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How much do science museum jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 2, 2026, the average hourly pay for science museum in California is $22.29, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $16.15 and $27.98 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a science museum?

Science museums are institutions dedicated to educating the public about science and technology through interactive exhibits, hands-on activities, and educational programs. These museums often feature displays on topics such as physics, biology, chemistry, and earth sciences, making complex concepts accessible and engaging for visitors of all ages. Science museums play a crucial role in inspiring curiosity and fostering a deeper understanding of the scientific world.

What are the qualifications to work in a science museum?

The qualifications to work in a science museum depend largely on your specific responsibilities. If you are a curator or researcher, you need to have a background in science and training or an advanced degree in museum studies to coordinate exhibits properly. Development aids and associates should have a bachelor’s degree in finance, business administration, or a closely related field. Security guards and tour guides may only need a high school diploma. Jobs at science museums also require strong verbal communication skills and an interest in science and education.

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

To thrive as a Science Museum Educator, you need a strong background in science education, public engagement, and often a degree in a scientific field or education. Familiarity with educational technology, exhibit design software, and museum management systems is typically required. Excellent communication, creativity, and enthusiasm for learning help educators engage diverse audiences and foster curiosity. These skills ensure effective science communication, memorable visitor experiences, and the promotion of lifelong learning.

What are some common challenges faced by professionals working in a science museum, and how can they be addressed?

Professionals in science museums often encounter challenges such as engaging diverse audiences, keeping exhibits up-to-date with current scientific advances, and balancing educational goals with visitor entertainment. Addressing these challenges involves ongoing professional development, collaborating closely with educators and scientists, and actively seeking visitor feedback to improve exhibit design and programming. Teamwork and adaptability are key, as museum staff frequently work cross-functionally to create interactive, accessible, and impactful experiences for all visitors.

What is the difference between Science Museum vs Science Educator?

AspectScience MuseumScience Educator
CredentialsTypically requires a degree in science, education, or museum studiesRequires a background in science or education, often with teaching certifications
Work EnvironmentPublic museums, exhibits, and interactive displaysClassrooms, workshops, and outreach programs within or outside museums
Employer & IndustryMuseums, science centers, cultural institutionsEducational institutions, museums, science centers
Common Search & ComparisonOften compared for roles involving public engagement and exhibit managementCompared for roles focused on education delivery and visitor interaction

The main difference is that a Science Museum is an institution that houses exhibits and collections, while a Science Educator is a professional who teaches and engages visitors or students about science within or outside such institutions. Both roles require science knowledge, but the museum focuses on curation and display, whereas the educator emphasizes teaching and outreach.

More about Science Museum jobs

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

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

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

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

What cities in California are hiring for Science Museum jobs?

Cities in California with the most Science Museum job openings:

Science Museum jobs near you
Infographic showing various Science Museum job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 77% Full Time, 20% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 76% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 21% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $46,361 per year, or $22.3 per hour.

Museum Curator

Library Systems & Services LLC

Port Hueneme Cbc Base, CA • On-site

$71K - $85K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 8 days ago

Job description

Job Type
Full-time
Description
Museum Curator will support a museum focusing on modern naval history in Port Hueneme, California. The Curator will contribute to a major inventory and digitization initiative involving approximately 17,000 historical objects comprising a wide range of formats. Working on-site with museum leadership and collection staff, the selected candidate will inventory, catalog, photograph, clean, rehouse, and safeguard artifacts while applying current museum collection management and digital asset management practices. The position requires a hands-on museum professional who can work independently, exercise sound judgment, and handle valuable historical materials with exceptional care.
Responsibilities:
  • Inventory artifacts maintained in museum storage areas, including opening storage containers, identifying objects, reconciling contents, and documenting collection information.
  • Catalog artifacts and create or update accurate object-level collection records using museum-approved terminology, procedures, and collection management practices.
  • Produce consistent, high-quality digital photographs of artifacts for identification, documentation, research, and public-access purposes.
  • Edit, process, name, organize, and manage digital image files using Adobe Photoshop Elements, Adobe Acrobat Professional, and other authorized applications.
  • Carefully unpack, handle, clean, inspect, and repack artifacts using appropriate museum handling and preventive-conservation practices.
  • Rehouse collection materials using suitable storage materials and commercial or professional museum practices.
  • Support the museum's broader collection digitization initiative and help improve access to collection information for Navy personnel, researchers, and the public.
  • Apply current museum collection management standards, digital asset management practices, institutional policies, and professional ethical principles.
  • Identify collection discrepancies, handling concerns, storage issues, damaged objects, incomplete documentation, or other risks and promptly elevate them to museum leadership.
  • Maintain organized workspaces and protect Government-furnished equipment, supplies, collection records, and historical materials.
  • Communicate effectively with the Museum Director, museum employees, Navy personnel, contractors, researchers, and visitors of varying ages and abilities.
  • Complete routine work and special assignments independently while responding flexibly to Government priorities, training, and procedural direction.

