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Museum Executive Director Jobs (NOW HIRING)

HECKSCHER MUSEUM

Executive Director

Santa Fe, NM · On-site

$190 - $230/hr

Wheelwright Museum of the American Indian Santa Fe's Wheelwright Museum of the American Indian (WMAI) is seeking an experienced and ambitious Executive Director with a deep knowledge of Native ...

Brown County

Museum Director

Green Bay, WI

$95K/yr

Collaborates with the Neville Public Museum Foundation Board and its Executive Director to coordinate, promote, and market museum programs, exhibitions, educational opportunities, community ...

Brown County, WI

Museum Director

Green Bay, WI · On-site

$95K/yr

Collaborates with the Neville Public Museum Foundation Board and its Executive Director to coordinate, promote, and market museum programs, exhibitions, educational opportunities, community ...

Louisville Ballet

VIMA-Executive Director

Charlotte, NC · On-site

$225 - $275/hr

The Virgin Islands Museum of Art (VIMA) seeks an accomplished, entrepreneurial leader to serve as its founding Executive Director. Located in the heart of historic Charlotte Amalie on St. Thomas, U.S.

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Museum Executive Director information

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$19.5K

$59.9K

$135K

How much do museum executive director jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 1, 2026, the average yearly pay for museum executive director in the United States is $59,861.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $25,000.00 and $83,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Museum Executive Director vs Museum Curator?

AspectMuseum Executive DirectorMuseum Curator
Primary RoleOversees overall museum operations, strategic planning, and leadershipManages collections, develops exhibitions, and conducts research
Required CredentialsTypically requires a master's degree in museum studies, arts administration, or related field; leadership experienceUsually requires a master's degree in art history, archaeology, or related field; specialized knowledge of collections
Work EnvironmentExecutive offices, administrative meetings, public engagementExhibition spaces, collections storage, research areas
Industry UsageCommonly used in large or institutional museumsCommonly used in museums with active collections and exhibitions

The Museum Executive Director focuses on overall leadership, strategic planning, and administrative management, while the Museum Curator specializes in collections, research, and exhibition development. Both roles require relevant advanced degrees, but their daily responsibilities and focus areas differ significantly.

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Museum Executive Director jobs near you
Infographic showing various Museum Executive Director job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 85% Full Time, 12% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 91% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $59,861 per year, or $28.8 per hour.

Museum Director

Sacramento, CA • On-site

American Association for State and Local History
See more jobs at American Association for State and Local Historyexternal

$112 - $127/hr

Other

This job post has expired 1 day ago. Applications are no longer accepted.

Job description

The California State Railroad Museum is recruiting for a vacant Museum Director position and the Museum Director application is now available through August 12!

This is an outstanding opportunity for an experienced museum executive who possesses strong leadership, organizational, communication, fiscal management, and partnership-building skills, along with a passion for preserving and interpreting California's railroad heritage.

The California State Park Museum Director manages the Old Sacramento Sector of the Capital District, which includes Old Sacramento State Historic Park, the California State Railroad Museum, the Sacramento Southern Railroad, and the historic Southern Pacific Shops. The California State Railroad Museum is one of the premier railroad museums in the world, welcoming more than 600,000 visitors annually while preserving and interpreting one of the nation's most significant collections of railroad artifacts, archival materials, library collections, historic locomotives, and rolling stock.

This executive-level position provides leadership for all aspects of museum operations, including strategic planning, administration, visitor services, interpretation, collections management, exhibits, educational programming, volunteer engagement, and special events. The Museum Director works collaboratively with State Parks staff, volunteers, the California State Railroad Museum Foundation, governmental agencies, community organizations, and industry partners to ensure exceptional visitor experiences while advancing the museum's mission and long-term vision.

The salary range for this position is $10,010 to $11,367 per month. This position works under the general direction of the District Superintendent. This position is designated as not telework eligible.

For further information regarding this position, please contact John Fraser at 916-215-5148 or e-mail John.Fraser@parks.ca.gov.

Completing the civil services exam for the California State Parks Museum Director is required to be eligible for this position. You may apply for this position even if you are not on the list eligibility, but you will be required to complete the exam at a later date if you are considered for the position.

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