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Museum Guide Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Whitney Museum of American Art

Museum Educator

Manhattan, NY · On-site

$71K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Through guided visits and workshops, this role connects the Whitney's collection and exhibitions to ... The Museum Educator is a reflective teaching artist with a strong studio practice and a commitment ...

Whitney Museum of American Art

Museum Educator

Manhattan, NY · On-site

$71K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Through guided visits and workshops, this role connects the Whitney's collection and exhibitions to ... The Museum Educator is a reflective teaching artist with a strong studio practice and a commitment ...

Miami Childrens Museum Inc

Museum Playologist

Miami, FL

$36K - $46K/yr

Playologists are responsible for guiding tours through the galleries, conducting educational activities for museum visitors, engaging visitors in Museum galleries, sanitizing exhibit props, and ...

Rokeby Museum

Volunteer Tour Guide

Ferrisburgh, VT

Rokeby Museum is seeking volunteer guides for its 2026 season! Guides are needed for public and educational tours. Public tour guides lead visitors through our historic house and grounds, introducing ...

Rokeby Museum

Volunteer Tour Guide

Ferrisburgh, VT · On-site

Rokeby Museum is seeking volunteer guides for its 2026 season! Guides are needed for public and educational tours. Public tour guides lead visitors through our historic house and grounds, introducing ...

St. Louis County

Museum Educator

Saint Louis, MO · On-site

$37K - $54K/yr

Museum Educators facilitate interpretative services to Museum visitors through guided tours and during programs and events (i.e., family programs, exhibit openings), engage visitors in a welcoming ...

University of Minnesota

Museum Educator

Minneapolis, MN

$21.91/hr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Life

  • Retirement

Museum Educator Reports To: School Programs Coordinator U Classification: Education Program Associate 2 Appointment: Casual Non Exempt ( Pay Range: $21.91/hour Time Appointment: 100% Appointment ...

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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How much do museum guide jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 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.

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.

Are museum tour guides paid?

Museum tour guides are typically paid employees or contractors who earn wages or hourly rates for leading tours and engaging visitors. Compensation varies depending on the museum, location, and experience, with some guides working part-time or seasonally. Many guides also receive tips from visitors, which can supplement their income.

What does it take to be a museum guide?

A museum guide typically needs strong communication skills, a good knowledge of the exhibits, and the ability to engage visitors. Relevant education may include a high school diploma or higher, and some guides pursue training or certifications in museum education or interpretation. Customer service skills and the ability to work flexible hours are also important.
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Museum Guide jobs near you
Infographic showing various Museum Guide job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 76% Full Time, 17% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 5% Contract. Highlights an 92% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $37,060 per year, or $17.8 per hour.

Museum Educator

Whitney Museum of American Art

Manhattan, NY • On-site

$71K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Posted 23 days ago

Job description

The Whitney Museum of American Art seeks a Full-Time Museum Educator to teach K-12 school programs and develop trainings and resources for NYC teachers and freelance educators. Through guided visits and workshops, this role connects the Whitney's collection and exhibitions to classroom learning, engaging students in considering artists as observers, storytellers, experimenters, and critics of American life. Programs are inquiry-based, inclusive, and designed to support multiple perspectives.
The Museum Educator is a reflective teaching artist with a strong studio practice and a commitment to art as a catalyst for connection, civic engagement, and empathy. This role works closely with staff, freelance educators, teachers, and students to deliver high-quality programs in both gallery and studio settings.
Responsibilities
Gallery & School Programs (K-12)
  • Lead and facilitate inquiry-based Guided Visits (in-person and virtual) for K-12 students, using discussion, close looking, and interactive strategies
  • Conduct a minimum of eight guided visits per month, with flexibility to support additional programs as needed
  • Develop and lead Guided Visit + Studio programs, integrating thematic gallery tours with hands-on artmaking experiences
  • Act as Lead Educator for new school partnerships
  • Design engaging, developmentally appropriate lesson plans aligned with classroom curricula and accessible to diverse learners, including students with disabilities
  • Communicate effectively with teachers to align museum experiences with learning goals
  • Collaborate with K-12 School and Group Services staff and fellow educators to ensure strong program delivery
  • Lead occasional visitor-centered lecture-style tours for adult groups

