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Museum Assistant Jobs in Rochester, NY (NOW HIRING)

Strong National Museum

Security Officer

Rochester, NY · On-site

$18/hr

Additional Responsibilities: * Assist with training new officers, as requested. Work Environment: Work is performed primarily indoors in a professional office setting and throughout the entire museum.

Strong National Museum

Security Officer

Rochester, NY · On-site

$18/hr

Additional Responsibilities: * Assist with training new officers, as requested. Work Environment: Work is performed primarily indoors in a professional office setting and throughout the entire museum.

Strong National Museum

Security Officer

Rochester, NY · On-site

$15.75 - $18.75/hr

Additional Responsibilities: * Assist with training new officers, as requested. Work Environment: Work is performed primarily indoors in a professional office setting and throughout the entire museum.

Genesee Country Museum

Director of Education

Mumford, NY · On-site

$25 - $27/hr

... Museum development efforts, collaborate as needed to help establish development goals and cultivate new opportunities. * Other duties as needed - GCV amp;M's culture occasionally asks staff to assist ...

The Strong

Security Officer

Rochester, NY · On-site

$15.75 - $18.75/hr

Additional Responsibilities: * Assist with training new officers, as requested. Work Environment: Work is performed primarily indoors in a professional office setting and throughout the entire museum.

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Museum Assistant information

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How much do museum assistant jobs pay per hour?

As of Jun 27, 2026, the average hourly pay for museum assistant in Rochester, NY is $20.88, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $15.43 and $20.38 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are Museum Assistants?

Museum Assistants are support staff who help with the daily operations of a museum. Their responsibilities typically include welcoming visitors, providing information about exhibits, assisting with ticket sales, and ensuring the security and preservation of artifacts. They may also help set up displays and support educational programs or special events. Museum Assistants play a key role in creating a positive and informative experience for visitors.

What are some common challenges Museum Assistants face during busy exhibition periods?

During peak exhibition times, Museum Assistants often experience higher visitor volumes, making crowd management and maintaining exhibit security more challenging. Balancing the need to provide excellent customer service while ensuring artifacts are protected can require quick problem-solving and strong communication skills. Additionally, assistants may need to adapt rapidly to changes in scheduling or exhibit layouts, working closely with curators, educators, and security staff to ensure smooth operations. These periods offer valuable experience in teamwork and multitasking, which can be beneficial for career growth within museum operations.

What Does a Museum Assistant Do?

A museum assistant is one of the entry-level positions you can obtain in a museum. This position is valuable for those wanting to work their way up, career-wise, through a museum. Your duties are to perform various administrative tasks for the museum. You may monitor exhibits and provide security services when necessary. Additionally, you may help staff set up displays and events. Museum assistants also answer questions for museum visitors and conduct tours of the museum. Essentially, your responsibilities are to perform whatever task is necessary for the operation of the museum.

What do museum assistants do?

Museum assistants support daily operations by helping visitors, providing information about exhibits, and ensuring the cleanliness and safety of the museum environment. They may also assist with exhibit setup, ticketing, and administrative tasks, often working with basic knowledge of museum collections and customer service skills.

What is the difference between Museum Assistant vs Museum Curator?

AspectMuseum AssistantMuseum Curator
Required CredentialsHigh school diploma or equivalent; some roles may prefer associate's or bachelor's degree in history, art, or related fieldsBachelor's degree often required; master's or higher in museum studies, history, or related fields preferred
Work EnvironmentAssist in daily operations, visitor services, and exhibit setup in museums or galleriesOversees collections, develops exhibits, and manages museum programs, often in larger institutions
Employer & Industry UsageCommon in museums, galleries, and cultural institutions for entry-level support rolesFound in museums, cultural institutions, and academic settings with more specialized responsibilities

The main difference between a Museum Assistant and a Museum Curator lies in their responsibilities and qualifications. Museum Assistants typically support daily operations and visitor engagement, requiring minimal formal education. In contrast, Museum Curators handle collections, exhibit development, and require advanced degrees. Both roles are essential in museum settings but differ significantly in scope and expertise.

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

To thrive as a Museum Assistant, you need knowledge of art, history, or cultural studies, usually backed by a relevant degree or experience in museum work. Familiarity with collection management software, point-of-sale systems, and audio-visual equipment is often required. Excellent communication, customer service, and organizational skills help you engage visitors and support museum operations. These skills are crucial for ensuring a positive visitor experience and the smooth running of daily museum activities.

How to get a job in a museum with no experience?

Museum assistant roles often accept candidates with little or no experience, focusing on enthusiasm, good communication skills, and a willingness to learn. Volunteering, completing relevant training or certifications, and gaining familiarity with museum operations can improve chances of employment. Entry-level positions may also require flexibility with schedules and basic customer service skills.

Is it hard to get hired at a museum?

Getting hired as a museum assistant can be competitive, often requiring relevant experience, good communication skills, and sometimes specific certifications or knowledge of exhibits. Entry-level positions may be easier to obtain, but higher-level roles typically demand more specialized qualifications and experience.

