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Museum Volunteer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Corning Museum of Glass

Museum Guide

Corning, NY · On-site

Respect and exemplify the mission, vision, and values of the Corning Museum of Glass in all interactions with colleagues, staff, volunteers and the public. * Represent the Museum in a professional ...

Bishop Museum

Museum Educator

Honolulu, HI · On-site

$42K - $49K/yr

Work in a safe manner as not to endanger fellow staff members, volunteers and visitors. Comply with ... museum programming) educational programs. * 1-2 years of experience performing similar job ...

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 ... Volunteers on a daily basis Works in a variety of historic buildings Process tour inquiries ...

Maine

Museum Educational Program Specialist I

Augusta, ME · On-site

$19.02 - $26.48/hr

Working closely with the education and visitor services team and museum volunteers, this position will assist with the daily operations of public spaces and the admissions desk, and help plan and ...

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How much do museum volunteer jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 11, 2026, the average hourly pay for museum volunteer in the United States is $19.14, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $14.42 and $20.19 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

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

To thrive as a Museum Volunteer, you need a basic understanding of art or history, enthusiasm for learning, and a willingness to assist visitors, though formal qualifications are typically not required. Familiarity with ticketing systems, audio guides, or visitor management software may be helpful, depending on the museum's operations. Strong interpersonal skills, patience, and effective communication help volunteers engage with diverse visitors and contribute positively to the museum environment. These skills ensure that volunteers provide an informative and welcoming experience, supporting the museum's educational and community-focused mission.

What are the easiest museum volunteer jobs to get?

Entry-level museum volunteer roles such as visitor assistance, gift shop help, or event support are generally the easiest to obtain, as they often require minimal prior experience and focus on customer service or general support tasks. These positions typically involve basic responsibilities like greeting visitors, providing information, or helping with setup and cleanup, making them accessible for new volunteers. Some museums may also offer training for specific roles, further simplifying the process for new volunteers.

What is a museum volunteer?

Museum volunteers are individuals who offer their time and skills to support museums in various roles without monetary compensation. They may assist with tasks such as guiding tours, helping with educational programs, organizing exhibits, or supporting administrative work. Museum volunteers play a crucial role in enhancing visitor experiences and ensuring smooth museum operations. Their work helps museums reach broader audiences and fulfill their educational missions.

What are the typical responsibilities of a museum volunteer?

Museum volunteers often assist with a wide range of tasks, including greeting visitors, leading tours, helping with educational programs, and supporting special events. They play a vital role in enhancing the visitor experience and ensuring smooth daily operations. Volunteers frequently collaborate with museum staff by providing feedback from guests, assisting with exhibit maintenance, and participating in outreach initiatives. This teamwork not only supports the museum’s mission but also offers volunteers valuable exposure to museum operations and public engagement.

What is the difference between Museum Volunteer vs Museum Docent?

AspectMuseum VolunteerMuseum Docent
Required CredentialsNone typically required, though some may have basic trainingOften requires training, knowledge of exhibits, and sometimes certification
Work EnvironmentVaries; includes galleries, event support, administrative tasksGuiding tours, educating visitors, engaging with the public
Employer & Industry UsageMuseums, galleries, cultural institutionsMuseums, historical sites, educational institutions
Common Search & Comparison IntentUnderstanding volunteer roles, entry-level opportunitiesSeeking educational or interpretive roles within museums

In summary, Museum Volunteers typically assist with various tasks without requiring formal credentials, offering flexible support in different museum areas. Museum Docents usually undergo training to educate visitors and lead tours, often requiring specific knowledge about exhibits. Both roles are vital for enhancing visitor experience but differ mainly in responsibilities and training requirements.

What do museum volunteers do in museums?

Museum volunteers assist with a variety of tasks such as greeting visitors, providing information about exhibits, guiding tours, helping with educational programs, and supporting administrative duties. They often need good communication skills and may receive training on museum policies and safety procedures.
More about Museum Volunteer jobs
What cities are hiring for Museum Volunteer jobs? Cities with the most Museum Volunteer job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Museum jobs? The most popular types of Museum jobs are:
What states have the most Museum Volunteer jobs? States with the most job openings for Museum Volunteer jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Museum Volunteer jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Museum Volunteer jobs are:
Museum Volunteer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Museum Volunteer job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 83% Full Time, and 17% Part Time. Highlights an 92% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 5% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $39,804 per year, or $19.1 per hour.

