ZipRecruiter

Log In

1

Government Museum Jobs (NOW HIRING)

National Park Service

Museum Technician

Tucson, AZ · On-site +1

$51K - $66K/yr

You must obtain a government charge card for travel purposes * You may be required to work on-call, evenings, weekends, holidays, overtime and shift work. * First time hires to the Federal government ...

New

National Park Service

Museum Curator

Natchitoches, LA · On-site +1

$74K - $97K/yr

This position requires the incumbent to operate a government (or private) motor vehicle as part of ... Degree: museum work; or in an applicable subject-matter field. You must submit transcripts. -OR ...

Smithsonian Institution

Museum Specialist

Washington, DC · On-site +1

$121K - $158K/yr

Summary The Smithsonian Institution is the world's largest museum, education, and research complex ... government for a certain time period. Note: This statement does not imply nor guarantee an ...

next page

Showing results 1-20

All JobsGovernment Museum Jobs

Government Museum information

See salary details

$31.5K

$44.2K

$56K

How much do government museum jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 9, 2026, the average yearly pay for government museum in the United States is $44,195.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $38,500.00 and $48,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a museum curator, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Museum Curator, you need a background in art history, archaeology, or museum studies, often supported by an advanced degree and relevant experience. Familiarity with collection management systems, exhibit design software, and conservation techniques is typically required. Excellent organizational skills, attention to detail, and strong communication abilities help curators engage audiences and manage collections effectively. These skills ensure that museum collections are preserved, displayed, and interpreted in ways that educate and inspire the public.

What are the typical responsibilities of a professional working at a government museum?

Professionals working at a Government Museum are typically involved in a variety of tasks such as curating exhibits, cataloging and preserving artifacts, conducting educational tours, and collaborating with historians and researchers. They also assist in organizing community outreach programs and events to promote public engagement with the museum’s collections. Teamwork is essential, as museum staff often work closely with conservationists, educators, and administrative personnel to ensure the smooth operation of the facility. Additionally, there may be opportunities for specialized training and professional development within the public sector.

What is a government museum?

A government museum is a public institution that is owned, funded, and managed by a government body—such as a national, state, or local authority. These museums are dedicated to collecting, preserving, researching, and exhibiting objects of historical, cultural, scientific, or artistic significance. Their primary aim is to educate the public and promote cultural heritage, often through exhibitions, educational programs, and community outreach. Admission policies and collections can vary widely depending on the museum's focus and location.
More about Government Museum jobs
What cities are hiring for Government Museum jobs? Cities with the most Government Museum job openings:
What states have the most Government Museum jobs? States with the most job openings for Government Museum jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Government Museum jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Government Museum jobs are:
Government Museum jobs near you
Infographic showing various Government Museum job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 91% Full Time, 6% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 92% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $44,195 per year, or $21.2 per hour.

Museum Curator

Library Systems & Services LLC

Port Hueneme Cbc Base, CA • On-site

$71K - $85K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 13 days ago

Job description

Job Type
Full-time
Description
Museum Curator will support a museum focusing on modern naval history in Port Hueneme, California. The Curator will contribute to a major inventory and digitization initiative involving approximately 17,000 historical objects comprising a wide range of formats. Working on-site with museum leadership and collection staff, the selected candidate will inventory, catalog, photograph, clean, rehouse, and safeguard artifacts while applying current museum collection management and digital asset management practices. The position requires a hands-on museum professional who can work independently, exercise sound judgment, and handle valuable historical materials with exceptional care.
Responsibilities:
  • Inventory artifacts maintained in museum storage areas, including opening storage containers, identifying objects, reconciling contents, and documenting collection information.
  • Catalog artifacts and create or update accurate object-level collection records using museum-approved terminology, procedures, and collection management practices.
  • Produce consistent, high-quality digital photographs of artifacts for identification, documentation, research, and public-access purposes.
  • Edit, process, name, organize, and manage digital image files using Adobe Photoshop Elements, Adobe Acrobat Professional, and other authorized applications.
  • Carefully unpack, handle, clean, inspect, and repack artifacts using appropriate museum handling and preventive-conservation practices.
  • Rehouse collection materials using suitable storage materials and commercial or professional museum practices.
  • Support the museum's broader collection digitization initiative and help improve access to collection information for Navy personnel, researchers, and the public.
  • Apply current museum collection management standards, digital asset management practices, institutional policies, and professional ethical principles.
  • Identify collection discrepancies, handling concerns, storage issues, damaged objects, incomplete documentation, or other risks and promptly elevate them to museum leadership.
  • Maintain organized workspaces and protect Government-furnished equipment, supplies, collection records, and historical materials.
  • Communicate effectively with the Museum Director, museum employees, Navy personnel, contractors, researchers, and visitors of varying ages and abilities.
  • Complete routine work and special assignments independently while responding flexibly to Government priorities, training, and procedural direction.

