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Museum Collections Assistant Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Minnehaha County

Museum Aide

Minneapolis, MN

$16.25/hr

Help with guiding tours and public programming to enhance our guests' understanding of our collections. Assist with setup, monitoring, and breakdown of special events hosted at the museum. Open and ...

Columbus Museum Of Art

Lichtenstein Fellow

Columbus, OH · On-site

$60K/yr

... museum's collections and exhibition program. Duties and Responsibilities: * Assist in the research, development, and implementation of exhibitions organized by the museum and its curators. This may ...

Minnehaha County, SD

Museum Aide

Sioux Falls, SD · On-site

$16.25/hr

Help with guiding tours and public programming to enhance our guests' understanding of our collections. Assist with setup, monitoring, and breakdown of special events hosted at the museum. Open and ...

Columbus Museum Of Art

Lichtenstein Fellow

Columbus, OH · On-site

$60K/yr

... museum's collections and exhibition program. Duties and Responsibilities: * Assist in the research, development, and implementation of exhibitions organized by the museum and its curators. This may ...

Chrysler Museum Of Art

Gallery Host

Norfolk, VA · On-site

Greet visitors warmly, engage in meaningful conversations about the Museum and its collections, and share necessary information. Open doors at the main entrance and assist with inquiries. * Training ...

Chrysler Museum Of Art

Gallery Host

Norfolk, VA · On-site

Greet visitors warmly, engage in meaningful conversations about the Museum and its collections, and share necessary information. Open doors at the main entrance and assist with inquiries. * Training ...

The Broad

Digital Asset Manager

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

Collections Data Administration * Assist in maintaining accurate records in the museum's collection management system (CMS), supporting exhibitions and collections management functions. Currently ...

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How much do museum collections assistant jobs pay per hour?

As of May 31, 2026, the average hourly pay for museum collections assistant in the United States is $20.03, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $16.11 and $23.08 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

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

To thrive as a Museum Collections Assistant, you need a solid understanding of art history or museum studies, attention to detail, and experience handling and cataloging artifacts, often supported by a relevant degree or coursework. Familiarity with collections management systems like TMS or PastPerfect and adherence to proper conservation techniques are typically required. Strong organizational skills, teamwork, and effective communication help you coordinate with curators and other staff. These skills ensure the preservation, accurate documentation, and accessibility of museum collections, which are crucial for the institution's educational and research missions.

What are some common challenges faced by Museum Collections Assistants when managing and cataloging artifacts?

Museum Collections Assistants often encounter challenges such as handling delicate or fragile artifacts, ensuring accurate and detailed cataloging, and maintaining up-to-date records in collection management databases. Balancing the need for careful preservation with accessibility for research or exhibition can also be demanding. Additionally, assistants may need to coordinate with curators, registrars, and conservators to address storage limitations or implement new conservation protocols, requiring strong communication and organizational skills.

What are Museum Collections Assistants?

Museum Collections Assistants are professionals who help manage, document, and care for the objects and artifacts within a museum’s collection. They assist with cataloging, inventory, handling, and storing items to ensure their preservation and accessibility. These assistants often work closely with curators, conservators, and registrars, and may also help set up exhibitions and facilitate research requests. Their role is essential in maintaining the organization and integrity of the museum’s holdings.

What is the difference between Museum Collections Assistant vs Museum Curator?

AspectMuseum Collections AssistantMuseum Curator
Required CredentialsHigh school diploma or associate's degree; some roles may prefer a bachelor's in museum studies or related fieldBachelor's degree often required; master's preferred in museum studies, history, or related fields
Work EnvironmentAssist with handling, cataloging, and maintaining collections; work under supervision in museums or galleriesOversee collections, develop exhibitions, and manage staff; more administrative and decision-making responsibilities
Employer & Industry UsageCommonly employed in museums, galleries, and cultural institutions for supporting collection managementEmployed in similar settings but with higher responsibilities for curation and program development

In summary, Museum Collections Assistants focus on supporting collection handling and organization, often requiring less formal education, while Museum Curators have broader responsibilities including developing exhibitions and managing collections, typically requiring advanced degrees and experience.

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Museum Collections Assistant jobs near you
Infographic showing various Museum Collections Assistant job openings in the United States as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 38% Full Time, 50% Part Time, and 12% Temporary. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $41,672 per year, or $20 per hour.
Assistant Professor Native American Studies-Maxwell Museum

Assistant Professor Native American Studies-Maxwell Museum

University of New Mexico

Albuquerque, NM

Other

Posted 21 days ago

University Of New Mexico rating

8.5

Company rating: 8.5 out of 10

Based on 54 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

63rd of 530 rated colleges and universities

Job description

The University of New Mexico invites applications for a probationary Tenure-Track position of Assistant Professor in the Department of Native American Studies and Curator of Historic and Contemporary Indigenous Collection in the Maxwell Museum of Anthropology. The candidate's Departmental duties include teaching courses per academic year in the Department of Native American Studies, mentoring and supervising undergraduate and graduate students, contributing to the undergraduate and graduate programs, and participating in Department service and governance. The candidate's Museum duties include overseeing curation, research, and development of Indigenous collections; participation in community collaborations and supporting the Museum's repatriation efforts; and participation in exhibition development, public programs, and service.  The candidate's Tenure home will be in the Department of Native American Studies. This search is part of the College of Arts & Sciences cohort hiring on Native American/Indigenous scholarship.  The link to the initiative is the following: https://artsci.unm.edu/college/hiring.html

About the Maxwell Museum of Anthropology

Located on the UNM campus, the Maxwell Museum of Anthropology, is an exhibition, teaching, and collections unit with the mission of "working towards greater understandings of the fullness of human experiences in the Southwest and the world," and a vision to contribute to "reconciling injustices, restoring voices, and realizing community." The Museum works to serve this mission and vision through collaborative exhibitions, community-centered research and teaching, and educational programs for diverse audiences at and beyond UNM (including active K-12 educational programs), hosting more than 35,000 visitors per year. The professional staff of ca. 18 individuals includes collection curators; collection managers; exhibition, educational and public program staff; administrative staff, and a team of 4 individuals dedicated to repatriation under the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) and a policy of ethical returns.

The Museum collections of approximately 3 million objects, include archaeological and archival collections, osteological collections (including from a body donor program), and "ethnographic" collections of historic and contemporary Indigenous material culture. While collections are global in scope, its greatest strengths are in the Indigenous U.S. Southwest. Among the 20,000-plus objects in the "ethnographic" collections, particular strengths are in 19th-21st century Pueblo pottery; Dine, N'dee and Pueblo textiles, baskets, and jewelry; and Central American textiles.

About Native American Studies

The Department of Native American Studies (NAS) is an interdisciplinary academic department committed to Indigenous academic scholarship and research excellence. The department currently offers a doctor of philosophy (Ph.D.), master of arts (M.A.), bachelor of arts (B.A.), and a minor degree. NAS's goal is excellence in educating all students and the public about the Native experience of Indigenous peoples with significant attention given our complex history and intercultural heritage of New Mexico and the United States. A second goal is building a department that collaborates with Native communities and engages students in Native Nation/Indigenous community building.

UNM is the premier research university in New Mexico, is a Carnegie Highest Research Activity Institution.  Our campus is located in the heart of Albuquerque, which has cultural, outdoor and recreational opportunities for everyone.  Learn more about our city, our welcoming campus, and research opportunities at http://advance.unm.edu/why-abq/ and  https://advance.unm.edu/why-unm/.  For more information regarding the College of Arts and Science's ambitious hiring plan, including a list of departments that are hiring faculty members with shared interests, please see this page.


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