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Preparator Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Voortman Corp

Work Preparator

Monee, IL · On-site

What are you going to do? Production Preparation & Material Supply * Create and manage projects and production orders with the accurate Bill of Materials (BOM). * Set up and monitor production ...

F40 LLC

PR · On-site

$10.50/hr

Responsable del lavado, organización y acondicionamiento de autos y de clientes, asegurando mantener los más altos estándares de calidad y brindar un servicio excepcional. El Preparador de Autos ...

Voortman Steel Machinery

Work Preparator

Monee, IL · On-site

$60K - $80K/yr

What are you going to do? Production Preparation & Material Supply * Create and manage projects and production orders with the accurate Bill of Materials (BOM). * Set up and monitor production ...

City of Mesa

Museum Exhibitions Coordinator

Mesa, AZ

$64K - $88K/yr

This classification may supervise the Museum Exhibits Preparator and/or the Museum Exhibits Technician classifications, as well as temporary agency personnel and volunteers. This class performs ...

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How much do preparator jobs pay per hour?

As of Jun 6, 2026, the average hourly pay for preparator in the United States is $20.26, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $15.14 and $25.00 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a Preparator?

A Preparator is a professional who works in museums, galleries, or cultural institutions to handle, install, and care for artworks or exhibits. Their responsibilities include preparing artworks for display, ensuring their safe transport and storage, and sometimes assisting with exhibit design and lighting. Preparators use specialized tools and techniques to mount, frame, and install pieces according to conservation and curatorial standards. They play a critical role in making sure that exhibitions are presented safely and aesthetically to the public.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Preparator, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Preparator, you need a thorough understanding of art handling, exhibition installation, and object conservation, often supported by experience in museums or galleries and sometimes a degree in art or museum studies. Familiarity with tools such as power drills, lifts, and climate control systems, as well as adherence to safety protocols, is typically required. Attention to detail, problem-solving, and strong teamwork skills help Preparators excel in managing delicate artwork and meeting tight deadlines. These abilities are crucial to ensuring the safe, efficient, and visually compelling display of collections.

What Does a Preparator Do?

As a preparator, you help with the installation and de-installation of art displays in a museum. In this role, you may provide input on curation, help manage each collection, and determine the best way to display art within the facility. In most cases, this job is considerably more complex than determining where to hang art on the walls. Many museums have complex pieces that are not easy to display, and further, each exhibit may require the addition or removal of walls and other structures without disturbing other exhibits more than necessary. Preparators provide a variety of services, ranging from artistic structure design to construction project management, so flexibility is an essential part of this job.

What is the difference between Preparator vs Art Preparator?

AspectPreparatorArt Preparator
CredentialsHigh school diploma or equivalent; training in art handlingHigh school diploma; specialized training in art handling and conservation
Work EnvironmentMuseums, galleries, auction housesMuseums, galleries, private collections
Job ResponsibilitiesPreparing artworks for display, packing, and transportationPreparing artworks for exhibitions, conservation, and detailed handling

The main difference between a Preparator and an Art Preparator lies in their specialization and level of expertise. Art Preparator roles often require more specialized training in art conservation and handling, focusing on delicate and valuable artworks. Both roles work in similar environments, but Art Preparators typically handle more complex tasks related to conservation and detailed preparation.

What are some common challenges Preparators face when handling and installing artwork, and how are these typically addressed?

Preparators often encounter challenges such as safely transporting delicate pieces, adapting to unique installation environments, and meeting tight exhibition deadlines. To address these, they use specialized tools and materials for packing and handling, collaborate closely with curators and conservators to understand each artwork's requirements, and follow strict safety protocols. Teamwork and clear communication are essential to overcome logistical hurdles and ensure each piece is displayed securely and attractively.
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Preparator jobs near you
Infographic showing various Preparator job openings in the United States as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 70% Full Time, 26% Part Time, and 4% Temporary. Highlights an 93% Physical, and 7% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $42,135 per year, or $20.3 per hour.

Preparator/Fabricator (On-Call/Temporary/Seasonal)

Mass Museum of Contemporary Art

North Adams, MA • On-site

$25/hr

Temporary

Posted 18 days ago

Job description

Job Type
Temporary
Description
MASS MoCA's Visual Art Department seeks to grow its pool of skilled on-call fabricators and preparators to support larger installations throughout the museum. This is an evergreen job posting that remains open to support installations year round at the museum. At times, applications aren't reviewed for several weeks. Upon applying your application is added to a general hiring pool, we hire on a rolling basis.
The On-Call/Temporary/Seasonal Preparator/Fabricator is a temporary hourly position that will work alongside the full time installation/fabrication staff. The schedule is flexible, with time frames ranging from 1-2 days up to weekly and multi-month projects up to a maximum of 120 days worked within a fiscal year (October 1-September 30). The ideal candidate will be a team player, who will work to achieve deadlines collaboratively.
Duties and Responsibilities:
  • Art handling, including unloading and loading trucks, packing and unpacking fine art works, and working with registrars to safely install art.
  • Construction and manual labor, including light demolition, moving large objects with material handling equipment (excluding forklifts), painting, sanding, cleaning and other tasks related to exhibition installation in a museum environment.
  • Working with a team to assemble large and complex artworks.
  • Custom fabrication based on skill and experience, ranging from woodworking to metalworking, sculptural processes, etc.
  • Maintaining a positive rapport with colleagues and artists through challenging and complex installations.
  • Maintaining safe working spaces through clear communication and tidiness.

