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Met Museum Jobs in Washington (NOW HIRING)

Smithsonian Institution

Museum Specialist

Washington, DC · On-site +1

$121K - $158K/yr

  • Medical

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

... must be met within 30 days of the job announcement closing date. See the 'Required Documents ... Experience related to the operation or management of a museum or similar collection of valuable ...

Smithsonian Institution

Museum Specialist

Washington, DC · On-site +1

$85K - $111K/yr

  • Medical

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

... must be met within 30 days of the job announcement closing date. See the 'Required Documents ... Experience related to the operation or management of a museum or similar collection of valuable ...

National Gallery of Art

Museum Specialist

Washington, DC · On-site +1

$121K - $187K/yr

  • Medical

  • Life

  • Retirement

... met by the closing date of the announcement. For information on qualification requirements, see ... Degree: museum work; or in an applicable subject-matter field. OR 2. Combination of education and ...

National Gallery of Art

Museum Specialist

Washington, DC · On-site +1

$121K - $187K/yr

  • Medical

  • Life

  • Retirement

... met by the closing date of the announcement. For information on qualification requirements, see ... Degree: museum work; or in an applicable subject-matter field. OR * Combination of education and ...

Glenstone Museum

Prep Cook

Potomac, MD

$22 - $24/hr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

The museum offers visitors two dining venues, the Café and the Patio, which feature seasonal menu ... Ensuring proper food safety, sanitation standards are met consistently. * Receiving, loading and ...

Grammy

Intern, Advocacy & Public Policy

Washington, DC

$17 - $22.75/hr

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to ... GRAMMY MUSEUM Established in 2008 as a partnership between the Recording Academy and AEG, the ...

Smithsonian

Management Support Specialist

Washington, DC · On-site

  • Medical

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

GS-11: * Serve as the Museum's subject matter expert on procurement and travel, reviewing ... must be met within 30 days of the job announcement closing date. See the 'Required Documents ...

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All JobsMet Museum JobsMet Museum Jobs in Washington

Met Museum information

See Washington salary details

$35.7K

$50.1K

$63.4K

How much do met museum jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 12, 2026, the average yearly pay for met museum in Washington is $50,055.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $43,600.00 and $54,900.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive at the Met Museum?

To thrive as a professional at the Met Museum, you generally need a relevant degree in art history, museum studies, or a related field, along with experience in collections management or curation. Familiarity with collection management systems, digital cataloging tools, and sometimes conservation techniques is typically required. Strong communication, attention to detail, and collaborative skills set exceptional candidates apart in this prestigious environment. These skills ensure the preservation, interpretation, and accessibility of world-class art collections while fostering public engagement and institutional excellence.

What is the difference between Met Museum vs Curator?

AspectMet MuseumCurator
Required CredentialsBachelor's or Master's in Art History, Museum Studies, or related fieldsTypically a Master's or PhD in Art History or related discipline
Work EnvironmentMuseum galleries, offices, conservation labsMuseum galleries, research, collection management
Employer & IndustryMajor museums, cultural institutionsMuseums, galleries, cultural organizations
Common Search/ComparisonPeople compare roles related to museum operations and collectionsRoles focused on collection curation and research

The Met Museum is a large cultural institution that employs various roles, including curators. A curator specializes in managing collections, conducting research, and developing exhibitions. While the Met Museum encompasses many departments, a curator's role is focused on the intellectual and preservation aspects of collections, often requiring advanced degrees. Understanding the difference helps job seekers identify whether they are interested in the broader museum operations or the specialized curation field.

What are Met Museum jobs?

Met Museum jobs refer to the various employment opportunities available at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. These roles span departments such as curatorial, education, conservation, visitor services, administration, marketing, and security, among others. Employees at the Met work to preserve and showcase the museum's vast art collection, engage the public, and support the institution's mission of art education and cultural enrichment. Positions can range from entry-level to specialized roles requiring advanced degrees or experience in the arts and museum studies.

What are some common challenges faced by employees working at the Met Museum, and how can they be addressed?

Employees at the Met Museum often navigate the challenges of working in a large, fast-paced institution with a diverse range of visitors and departments. Balancing the needs of the public, protecting valuable art, and coordinating with curators, educators, and security teams can be demanding. Effective communication, flexibility, and a proactive approach to problem-solving are key to overcoming these challenges. The museum provides training and support to help staff adapt and thrive, encouraging collaboration across departments to ensure a positive experience for both employees and visitors.
What are popular job titles related to Met Museum jobs in Washington? For Met Museum jobs in Washington, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Met Museum jobs in Washington look for? The top searched job categories for Met Museum jobs in Washington are:
What cities in Washington are hiring for Met Museum jobs? Cities in Washington with the most Met Museum job openings:
Met Museum jobs near you
Infographic showing various Met Museum job openings in Washington as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 77% Full Time, 19% Part Time, 1% Temporary, 1% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 96% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 3% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $50,055 per year, or $24.1 per hour.

Museum Specialist

Smithsonian Institution

Washington, DC • On-site, Remote

$121K - $158K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 15 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 organizationally located in Collections Management (OCM), Acquisitions and Special Collections, Curatorial Affairs (OCA), National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC).
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Duties
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The Supervisory Museum Specialist oversees a portion of the collections information management services and participates with the Assistant Director in establishing long- and short-term goals, hiring, space management and budget.
In this position, you will:
  • Assess potential acquisitions to flag any issues with the collections policies, providing relevant information to the Collections Committee and Director to assist them in their decision to follow through with or deny an accession.
  • Manage incoming loans for inaugural and temporary exhibitions. Negotiates terms of agreements and associate paperwork. Manage and implement all aspects of the museum's outgoing loans program.
  • Regularly review and update policies and procedures in accordance with evolving museum practices.
  • Specify requirements and monitor packer, shipper, airline, freight forwarder and customs broker provision of proper packing, handling, control and timely delivery of objects. Ensures that museum standards for security, care and handling of objects are observed both in transit and while objects are in the custody of NMAAHC.
  • Plan work to be accomplished by staff.

Requirements
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Conditions of employment
  • Requires career/career-conditional status or eligibility.
  • Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered with Selective Service.
  • May be required to serve an 18-month
    probationary period for supervisors.

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
Basic Qualifications: Experience related to the operation or management of a museum or similar collection of valuable objects. Examples of qualifying specialized experience include collections management, registration, cataloging, research, preservation, restoration, or conservation of collections of museum material, or other experience related to the position to be filled. Most positions require a particular subject-matter specialization, e.g., aeronautics, anthropology, art, geology, history, natural science, technology, biology, or zoology.
In addition to the basic qualification requirement above:
Grade 13: You qualify for this position if you possess one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-12 level in the Federal service or comparable pay band system that is in or closely related to the operation or management of a museum or similar collection of valuable objects. For this position specialized experience is defined as demonstrated experience managing incoming and outgoing loans, negotiating loan contracts, overseeing object installation, organizing shipping of museum objects, and accessioning.
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.
Education
This position has no basic education requirement.
Additional information
This position is not 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.
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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
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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/

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