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Museum Guide Jobs (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 ...

U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command

$74K - $116K/yr

Serves as Museum Curator of the National Mounted Warrior Museum. Responsibilities include long ... Supervisory Guide. * Business travel, incumbent expected to travel TDY 25% of the time. * This ...

Miami Childrens Museum

Museum VPK Teacher

Miami, FL · On-site

$14.25 - $16.75/hr

This is a unique opportunity to teach in an innovative, museum-based learning environment where curiosity, play, and child-led discovery guide the day. If you're passionate about early childhood ...

Kentucky Derby Museum

Visitor Experience Guide

Louisville, KY · On-site

$16.75 - $22/hr

The Museum welcomes over 258,000 visitors annually; a large percentage of those visitors come from ... This includes conducting guided tours of Churchill Downs and Churchill Downs Backside, greeting ...

Kentucky Derby Museum

Visitor Experience Guide

Louisville, KY · On-site

$12.75 - $14.75/hr

Kentucky Derby Museum is a 501(c)(3) non-profit charitable organization that sits on the front ... This includes conducting guided tours of Churchill Downs and Churchill Downs Backside, greeting ...

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Museum Guide information

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How much do museum guide jobs pay per hour?

As of Jun 15, 2026, the average hourly pay for museum guide in the United States is $17.82, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $19.23 and $19.23 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

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.

Do you need a degree to be a museum guide?

A museum guide typically does not need a degree, but strong communication skills, knowledge of the exhibits, and customer service experience are important. Some museums may prefer or require relevant certifications or training, especially for specialized collections or roles. Educational requirements vary by institution, but most entry-level positions focus on skills and enthusiasm rather than formal education.

What are museum guides?

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, and why are they important?

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.

How to get a job as a museum tour guide?

To become a museum tour guide, candidates typically need strong communication skills, a good knowledge of the museum's exhibits, and often a high school diploma or equivalent. Some positions may require prior experience in customer service or education, and guides may need to complete training provided by the museum. Certification is not usually mandatory but can enhance job prospects.

Are museum guides paid?

Museum guides are typically paid employees or contractors who earn wages or hourly rates for their work. Compensation varies depending on the museum, location, and experience, and some guides may also receive tips or benefits. Many museums require guides to have good communication skills and knowledge of the exhibits.

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

A museum guide typically does not earn $10,000 a month without additional experience or specialized skills. High earnings in such roles are uncommon; most museum guides earn moderate wages, and higher salaries usually require advanced qualifications or management positions within the museum sector.

What Is a Museum Guide?

A museum guide helps visitors experience a museum’s collections through guided tours, workshops, and special events. These experts have detailed knowledge of an institution’s exhibits and design specific tours based on an artist, theme, or another category. As a museum guide, you may also occasionally lecture educators and other art historians on particular pieces or collections, as well as perform research duties.

More about Museum Guide jobs
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What states have the most Museum Guide jobs? States with the most job openings for Museum Guide jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Museum Guide jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Museum Guide jobs are:
What are popular job titles related to Museum Guide jobs? For Museum Guide jobs, the most frequently searched job titles are:
Museum Guide jobs near you
Museum Educator - BYU Museum of Art

Museum Educator - BYU Museum of Art

Brigham Young University

Provo, UT • On-site

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Retirement, PTO

Posted 16 days ago

Brigham Young University rating

7.5

Company rating: 7.5 out of 10

Based on 86 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

262nd of 537 rated colleges and universities

Job description

Why Work at BYU
As the flagship higher education institution of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Brigham Young University (BYU) strives to be among the exceptional universities in the world. At BYU, we are devoted to our faith and to our students. We take an active role in the University's Mission: "To assist individuals in their quest for perfection and eternal life."
Our unique mission, deeply rooted in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, provides countless ways to serve and make an impact. This, along with our remarkable culture of belonging, weekly devotionals, and endless opportunities for learning and growth-all situated within a beautiful and historic campus-make it hard to imagine a more inspiring place to work.
Brigham Young University strongly prefers to hire faithful members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Museum Educator
Family Programs and Student Coordinator position will provide leadership in the development, administration, and promotion of programs and services for the effective enhancement of the Museum learning experience for all museum audiences. The position will work in close cooperation with curators and other museum departments to write curriculum resources and interpretive material for exhibitions and collections. The position will also initiate and execute programs relating to family audiences and children. This position will also aid in recruiting, training, and supervising student employees and interns as well as museum docents and volunteers. Additionally, this person will be called upon to carry out special development projects for the Director.
What you'll do in this position:
Serve as Primary Educator on Select Exhibitions
  • Function as the primary educator on 2-3 exhibitions per year.
  • Attend regular exhibition planning meetings with museum staff.
  • Develop educational and interactive materials that support exhibitions.
  • Create educational content and resources in a timely manner.
  • Plan exhibition-related programming, such as guest lectures, panel discussions, and films.
  • Train student educators and docents to support exhibition tours and programming.

