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Museum Management Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

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Museum Management information

See California salary details

$10.9K

$111K

$187.5K

How much do museum management jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 20, 2026, the average yearly pay for museum management in California is $111,006.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $70,600.00 and $165,800.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is museum management?

Museum management involves overseeing the operations, administration, and strategic direction of a museum or cultural institution. This includes tasks such as managing staff, curating exhibits, handling budgets, developing educational programs, and ensuring the preservation of collections. Museum managers also focus on community engagement, fundraising, and compliance with legal and ethical standards. Their goal is to make the museum accessible, educational, and sustainable for the public.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in museum management, and why are they important?

To thrive in Museum Management, you need expertise in curation, operations, and cultural heritage, typically supported by a degree in museum studies or a related field. Familiarity with collection management software, conservation standards, and grant writing is often required. Excellent leadership, communication, and organizational skills help foster collaboration among staff, volunteers, and the public. These skills ensure effective preservation, engaging visitor experiences, and the long-term success of the museum.

What are some common challenges faced in museum management, and how can new managers prepare for them?

Museum management professionals often grapple with balancing limited budgets, ensuring artifact preservation, and creating engaging visitor experiences. New managers can prepare by developing strong project management skills, staying current with best practices in collections care, and fostering collaborative relationships with curators, educators, and external partners. Embracing technology and community engagement strategies can also help address evolving audience expectations and financial constraints.

What is the difference between Museum Management vs Museum Curator?

AspectMuseum ManagementMuseum Curator
Primary RoleOversees overall museum operations, administration, and strategic planningDevelops, researches, and manages exhibits and collections
Required CredentialsOften requires management experience, degrees in museum studies, arts administration, or related fieldsTypically requires degrees in history, art, archaeology, or related disciplines, with curatorial certifications
Work EnvironmentOffice-based, administrative settings, with some onsite oversightOnsite in galleries, collections storage, and research areas
Employer & Industry UsageMuseums, cultural institutions, non-profitsMuseums, galleries, historical societies

While Museum Management focuses on the overall administration and strategic direction of a museum, Museum Curators concentrate on developing and maintaining collections and exhibits. Both roles are essential but differ in daily responsibilities and required expertise.

How to get into museum management?

To enter museum management, candidates typically need a bachelor's degree in museum studies, history, art, or a related field, with many roles preferring a master's degree or higher. Relevant experience in museum operations, collections, or education is important, along with strong organizational and leadership skills. Gaining experience through internships or entry-level positions can help build a pathway into management roles.

What are popular job titles related to Museum Management jobs in California?

For Museum Management jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Museum Management jobs in California look for?

The top searched job categories for Museum Management jobs in California are:

What cities in California are hiring for Museum Management jobs?

Cities in California with the most Museum Management job openings:

Museum Management jobs near you
Infographic showing various Museum Management job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 2% Internship, 56% Full Time, 40% Part Time, and 2% Temporary. Highlights an 98% In-person, and 2% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $111,006 per year, or $53.4 per hour.

Museum Specialist

National Experienced Workforce Solutions

Martinez, CA • On-site

$58.30/hr

Full-time

Re-posted 23 days ago

Job description

Museum SpecialistID:NPSJOMU-001-014Location:MartinezProgram:NPS
Wage/Hr:$58.30Hours/Week:16Minimum Age:55

For over 25 years, National Experienced Workforce Solutions (NEW Solutions) has specialized in connecting experienced workers (ages 55+) with full-time and part-time job opportunities that support the critical missions of Federal Agencies across the United States.

NEW Solutions connects experienced workers (ages 55+) with the National Park Service (NPS). These experienced professionals provide administrative expertise, facilities management, natural and cultural resource planning, and a broad array of other professional skills that support the National Park Service through the Experienced Services Program (ESP).

Positions listed here do not guarantee employment for any definite period. Enrollment in the Experienced Worker Programs administered by NEW Solutions is temporary. The enrollment relationship between NEW Solutions and the Enrollee is an ?at-will? relationship. This means that an Enrollee is free to terminate enrollment at any time during the enrollment period, and NEW Solutions and the Agency have the right to terminate the relationship with the Enrollee.

PLEASE NOTE: An ?Enrollee? is not a federal employee, nor an employee of NEW Solutions. An ?Enrollee? is a participant in a grant program established through a Cooperative Agreement funded by the agency and administered by NEW Solutions.

This opportunity applies to applicants legally eligible to work in the United States.

Qualifications:

Minimum of 10 year(s) of experience in Museum collections management including preservation maintenance, environmental monitoring, integrated pest management, research, cataloging, documentation, photography, and storage. OR BA/BS Degree in Museum Management, Archives, History, Anthropology OR Previously completed training in Management of federal museum archives and collections, artifact and archival processing.

  • Ability to work independently in a quiet setting as well as part of a small team. Experience with identifying preservation deficiencies and needs, proper artifact handling and storage as well as historical research and data management.
  • Experience required with Windows, MS Word, MS Excel
  • Museum Collection Management System
Duties:

The enrollee will support John Muir National Historic Site, Rosie the Riveter/WWII Home Front National Historical Park, Eugene O?Neill National Historic Site, and Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial to meet museum and collections management goals and objectives.

  • Perform housekeeping, preservation maintenance, environmental monitoring and integrated pest management within historic installations.   35%
  • Photograph historic artifacts and digitize archival materials   20%
  • Inventory and catalog historic artifacts and archival materials into the NPS Museum Collections Management System (MCMS) or approved Excel spreadsheet   30%
  • Prepare collections for long-term preservation storage.   15%

Other:
  • Physical requirements: Enrollee must be able to maneuver boxes weighing up to 25 lbs. The work may involve some walking, standing, bending, or carrying of items such as files, computer reports, or office supplies. Work is performed in an office setting with adequate light, heat, and ventilation. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position.

NEW Solutions is committed to promoting equal opportunity and to an environment free from discrimination and harassment in any form administering Experienced Worker Programs under cooperative agreements with federal agencies. It is NEW Solutions' policy to comply with all applicable laws that provide equal opportunity and to prohibit unlawful discrimination in enrolling participants in the federal programs.