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Museum Collections Management Jobs (NOW HIRING)

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Pechanga Collections Manager

Temecula, CA · On-site

Must have a thorough knowledge of collections management standards and best practices * Demonstrated experience managing the care, preservation, and documentation of museum collections, especially in ...

Norman Rockwell Museum

Registrar

Stockbridge, MA · On-site

The position coordinates and implements standards in the creation and maintenance of the collections management system; disseminates information as needed to museum staff, researchers, and members of ...

Norman Rockwell Museum

Registrar

Stockbridge, MA · On-site

$75K - $80K/yr

The position coordinates and implements standards in the creation and maintenance of the collections management system; disseminates information as needed to museum staff, researchers, and members of ...

Smithsonian Institution

Museum Specialist

Landover, MD · On-site +1

$70K - $111K/yr

Learn more about this agency Duties Help This position is organizationally located in the Office of Collections Management (OCM), Office of Collections (OC), National Museum of African American ...

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How much do museum collections management jobs pay per hour?

As of Jun 20, 2026, the average hourly pay for museum collections management in the United States is $21.46, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $17.79 and $24.04 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

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

AspectMuseum Collections ManagementMuseum Curator
Primary FocusManaging, cataloging, and preserving museum collectionsResearching, interpreting, and developing exhibits based on collections
Required CredentialsRelevant degrees in museum studies, archaeology, or related fields; certifications in collections managementDegrees in history, archaeology, or related fields; often advanced degrees in museum studies or history
Work EnvironmentMuseums, storage facilities, conservation labsMuseums, galleries, research institutions
Employer & Industry UsageCommonly employed by museums and cultural institutions for collection careOften involved in exhibit development, research, and public education

While both roles are integral to museum operations, Museum Collections Management primarily focuses on the care, cataloging, and preservation of collections. In contrast, Museum Curators are more involved in research, exhibit development, and interpretation of collections for public engagement.

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Museum Collections Management jobs near you
Infographic showing various Museum Collections Management job openings in the United States as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 2% Internship, 73% Full Time, 23% Part Time, and 2% Temporary. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $44,646 per year, or $21.5 per hour.
Associate Curator of Collections

Associate Curator of Collections

Skirball Cultural Center

Los Angeles, CA • On-site

$73K/yr

Full-time

Posted 21 days ago

Job description

The Skirball Cultural Center seeks an Associate Curator of Collections to join its museum team in a position focused on researching, exhibiting, acquisitions, digitally sharing, and shaping the future of its collections. The Skirball stewards one of largest collections of Jewish art, ritual objects, and material culture in the world. Ranging from the ancient to the contemporary, the 30,000 objects in the Skirball's collections reflect Jewish life in different eras and parts of the world and serve as tools for advancing the Skirball's mission.
The Associate Curator of Collections will play an important role in both ongoing and future Skirball museum initiatives. These include launching an online collections catalogue to make our collections objects widely accessible; creating a study collection for educational use; and spotlighting collections objects in a re-envisioned core exhibition on Jewish American culture, scheduled to open in 2029. This individual will assume a leading role in identifying new objects for acquisition that advance the Skirball's priorities. They will serve as the Museum Department's content specialist on the collections, liaising with Skirball colleagues across the institution, and engaging with scholars, community members, donors, and other stakeholders locally, nationally, and internationally.
Pay Range: $73,000 per year
Responsibilities
New Core Exhibition-Planning and Ongoing Curatorial Work:
  • Serves as the Collections Specialist on the Core Renewal Team. Coordinates with Collections Manager and Registrars on the deinstallation of the Skirball's current core exhibition.
  • Recommends collections objects for inclusion in the new core that align with the exhibition's Big Idea, Visitor Experience Goals, and Interpretive Plan. Identifies subject areas that require new objects. Leads efforts to identify and acquire those objects.
  • Identifies subject areas that require new objects. Leads efforts to identify and acquire those objects.
  • Provides support for temporary art commissions inspired by or in dialogue with Skirball collections objects.
  • Manages and curates scheduled gallery and object rotations in the new core exhibition alongside internal and external collaborators.

Collections Digitization and Online Access:
  • In consultation with the Museum Director and Collections Manager, determines which objects will go live on the database in 2027, 2028, and 2029.
  • Selects objects and writes extended labels for Spotlight Objects.
  • Gives curatorial approval for all records being published to the public-facing side of the database.
  • Conducts research on objects in the collection. May supervise curatorial interns or subject area specialists helping to conduct research.

Acquisitions:
  • Works with Museum Director to refine acquisitions plan.
  • Identifies potential objects for acquisition and reviews all proposed object donations. Researches and presents these objects for consideration at Museum Collections Committee meetings.
  • Edits acquisitions worksheets for each newly acquired object.
  • Advises the Persian Jewish Art History and Culture Research Fellow on potential Persian Jewish acquisitions and stewards objects through the acquisitions process.

Study Collection and Deaccessions:
  • Works with Collections Manager to create a Skirball study collection of objects.
  • In consultation with Collections Manager, determines which objects the Museum Collections Committee should consider for deaccessioning before they go to the Museum Director and the Board.

Travel of Collections:
  • Identifies collections objects for travel to other museums and curates focused, collections-based traveling exhibitions as assigned
  • Responds to outside curatorial requests for information on collections objects for potential exhibition loans.

Internal Skirball Education:
  • Provides Education Department staff with information about collections objects (on view and in storage) from MuseumPlus and our object files.
  • Edits educator lesson plans related to Jewish history and holidays that draw from the permanent collection.
  • Trains Skirball docents and educators on collections objects in the core.
  • Reviews docent tour scripts about specific objects in the core.
  • Shares collections information with Skirball interns and Teen Advisory Committee members.

External Visitor Facing:
  • Answers content-specific questions from the public about objects in the Skirball collection.
  • Gives spotlight talks on the collections during public festivals, openings, and other Skirball events.
  • Provides images and curatorial text related to collections objects for Communications team to use on social media.
  • Serves as LAHC (LA History Collective) representative from the Skirball.

Fundraising Related:
  • In support of the Development team, leads donor tours and cultivation events related to the collection.
  • Supports Collections Council engagement around potential new Skirball acquisitions.

Qualifications:
  • Master's degree or higher in Jewish history, art history, American studies, or related subject.
  • 4 years of more of prior museum experience, specifically in the research, handling, and presentation of collections objects for museum audiences.
  • Academic background in Judaism and Jewish ritual objects.
  • Excellent written and oral communication skills.
  • Proven ability to multi-task, demonstrate flexibility, and work productively in teams.
  • Prior experience working with collections databases recommended.
  • Prior experience as an educator recommended.
  • Ability to read Hebrew recommended. Knowledge of Farsi or Yiddish a plus.
  • Personal resonance with the Skirball's mission of fostering human connections among audiences of diverse backgrounds and communities, and its goal of presenting an expansive and inclusive concept of Jewish identity through its collections.

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