Design and Implement Programs for Family and Community Audiences
  • Design and implement engaging educational experiences for families and young children.
  • Develop educational materials, gallery guides, and interpretive resources for family audiences.
  • Collaborate with the Education team to evaluate the effectiveness of family programming.
  • Mentor and train BYU art education students involved in family and community programs.

Track, Evaluate, and Support Educational Programs
  • Assist in evaluating the success and impact of educational programs.
  • Maintain visitor and program attendance data and contribute to monthly and annual reporting.
  • Update training materials and coordinate annual training on museum policies and procedures.

Coordinate Student Employees, Interns, and Volunteers
  • Assist with recruiting and hiring student employees.
  • Mentor and supervise student employees in a professional museum environment.
  • Ensure student staff follow museum policies, procedures, and scheduling expectations.

Research and Apply Museum Education Best Practices
  • Research educational theory and best practices to enhance museum learning experiences.
  • Collaborate with faculty and students to improve educational engagement with museum audiences.
  • Contribute to scholarship and professional discussions related to museum education.

Professional Development and Other Duties
  • Participate in professional development opportunities, conferences, and departmental meetings.
  • Serve on committees and perform other duties as assigned.

What qualifies you for this role:
Required:
  • A firm commitment to the mission of BYU
  • Bachelor's degree in relevant discipline (art history, art education, education, and/or related field), with at least 2 years' experience in an art museum setting or in an art education setting
  • Experience in the application of museum educational learning theory, curriculum development, and current museum pedagogy for adult audience, university audiences, and family audiences.
  • Experience in researching, developing, and writing educational materials
  • Knowledge of and understanding of museum education principles and practices
  • Experience in relating on a peer level with schoolteachers, administrators, museum professionals, and university faculty
  • Knowledge of museum resources and ability to relate materials to family audiences
  • Knowledge and application of technology and online resources in the area of public and museum education
  • Research, analysis, conceptual thinking, innovation
  • Knowledge of and ability to communicate persuasively with campus faculty and community
  • Ability to supervise and effectively mentor student employees and interns
  • Ability to provide program leadership including vision and strategy
  • Commitment to public service in a museum context

Preferred:
  • Master's degree in relevant discipline (art history, art education, education, and/or related field) with 3 or more years' experience in an art museum setting or in an art education setting.

Application Instructions:
Please submit the following documents along with your resume:
  • Cover Letter
  • Academic Writing Sample (maximum of 5 pages)
  • 2 Professional References

What we offer in return:
In addition to our competitive pay structure, this position comes with fantastic benefits, including:
  • 401k. BYU automatically contributes 8% at no cost to you. Additionally, if you contribute 5%, BYU adds an additional 4% (Rehires may qualify for different retirement plans)
  • Excellent work-life balance: 13 paid holidays + 22 days paid vacation + 12 sick days, accrued annually
  • Employee assistance program, available to the employee and all members of their household
  • Tuition benefits for employees and eligible family members
  • Access to athletic facilities
  • Excellent medical/dental benefits
  • Short/long-term disability benefits
  • Paid parental and maternity leave
  • Wellness Program
  • Free on-campus parking
  • Free UTA passes for employees, spouses, and qualified dependents
  • Discounts at the BYU Store and for many events at BYU

Pay Grade: 51
Typical Starting Pay: $59,000.00 to $75,500.00 annually
Required Documents:
All Staff positions require a resume.
Refer to the Job Posting for any additional required documents.
Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints must hold and be worthy to hold a current temple recommend.
Brigham Young University is an equal opportunity employer, including disability and protected veteran status.
Brigham Young University (BYU) is widely recognized not just for its world-class education, but for its deep commitment to inspired religious values. Gathered together in a Christ-centered atmosphere, BYU employees are a vital part of a community of belonging, where we value the experiences, perspectives, and talents of each individual. If you share in our devotion to faith and to excellence, we have a place for you here at BYU!

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