Requirements
Mandatory Qualifications
  • U.S. citizenship.
  • Bachelor's degree in museum studies, public history, history, anthropology, archaeology, art history, library or information science, material culture, or a closely related discipline. Relevant specialized museum experience may be considered in place of part of the education requirement.
  • At least three years of progressively responsible experience supporting museum collections, historical artifacts, cultural heritage collections, or a comparable institutional collection.
  • Working knowledge of current museum collection management standards and professional best practices.
  • Demonstrated experience conducting museum inventories and maintaining accurate object-level documentation.
  • Experience safely unpacking, handling, cleaning, examining, rehousing, and repacking historical artifacts.
  • Demonstrated proficiency in digital object photography, including lighting, image composition, focus, scale, file quality, and consistent photographic documentation.
  • Proficiency with Adobe Photoshop Elements and Adobe Acrobat Professional.
  • Working knowledge of digital asset management principles, including file naming, metadata, image organization, version control, storage, and access.
  • Ability to advocate for and implement institutional policies and professional practices governing museum digital assets.
  • Strong verbal and written communication skills and the ability to interact professionally with museum staff, Navy personnel, researchers, and visitors of varying ages and abilities.
  • Ability to work collaboratively as part of a museum team and independently with limited procedural direction.
  • Strong attention to detail, organizational ability, judgment, and commitment to protecting valuable historical and educational materials.
  • Ability to work on-site in Port Hueneme, California, during the museum's regular operating hours.
  • Ability to walk, stand for extended periods, bend, stoop, reach, climb ladders, and lift or carry objects weighing up to 50 pounds, with or without reasonable accommodation.

Preferred Qualifications
  • Master's degree in museum studies, public history, history, anthropology, archaeology, art history, library and information science, or a related field.
  • Five or more years of professional museum collection management or curatorial experience.
  • Experience working with military history, naval history, engineering, construction, material culture, industrial artifacts, uniforms, equipment, tools, or three-dimensional historical objects.
  • Experience supporting a federal museum, military museum, government cultural heritage program, or other public-sector collection.
  • Experience with museum collection management systems such as Axiell Collections, TMS, PastPerfect, Re:discovery Proficio, MuseumPlus, or a comparable platform.
  • Familiarity with Naval History and Heritage Command collection management policies or comparable federal museum standards.
  • Knowledge of preventive conservation, integrated pest management, environmental monitoring, object condition reporting, and appropriate storage materials.
  • Experience creating controlled vocabularies, structured metadata, digital asset records, and standardized image-file naming conventions.
  • Experience performing collection reconciliation, location control, accession-number verification, and inventory discrepancy resolution.
  • Demonstrated ability to establish repeatable photography, inventory, quality-control, and digital-file-management workflows.
  • Familiarity with professional guidance issued by organizations such as the American Alliance of Museums, International Council of Museums, or Society for the Preservation of Natural History Collections.
  • Experience training or guiding staff, interns, volunteers, or junior personnel in artifact handling, photography, inventory, or digitization procedures.

Physical Requirements:
  • Ability to stand, walk, bend, stoop, kneel, reach, climb ladders, and work in museum storage and collection areas for extended periods while inventorying, photographing, cleaning, and rehousing artifacts.
  • Ability to safely lift, carry, push, and move collection materials, storage containers, and museum equipment weighing up to 50 pounds, with or without reasonable accommodation.
  • Ability to perform repetitive manual tasks requiring fine motor skills and visual acuity, including handling delicate historical artifacts, operating photography equipment, and using computer systems for cataloging, digital image processing, and documentation.

Benefits
  • Health Care Plan (Medical, Dental & Vision)
  • Retirement Plan (401k, IRA)
  • Life Insurance (Basic, Voluntary & AD&D)
  • Paid Time Off (Vacation, Sick & Public Holidays)
  • Family Leave (Maternity, Paternity)
  • Short Term & Long-Term Disability
  • Training & Development

EEO Statement
The company and its subsidiaries are an equal opportunity employer and celebrate the population of differences and does not discriminate in its hiring/hiring practices, regardless of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
Nothing in this job specification restricts management's right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.
Critical features of this job are described under various headings above. They may be subject to change at any time due to reasonable accommodation or other reasons. The above statements are strictly intended to describe the general nature and level of the work being performed. They are not intended to be construed as a complete list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of employees in this position.
This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee(s) incumbent in this position. Employees will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform any other job-related duties requested by any person authorized to give instructions or assignments. All duties and responsibilities are essential functions and requirements and are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities.
To perform this job successfully, the incumbents will possess the skills, aptitudes, and abilities to perform each duty proficiently.
Some requirements may exclude individuals who pose a direct threat or significant risk to the health or safety of themselves or others. The requirements listed in this document are the minimum levels of knowledge, skills, or abilities. This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an "at will" relationship.
Salary Description
$71,000 - $85,000

Apply