the U.S. and abroad, as well as with the scholarly community, dealers and collectors; Actively cultivate potential sponsors and supporters, including departmental membership groups; Research, propose, and present works for acquisition; Respond to inquiries relating to the collection and assist the public and visiting scholars; work with scholars throughout the field to enrich and expand the collection's narratives; Collaborate with colleagues throughout the Museum and the broader field of art history on related projects and programs; Maintain commitment to the field of art history by participating in conferences, scholarly publications, and other forums; Other related duties as assigned REQUIREMENTS & QUALIFICATIONS: Ph.D in art history and a specialization in 19th-century paintings, with demonstrated knowledge and particular focus on Impressionism; Reading knowledge of French or German, and competency in the European languages central to the candidate's discipline; Two years curatorial or academic experience in specialized field; Demonstrated scholarly achievement through publications and exhibitions; Strong presentation and advocacy skills when working with donors, the public, and museum staff COMPENSATION RANGE: Pay Range: $87,000 - $92,000 / Annually The advertised pay scale reflects the good faith minimum and maximum salary range for this role. The advertised pay scale is not a promise of a particular wage for any specific employee. The specific compensation offered to a candidate may be dependent on a variety of factors including, but not limited to, the candidate's experience, education, special licensing or qualifications, and other factors. Location Requirements At time of employment, employees are expected to be located within commuting distance of the Museum. "Commuting distance" means that they are located in one of following states: New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, or Pennsylvania (the "Tri-state and PA" areas), and be able to commute to and from the Museum in a single day. Benefits Offerings The Museum provides competitive compensation, and generous benefits and perks for all eligible employees. Note: Benefits Offering may differ based based on Employee Status. Medical, dental, vision and life insurance 403(b) basic retirement plan and optional matching retirement plan with an outstanding employer match Considerable paid time off, including annual leave, sick leave, and 13 Museum holidays Long-term disability coverage Flexible Spending Accounts & Health Savings Account (pre-tax income for eligible health care expenses) Commuter benefits (pre-tax income for parking or mass transit expenses) Free financial-planning services Financial assistance for relevant coursework, seminars, and training programs 25% discount for staff in Museum shops A subsidized staff cafeteria Access to the Museums Council pass, which grants free admission to various museums and cultural institutions We recognize that it is highly unlikely that someone meets 100% of the desired attributes for a role. If much of this job description describes you, then please apply for this role. The Met is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, The Met will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. If reasonable accommodation is needed in this process, please contact benefits@metmuseum.org. The Metropolitan Museum of Art provides equal opportunity to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, age, mental or physical disability, pregnancy, alienage or citizenship status, marital status or domestic partner status, genetic information, genetic predisposition or carrier status, gender identity, HIV status, military status and any other category protected by law in all employment decisions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, compensation, training and apprenticeship, promotion, upgrading, downgrading, transfer, lay-off and termination, and all other terms and conditions of employment. The Metropolitan Museum of Art provides an opportunity for employees to enrich and develop their love of the arts while contributing their specific skills and talents to the mission of the Museum. Career opportunities at The Met are as varied as the cultures represented in the Museum's collection, and require all levels of training, experience, and education. We are committed to fostering a collaborative and respectful work environment with a staff as diverse as the audiences we engage. Our staff members are art lovers who are passionate about working toward a common goal: creating the most dynamic and inspiring art museum in the world. Respect: Engage one another with collegiality, empathy, and kindness, always. Inclusivity: Ensure that all are and feel welcome and valued. Collaboration: Reach across boundaries to exchange ideas and work together toward our shared mission. Excellence: Lead the cultural world in quality and expertiseโ€”and inspire curiosity and creativity. Integrity: Hold ourselves to the highest moral standards, admit when we fall short, and then evolve. Transparency in Coverage UnitedHealthcare creates and publishes the Machine-Readable Files on behalf of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in compliance with the Transparency in Coverage Rule. To link to the Machine-Readable Files, please click on the URL provided: http://transparency-in-coverage.uhc.com/ #J-18808-Ljbffr