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Museum Guide Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

SIMON WIESENTHAL CENTER

Tour Guide

Los Angeles, CA

$20/hr

The Museum of Tolerance Los Angeles, founded in 1993, is the educational arm of the SWC. Moriah ... The Museum of Tolerance is seeking an experienced, energetic and engaging Part Time Tour Guides to ...

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Museum Guide information

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$17

$19

How much do museum guide jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 26, 2026, the average hourly pay for museum guide in California is $17.58, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $18.99 and $18.99 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a museum guide?

Museum guides are professionals who provide tours and share information about exhibits, artifacts, and the overall history of a museum with visitors. They help make the museum experience educational and engaging by interpreting displays, answering questions, and sometimes offering specialized tours for different age groups or interests. Museum guides often possess in-depth knowledge of the museum’s collections and are skilled at communicating complex topics in an accessible way.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a museum guide?

To thrive as a Museum Guide, you need strong knowledge of art, history, or science (depending on the museum), excellent public speaking skills, and typically at least a high school diploma or relevant coursework. Familiarity with audio-visual equipment, tour management software, and digital ticketing systems is often required. Exceptional interpersonal skills, enthusiasm, and adaptability help guides engage diverse audiences and handle unexpected situations. These skills ensure visitors have an informative, enjoyable experience and help the museum fulfill its educational mission.

What are some common challenges museum guides face when engaging diverse visitor groups?

Museum Guides often encounter groups with varying ages, backgrounds, and levels of interest, which can make it challenging to tailor tours that are engaging for everyone. Adapting communication styles, managing group dynamics, and balancing the need to convey accurate information while fostering interactive discussions are key aspects of the role. Successful guides are flexible, observant, and skilled at reading their audience to ensure a memorable and educational experience for all visitors.

What is the difference between Museum Guide vs Tour Guide?

AspectMuseum GuideTour Guide
CredentialsMay require knowledge of art, history, or specific museum certificationsOften requires general tour guiding certifications or licenses
Work EnvironmentIndoor museum settings, exhibits, galleriesVarious locations including outdoor sites, historical landmarks, city tours
Employer & IndustryMuseums, cultural institutionsTravel agencies, tour companies, historical sites
Search & Comparison IntentPeople seeking museum-specific roles or informationPeople comparing different types of guiding roles for travel or leisure

While both roles involve guiding visitors, a Museum Guide specializes in indoor museum environments, focusing on art and history exhibits, often requiring specific knowledge or certifications. A Tour Guide typically leads groups at various sites, including outdoor landmarks, and may need general guiding licenses. Understanding these differences helps job seekers find roles aligned with their interests and qualifications.

Are museum tour guides paid?

Museum tour guides are typically paid employees or contractors who earn wages or hourly rates for leading visitors through exhibits. Compensation varies by institution, location, and experience, and some guides may also receive tips or bonuses. Many guides need good communication skills and knowledge of the exhibits to perform their duties effectively.

How do you become a museum guide?

To become a museum guide, candidates typically need a high school diploma or equivalent and good communication skills. Relevant knowledge of the museum's exhibits, customer service experience, and sometimes a background in history or art are beneficial; some museums offer training or require certification. Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to engage visitors are essential for this role.

How to get hired as a museum guide?

To get hired as a museum guide, applicants typically need strong communication skills, a good knowledge of the museum's exhibits, and customer service experience. Many positions require a high school diploma or equivalent, and some may prefer or require familiarity with specific subjects or languages. Applying through the museum's employment portal or job boards and demonstrating enthusiasm for education and history can improve chances of hiring.
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Museum Guide jobs near you
Infographic showing various Museum Guide job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 72% Full Time, 20% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 6% Contract. Highlights an 87% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 10% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $36,575 per year, or $17.6 per hour.

Museum Educator 2

Los Angeles County Museum Of natural History Foundation

Los Angeles, CA • On-site

$26.41/hr

Full-time

Posted 7 days ago

Job description

The Natural History Museums of Los Angeles County (NHMLAC) include the Natural History Museum in Exposition Park, and La Brea Tar Pits in Hancock Park. They operate under the collective vision to inspire wonder, discovery, and responsibility for our natural and cultural worlds. The museums hold one of the world’s most extensive and valuable collections of natural and cultural history—more than 35 million objects—used for groundbreaking scientific and historical research, and community engagement. From NHM’s opening in 1913 as the very first museum in Los Angeles, the organization has entered an exciting new era of transformation with building projects and campaigns, exhibitions, community outreach and impactful audience engagement.

NHMLAC’s values—adventurous, inclusive, authentic, and intentional—guide our work and visitor experience, committing us to foster a welcoming, safe and respectful workplace environment where innovation and collaboration thrive and every team member can contribute their unique perspectives to advance our mission. NHMLAC seeks candidates who are aligned with our values and priorities, and are passionate about connecting science with the vibrant and diverse communities we serve throughout Los Angeles.

The NHMLAC is seeking a Museum Educator 2 for our Education & Programs department. The Museum Educator 2 is Enhancing the visitor experience through personal interaction, conducting various educational programs, having interpretive engagements with diverse, multi-generational museum visitors and online audiences, and working as needed at off-site, after-hour, and online events.


Responsibilities for this position include, but are not limited to:

  • Provides an outstanding museum experience by contributing to a welcoming, safe, and inclusive environment for guests, both in person and online.
  • Actively engages and interprets scientific and cultural content with general visitors throughout various exhibit spaces at NHMLA and La Brea Tar Pits, including outdoor spaces like Seasonal Pavilions, Nature Gardens, and Tar Pits excavation sites.
  • Researches, writes, and delivers a variety of educational programs including tours, animal presentations, and nature walks with guidance from Manager, Interpretation. These programs can contain online elements and may consist of live or recorded program facilitation.
  • Facilitates guided programming with school groups on behalf of the School and Teacher Programs division. These programs can contain online elements and may consist of live or recorded program facilitation.
  • Develops special programs, activities, and curriculum as assigned by Manager, Interpretation based on the educational needs of the Education and Programs department. These may take the form of live programming onsite, live programming online, or video recordings.
  • Works with other museum departments to facilitate and provide support for specially requested programs. This includes VIP tours, after-hour and offsite events, live online programming, live online event hosting, and social media engagement.


This position has the following requirements:

  • Strong written and oral communication skills. Must be personable with the ability to interact effectively with Museum staff, volunteers, members, and visitors. Demonstrated ability to develop and deliver online content.
  • Ability and comfort presenting in front of large groups and on camera.
  • Flexibility, nimbleness, and willingness to adapt to NHMLA’s diverse visitors. Must also be comfortable adapting to different teaching situations and dynamics.
  • Interest in working in museums, zoos, National Parks, or other cultural institutions.
  • Fluency in a second language is preferred but not required.
  • Experience using a personal computer and with MS Office and its Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint and Publisher functions (PC and/or Macintosh).


NHMLAC is a nonprofit organization committed to fostering a workplace and public environment that uplifts Kindness, Fairness, Openness and Dignity. These values extend not only to our employees, but to our guests, local community, and organizational partners. If you are interested in this position, we encourage you to apply!

The hourly rate for this position is $26.41 with excellent benefits. This is a full-time regular, non-exempt position.

A cover letter, current resume, and list of 3-4 references are required for all applicants. Review of applications begins immediately and continues until the position is filled. Interested candidates, please visit www.nhmlac.org/careers-our-museums and click the link of the position you are interested in or go directly to the online application.