Teacher & Educator Programs
  • In partnership with the Associate Manager and fellow Museum Educators, facilitate professional development workshops for NYC teachers, introducing inquiry-based teaching strategies and interdisciplinary connections
  • Assist in training and supporting a cohort of Freelance Museum Educators, including leading training three times per year
  • Facilitate trainings for Whitney Education staff

Curriculum & Resource Development
  • Develop clear, innovative lesson plans and teaching materials for gallery and studio programs
  • Create and update high-quality, accessible teacher resources, including pre-visit, in-gallery, and post-visit materials
  • Produce at least two exhibition-based digital resource guides per year
  • Contribute to ongoing evaluation and refinement of programs and interpretive strategies
  • Conduct research on new exhibitions and create files for Educator preparation

Collaboration & Communication
  • Maintain regular communication with supervisors regarding program needs, student engagement, and materials
  • Work collaboratively across Education teams to support a welcoming, inclusive environment for all audiences
  • Engage in reflective teaching practices aligned with the Whitney's pedagogical approach

Requirements
  • B.A./MA/M.F.A./ in art history, contemporary art, American studies, and/or museum education; 3+ years teaching experience, including work with K-12 students and teachers;
  • Strong organizational and communication skills
  • Successful candidates will have sound knowledge of educational and developmental theory
  • A passion for modern and contemporary art
  • Flexible and able to work well in a group
  • An interest in working with diverse groups of students
  • Available Monday through Friday, 9 to 5 p.m., and occasional weekends as needed. Scheduling adjustments may occur based on division needs.

Other preferences
  • Bilingual a plus
  • Available Monday through Friday, 9 to 5 p.m., and occasional evenings and weekends as needed.

Compensation & Benefits
  • Compensation: $71,000 annually
  • Medical, Dental, Vision, 403(B) elections
  • Generous PTO benefits
  • Commuter benefits - parking and mass transit
  • Admission to world-renowned museums across the city and nationally
  • Pet insurance and discounted membership for Citibike
If you believe that you could excel in this role, we encourage you to apply. We are dedicated to considering a broad array of candidates. Whether you're new to arts and culture administration, returning to work after a gap in employment, simply looking to transition, or take the next step in your career path, we will be glad to have you on our radar. Please use your cover letter to tell us about your interest in the arts and culture space and what you hope to bring to this role.
About the Whitney
The Whitney Museum of American Art, founded in 1930 by the artist and philanthropist Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney, houses the foremost collection of American art from the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. From her vision arose the Whitney Museum of American Art, which has been championing the most innovative art of the United States for 86 years. The core of the Whitney's mission is to collect, preserve, interpret, and exhibit American art of our time and serve a wide variety of audiences in celebration of the complexity and diversity of art and culture in the United States. Through this mission and a steadfast commitment to artists themselves, the Whitney has long been a powerful force in support of modern and contemporary art and continues to help define what is innovative and influential in American art today.
EEO Statement
The Whitney Museum of American Art is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The Museum does not discriminate because of age, sex, religion, race, color, creed, national origin, alienage or citizenship, disability, marital status, pregnancy, partnership status, caregiver status, veteran status, gender (including gender identity), sexual orientation, genetic information, predisposition, or carrier status, arrest or conviction record to the extent required by applicable law, credit history, domestic violence, sexual violence, or stalking victim status, or any other factor prohibited by law. The Museum hires and promotes individuals solely on the basis of their qualifications for the job to be filled. The Museum encourages all qualified candidates to apply for vacant positions at all levels.

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