Requirements
Requirements and Qualifications:
  • The most competitive candidate will have experience working with artists to realize their vision.
  • Minimum two years' work in the field of fabrication and art installation.
  • Bachelor's degree in Art and Design (or equivalent experience)-we are open to any combination of alternative experience and school that you feel qualifies you for this position. Please use your cover letter and resume to convey this experience and why you feel it is relevant to the position.
  • Excellent work ethic, craftsmanship, practical problem-solving, creative thinking, embracing collaborative practice, and understanding of team spirit.
  • The ability to communicate clearly with colleagues, collaborators, and artists.
  • A high level of professional consideration for the art in our care.
  • Knowledge of standards for packing, crating, handling, and installing artworks.
  • Experience working in construction, in a workshop or fabrication shop.
  • This job description is intended to describe the general nature of the role and the work being performed. It is not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities. The Preparator/Fabricator may be required to perform duties outside of their normal responsibilities, as needed.

Preferred Skills - Please outline your experience with any of the following:
  • Any combination of the skills in wood, metal, moldmaking, and plastics, along with experience in the broad range of hand and power tools for manipulating these materials.
  • Experience, confidence, ability in MIG, TIG, oxy-acetylene welding and cutting, arc welding, plasma cutting, and miscellaneous metal engineering machines.
  • Knowledge of health and safety measures essential to all of the above processes.
  • Work comfortably and safely with height and have experience using ladders and scaffolding. Experience on scissor lifts is not required.
  • Experience with AV equipment and installation.
  • Art-handling and packing etiquette, for installation and deinstallation.

Work Conditions:
  • Some duties of this position require being able to work outside, potentially in inclement weather for extended periods of time.
  • Potential for overtime and weekends during installation periods.
  • The schedule will be determined by the manager.

Physical Requirements:
  • Ability to stand, walk, and/or sit for extended periods of time with limited breaks.
  • Ability to use hands to finger, handle, or feel, reach with hands and arm, and reach above shoulder height.
  • The employee is regularly required to climb or balance, squat, kneel, and crouch.
  • The employee must regularly be able to lift and/or move up to 50+ pounds and move heavy objects as required.
  • Ability to climb ladders and operate mechanical lifts and power tools.
  • Ability, mobility, and license to drive a motor vehicle.
  • Acute vision, hearing, voice, smell, and sense of touch.
  • Employee is required to move about their work area, between buildings and the campus grounds, ascend and descend stairs.
  • Must be able to wear PPE when necessary.
  • This position is based on site at MASS MoCA's North Adams campus; regular in-person attendance is required.

Compensation and Benefits:
  • The hourly rate for this position is $25.00 per hour
  • Massachusetts Earned Sick Time
  • Reciprocal Organization of Associated Museums (ROAM)
  • Discounts at Gift Shop and R&D Store
  • Staff appreciation social events year-round

Application Process: Interested candidates should apply online with a resume and cover letter. The application also includes a few brief questions to help us better understand your experience and interest in the role. Incomplete applications-including those missing the requested documents-may not be fully considered.
About MASS MoCA:
MASS MoCA is a vibrant non-collecting art museum with approximately 300,000 square feet of exhibition space dedicated to visual art and projects by contemporary artists. Formerly a 19th century factory, these exhibition spaces are unconventional, vast, soaring galleries spanning multiple buildings. Half of that space is dedicated to rotating 10-16 month exhibitions of which we present 4 to 6 large-scale exhibitions per year, along with smaller projects and commissions. The additional space is dedicated to long-term exhibitions in conjunction with artists, estates, and collections that run from 10 months to 25 years. MASS MoCA frequently works directly with artists on the fabrication of new commissions and large-scale site-specific installations.
MASS MoCA was founded in 1999, not only as a contemporary art museum and performing arts venue, but also as a creative campus with a regional, national and global impact. MASS MoCA is one of the world's liveliest centers for making and enjoying today's most evocative art. With vast galleries and a stunning collection of indoor and outdoor performing arts venues, MASS MoCA is able to embrace all forms of art: music, sculpture, dance, film, painting, photography, theater, and new, boundary-crossing works of art that defy easy classification. From its beginnings as the major textile mill Arnold Print Works in the mid-19th century, to its days as the Sprague Electric Company in the mid-20th century, to its current iteration as a globally renowned contemporary art museum and fabrication center, the 24-acre MASS MoCA campus has a rich history of serving as the economic engine of the city of North Adams and the surrounding region.

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