Museum Guide

Corning Museum of Glass

Corning, NY • On-site

Part-time

Posted 29 days ago

Job description

SUMMARY
Under the direction and mentorship of the Education and Interpretation department, the Museum Guide creates and implements approaches for helping gallery visitors have personally meaningful experiences with the historical, science, and art collections at The Corning Museum of Glass. A successful Museum Guide will incorporate the Museum's mission, vision, and equity statement into relevant and engaging visitor-centered experiences.
This is a part-time, year-round position.
RESPONSIBILITIES (Essential functions denoted with *)
Interpretation
  • Work with Education and Interpretation department staff to develop and facilitate experiences of the collection and special exhibitions at CMoG for visitors.*
    • Develop and lead tours and other learning experiences designed to meet visitor needs of all ages and backgrounds.
    • Facilitate visitor-centered and engaging learning experiences.
    • Engage guests with the collection through hands-on inquiry learning experiences using objects in carts.
    • Reflect on delivery of tours and other learning experiences and implement changes to better suit the needs of guests.
    • Build knowledge of collection and visitor engagement strategies and take part in professional development opportunities as needed.
    • Collaborate with other departments when designing visitor experiences.
  • Locate and make strategic use of object and historic context research related to objects on display, including museum generated texts such as labels and web-based information.*
  • Document and, in collaboration with the Education and Interpretation department, evaluate designed experiences with visitors.*
  • Track and report Public Guided Tour numbers.*
  • Assist with programs and maintenance of education materials in galleries and around the Museum, as needed.
  • Share expertise with colleagues and participate in Museum teams as needed or requested.
  • Proactively contribute to and nurture a community of learning that consists of Education and Interpretation department staff, other Museum Guides, and staff from additional departments within the Museum.*

Customer Service
  • Answer visitors' questions about the Museum's collection, The Studio, Hot Glass demonstrations, The Rakow research Library, and amenities as needed.
  • Comply with all Museum rules and procedures for working with the public.
  • Demonstrate cultural competency when working with all visitors.
  • Welcome, orient, and initiate guided experiences when visitors arrive.*

Administration
  • With Education and Interpretation department staff, coordinate and communicate visitor experience logistics in advance of each group's visit. Follow the checklist for school group check-ins.*

General
  • Actively and intentionally support the Museum's commitment to diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion.*
  • Actively support the Museum's Advancement initiatives.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
  • Experience working with the public desired

SKILLS AND ABILITIES
  • Respect and exemplify the mission, vision, and values of the Corning Museum of Glass in all interactions with colleagues, staff, volunteers and the public.
  • Represent the Museum in a professional manner at all times.
  • Adhere to all prescribed organizational and departmental policies and procedures.
  • Work with people from a variety of cultures; ability to maintain an appropriate voice for diverse audiences.
  • Calmly handle stress of high customer demands in a hospitality environment.
  • Work independently and as part of a team; strong collaboration skills.
  • Work with minimal supervision while consistently communicating status.
  • Ability to learn new technology quickly and thoroughly.
  • Enthusiastically and effectively interface with the public and internal stakeholders.
  • Excellent presentation skills and ability to speak in front of diverse groups.
  • Excellent listening skills.
  • Proven ability to handle multiple projects and tasks; resourceful mindset and flexible.
  • Strong ability to organize and synthesize complex information succinctly.
  • Outstanding ability to think creatively and identify and resolve problems.
  • Strong critical thinking skills and ability to synthesize and make connections among various contexts, histories, disciplines, and fields.
  • Focused on quality over speed; responsive and understands a sense of urgency.
  • Basic knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite.
  • Foreign languages desired.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT
The physical demands and work environment described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to and walk around the museum while providing tours, sit for hours at time while researching, in meetings, or in trainings and push carts around the museum when needed.
SAFETY RESPONSIBILITIES
The employee shall be fully acquainted with and comply with all safety policies and procedures of the Corning Museum of Glass.
CONFIDENTIALITY
Maintain confidentiality of information related to the Corning Museum of Glass and employees that may be encountered, either formally or informally, during the normal course of business.
DISCLAIMER
The duties listed above are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed and is not an inclusive summary of job duties and responsibilities. The omission of specific statements of duties or responsibilities does not exclude them from the position. This job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and the employee and is subject to change by the Corning Museum of Glass as the needs of the Museum and requirements of the job change.
About The Corning Museum of Glass
The Corning Museum of Glass (CMoG) was established in 1951 by Corning Glass Works (now Corning Incorporated) as a gift to the nation commemorating the company's 100th anniversary. CMoG is an independent not-for-profit museum dedicated to exploring a single material: glass. Welcoming more than 300,000 annual visitors from around the world, the Museum's campus is home to the world's most comprehensive collection of glass, the world's foremost library on glass, and one of the premier glassworking schools in the world. CMoG was named by the New York Times among the U.S. museums to see for 2025, and Newsweek readers voted CMoG one of the Top 3 Best Art Museums in America.
Glass is a versatile, ancient material that is still being explored and understood by artists, scientists, and historians today. The story of glass is a story about art, history, culture, technology, science, craft, and design. 50,000+ objects representing more than 3,500 years of history are included in the Museum's collection-ranging from a portrait of an ancient Egyptian pharaoh to a 200-inch telescope lens to contemporary sculpture. The Museum regularly publishes journals, educational videos and scholarly publications-many of which can be accessed online from anywhere in the world.
We believe that prioritizing diversity, opportunity, belonging, and accessibility strengthens our Museum and enhances our ability to connect with all communities. We are actively fostering an inclusive culture that values and respects a wide range of perspectives and experiences. Creating a culture of belonging is central to our mission and helps ensure the Museum is welcoming to all.
The pay range for this role is:
16.75 - 19.05 USD per hour (Corning Museum of Glass)

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