What job makes $10,000 a month without a degree?

A museum assistant typically does not earn $10,000 a month without specialized skills or experience; most entry-level roles pay less. High-paying jobs that can reach this level without a degree often include sales, real estate, or entrepreneurship, which rely on skills, networking, and performance rather than formal education.
More about Museum Assistant jobs
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Museum Assistant jobs near you
Infographic showing various Museum Assistant job openings in Rochester, NY as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 20% Locum Tenens, 60% Full Time, and 20% Part Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $43,421 per year, or $20.9 per hour.

Security Officer

Strong National Museum

Rochester, NY • On-site

$18/hr

Part-time

Posted 17 days ago

Job description

The Strong is one of the most visited attractions in upstate New York and is committed to maintaining a safe and welcoming environment for all guests and staff. The security officer is responsible for the protection and security of museum assets, employees, guests, and others by enforcing and adhering to museum and security processes and procedures.

This position requires a self-motivated, committed individual with a background in security or customer service and the ability to prioritize the safety and security of people and property. The security officer is required to expend such personal efforts as may be needed to keep up with advances in subject matter information related to this position.

All museum staff are expected to cooperate with one another in furthering the museum’s general objectives and in completing museum projects. Similarly, all staff consistently maintain a positive and enthusiastic attitude, act with integrity and in accordance with the highest ethical standards, and demonstrate a loyalty to the museum in all public contacts. Guests and colleagues deserve our best efforts every day.

Essential Duties:

The specifications described here are representative of those that must be met by the employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

  • Meet the requirements for and maintain a valid New York State security guard license and driver’s license, and maintain certification by the American Red Cross in first aid, CPR, and AED training for adults and children. Complete NARCAN training as instructed.
  • Actively and consistently comply with museum policies and procedures for all activities relating to the protection and security of museum assets, employees, guests, and others, including risk identification, assessment, and control.
  • Conduct routine security tours of the building, grounds and parking garage, and monitor closed circuit television cameras. Observe, identify, report and address safety risks, accidents, incidents, injuries and property damage.
  • Encourage, through prompt follow up and positive reinforcement, non-security staff behavior that portrays an awareness that security is the responsibility of all museum staff.
  • Provide outstanding service to museum visitors and ensure that all guests are appropriately identified, logged, and monitored throughout their visit.
  • Collaborate with guest services staff as appropriate to respond to security and safety issues such as guest injury and illness, conflict resolution and inappropriate guest behaviors.
  • Enforce museum and security processes and procedures, including monitoring the visitor management log, access control systems, and no-smoking policy.
  • Investigate incidents, as assigned, and prepare reports and other related documentation of all findings and resolutions.
  • Assist in the implementation of emergency management and contingency planning, and act as liaison to first responders as necessary.
  • Operate, monitor, and communicate via a two-way radio connecting various museum teams including security, guest services, environmental services, and public programs. The radio must always be worn when working.
  • Have a thorough understanding and working knowledge of all building security systems to include existing access control, alarms, and CCTV systems.
  • Respond with sensitivity to the emotional and practical needs of museum guests and staff, and treat everyone with dignity and respect.
  • Provide a welcoming environment for new security staff. Help team members understand and implement changes, as appropriate.
  • Establish positive working relationships with museum staff, security vendors, police, fire department and other emergency responders.
  • Take initiative to identify problems and communicate with team members, superiors, and staff from other teams to find solutions and improve efficiency and quality of processes and services. Publicly support team decisions, even if they conflict with personal opinions.
  • Ensure that shift communications and recaps are completed within established timeframes.
  • Ability to work evenings, nights, and weekends as necessary.
  • Attend routine safety training to remain up-to-date on conditions and requirements of the job.
  • Identify and act on opportunities to help and support the work efforts of team members.

Additional Responsibilities:

  • Assist with training new officers, as requested.

Work Environment:

Work is performed primarily indoors in a professional office setting and throughout the entire museum. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers and phones. Some outdoor work is required on museum grounds with the potential for inclement weather, especially during the winter season. The noise level in the environment is usually moderate.

This position may require overtime, evening, weekend, and holiday work. For this reason, security team members must have a working phone at all times.

Physical Demands:

While performing the duties of this job:

This position regularly requires full range of mobility in upper and lower body; the ability to reach overhead; the ability to work in various positions, including stooping, standing, walking, bending over, sitting, kneeling, and squatting for extended periods of time; the use or operation of objects, tools or controls; the ability to climb three flights of stairs; and the ability to talk, hear, and smell. This position frequently requires the ability to lift, pull, push, and carry weight up to 25 pounds to complete assigned job tasks.

Visual acuity to use a keyboard and operate computer equipment is required. Specific vision abilities include close vision, distance vision, color vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. This position may require the ability to look at a computer screen for extended periods of time.

The ability to operate a motor vehicle around museum property is required.

Pre-Employment Requirements:

Must consent to and pass a drug screen and criminal background check as conditions of employment.


Monday through Friday 8 AM - 12 PM (Saturday and Sunday off)