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Museum Tour Guide Jobs in Michigan (NOW HIRING)

Museum Tour Guide information

See Michigan salary details

$7

$16

$29

How much do museum tour guide jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 30, 2026, the average hourly pay for museum tour guide in Michigan is $16.39, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $12.55 and $18.46 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a museum tour guide?

A Museum Tour Guide is responsible for leading visitors through museum exhibits, providing historical and contextual information about artifacts, and answering questions. They enhance the visitor experience by sharing engaging stories, facts, and insights. Guides may also assist with educational programs, special tours, and ensuring that museum rules are followed. Strong communication skills and knowledge of the museum's subject matter are essential for this role.

What does a museum tour guide do?

As a Museum Tour Guide, your day typically involves preparing for upcoming tours, delivering engaging presentations to groups of varying sizes, and answering visitor questions about exhibits. You may also help coordinate with museum staff to schedule tours, set up audio equipment, and sometimes assist in special events or educational programs. The role often involves standing or walking for extended periods and adapting your approach for different age groups or interests. Teamwork is important, as you’ll regularly communicate with curators, visitor services, and other guides to ensure a seamless guest experience. Flexibility and passion for the subject matter are key to making each tour informative and enjoyable.

What skills and qualifications are needed to be a museum tour guide?

To thrive as a Museum Tour Guide, you need strong communication skills, in-depth knowledge of art or history, and at least a high school diploma—though a relevant degree is often preferred. Familiarity with audio guide systems, tour scheduling software, and sometimes multilingual abilities are valuable assets. Excellent interpersonal skills, enthusiasm, and adaptability help guides engage diverse audiences and handle unexpected questions. These competencies are essential to create memorable, informative experiences that encourage visitor satisfaction and repeat attendance.

Are museum tour guides paid?

Yes, museum tour guides are typically paid employees or contractors who earn wages or hourly rates. Compensation varies depending on the museum, location, and experience, and some guides may also receive tips from visitors.

How can I get a job as a museum tour guide?

To become a museum tour guide, candidates typically need good communication skills, a strong interest in history or art, and often a high school diploma or equivalent. Some museums prefer or require guides to have prior experience, knowledge of the museum's collections, or relevant certifications, and may conduct interviews or training sessions before employment.

How do you become a museum tour guide?

To become a museum tour guide, candidates typically need a high school diploma or equivalent, strong communication skills, and knowledge of the museum's exhibits. Some positions require prior experience in customer service or education, and guides often undergo training provided by the museum to familiarize themselves with specific collections and tour protocols.

What are popular job titles related to Museum Tour Guide jobs in Michigan?

For Museum Tour Guide jobs in Michigan, the most frequently searched job titles are:

Infographic showing various Museum Tour Guide job openings in Michigan as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 70% Full Time, 24% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 87% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 10% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $34,100 per year, or $16.4 per hour.

Full-time

Retirement

Re-posted 17 days ago


Job description

Description: Education AssociateFull-Time, 35-40 hours/weekOccasional Sundays and evenings


Summary of Responsibilities: The role of the Education Associate is to use content expertise to plan and lead The Zekelman Holocaust Center’s guided tours as well as specialized educational workshops and programs. In so doing, an Education Associate helps the organization to achieve our mission to engage, educate, and empower our visitors by remembering the Holocaust, and to further our goal to be the nexus of Holocaust education in Michigan.


Who We Are: The Zekelman Holocaust Center (The HC) was founded by Michigan survivors in 1984 as a lasting memorial to the victims of the Holocaust. Our mission is to engage, educate, and empower through remembrance so that individuals and society will recognize, combat, and prevent antisemitism, discrimination, and hate-based violence. The Center teaches history’s darkest period to 100,000 visitors each year, including students and adults of all backgrounds. Our new permanent exhibit places Holocaust victim and survivor stories at the center, making extensive use of archival footage, images and video testimony. Artifacts include an authentic WWII-era boxcar and a sapling from the tree located outside Anne Frank’s hiding place window. The Center also invites the public to make use of its 20,000 volume Library Archive. Museum Educators and Docents provide customized tours, workshops and programs, empowering visitors to apply the lessons of the Holocaust to create a more compassionate world where people take responsible action. 

We value candidates who are community-oriented and civic-minded, and who demonstrate a commitment to serving others.


Why Join Us: You will play a role in meaningful, mission-driven work. We offer strong work/life balance, a generous holiday schedule, 401(k) with employer match, and more.


Portfolio Responsibilities:

  •  Lead guided tours of The HC’s core exhibit - 50%
  • Plan and facilitate specialized programming - 30%
  • Provide support to initiatives and projects in the Education Department - 20%

Lead Guided Tours of The HC’s Core Exhibit (50%)

  • After initial training and through ongoing professional development and research, achieve excellence in teaching all areas of the HC’s exhibit. The goal of tours is to educate visitors about the Holocaust and empower them to take action in our world today.
  • Communicate with group coordinators and teachers to elicit group-specific needs and interests that can be met by Holocaust educational programming.
  • Use content expertise to lead customized tours for adult groups that require a specialized focus on different aspects of Holocaust history and application to their fields. For instance, Security Sector tours (police, military, and fire), college and university programming, law firms, medical professionals, etc. 
  • Lead pedagogically sound tours for school-aged students that are customized to the needs and objectives of each group.
  • Lead tours for general adult audiences that are tailored to meet the needs of adult groups. 
  • Lead virtual programming for adult groups and schools. 
  • Conduct intake calls with teachers and other stakeholders.
  • Assist with the implementation of arrival & welcome, tour launch, and group dismissal procedures.
  • Participate in reflective practice, individually and as part of a team to improve teaching skills.

Plan and facilitate specialized programming (30%)

  • Facilitate workshops, seminars, conference presentations, and other educational programming to provide professional development for adult groups through the lens of lessons learned from the Holocaust. 
  • Facilitate workshops, conference presentations, and other educational programming to education professionals and pre-service teachers.
  • Communicate with group coordinators and teachers to elicit group-specific needs and interests that can be met by Holocaust educational programming.
  • Some sessions may be off-site and will require travel within the region. 

Provide support to initiatives and projects in the Education Department (20%)

  • Provide administrative and operational support, as well as research and content development to projects and programs as needed.
  • Other duties as assigned.
Requirements:
  •  Bachelor's degree or higher in History, Education, or a related field
  • Experience with, and desire to, work with people from all backgrounds
  • Excellent public speaking, presentation, and listening skills
  • Adapts quickly to change, and works well in a fast-paced work environment
  • Outstanding interpersonal skills, guest services demeanor, and the desire and ability to work with a close-knit team
  • Intellectual curiosity about Holocaust history and how it relates to contemporary social issues
  • Ability to stand and walk for up to five hours in a day, with breaks
  • Reliable transportation
  • Knowledge of languages other than English beneficial, but not required

The HC has a fully onsite work environment, with flexibility for personal matters as needed.


The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work to be performed and are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and duties.


The HC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, or any other legally protected status. Employment decisions are based on qualifications, merit, and business needs.