Requirements
Mandatory Qualifications
  • U.S. citizenship.
  • Bachelor's degree in museum studies, public history, history, anthropology, archaeology, art history, library or information science, material culture, or a closely related discipline. Relevant specialized museum experience may be considered in place of part of the education requirement.
  • At least three years of progressively responsible experience supporting museum collections, historical artifacts, cultural heritage collections, or a comparable institutional collection.
  • Working knowledge of current museum collection management standards and professional best practices.
  • Demonstrated experience conducting museum inventories and maintaining accurate object-level documentation.
  • Experience safely unpacking, handling, cleaning, examining, rehousing, and repacking historical artifacts.
  • Demonstrated proficiency in digital object photography, including lighting, image composition, focus, scale, file quality, and consistent photographic documentation.
  • Proficiency with Adobe Photoshop Elements and Adobe Acrobat Professional.
  • Working knowledge of digital asset management principles, including file naming, metadata, image organization, version control, storage, and access.
  • Ability to advocate for and implement institutional policies and professional practices governing museum digital assets.
  • Strong verbal and written communication skills and the ability to interact professionally with museum staff, Navy personnel, researchers, and visitors of varying ages and abilities.
  • Ability to work collaboratively as part of a museum team and independently with limited procedural direction.
  • Strong attention to detail, organizational ability, judgment, and commitment to protecting valuable historical and educational materials.
  • Ability to work on-site in Port Hueneme, California, during the museum's regular operating hours.
  • Ability to walk, stand for extended periods, bend, stoop, reach, climb ladders, and lift or carry objects weighing up to 50 pounds, with or without reasonable accommodation.

Preferred Qualifications
  • Master's degree in museum studies, public history, history, anthropology, archaeology, art history, library and information science, or a related field.
  • Five or more years of professional museum collection management or curatorial experience.
  • Experience working with military history, naval history, engineering, construction, material culture, industrial artifacts, uniforms, equipment, tools, or three-dimensional historical objects.
  • Experience supporting a federal museum, military museum, government cultural heritage program, or other public-sector collection.
  • Experience with museum collection management systems such as Axiell Collections, TMS, PastPerfect, Re:discovery Proficio, MuseumPlus, or a comparable platform.
  • Familiarity with Naval History and Heritage Command collection management policies or comparable federal museum standards.
  • Knowledge of preventive conservation, integrated pest management, environmental monitoring, object condition reporting, and appropriate storage materials.
  • Experience creating controlled vocabularies, structured metadata, digital asset records, and standardized image-file naming conventions.
  • Experience performing collection reconciliation, location control, accession-number verification, and inventory discrepancy resolution.
  • Demonstrated ability to establish repeatable photography, inventory, quality-control, and digital-file-management workflows.
  • Familiarity with professional guidance issued by organizations such as the American Alliance of Museums, International Council of Museums, or Society for the Preservation of Natural History Collections.
  • Experience training or guiding staff, interns, volunteers, or junior personnel in artifact handling, photography, inventory, or digitization procedures.

Physical Requirements:
  • Ability to stand, walk, bend, stoop, kneel, reach, climb ladders, and work in museum storage and collection areas for extended periods while inventorying, photographing, cleaning, and rehousing artifacts.
  • Ability to safely lift, carry, push, and move collection materials, storage containers, and museum equipment weighing up to 50 pounds, with or without reasonable accommodation.
  • Ability to perform repetitive manual tasks requiring fine motor skills and visual acuity, including handling delicate historical artifacts, operating photography equipment, and using computer systems for cataloging, digital image processing, and documentation.

Benefits
  • Health Care Plan (Medical, Dental & Vision)
  • Retirement Plan (401k, IRA)
  • Life Insurance (Basic, Voluntary & AD&D)
  • Paid Time Off (Vacation, Sick & Public Holidays)
  • Family Leave (Maternity, Paternity)
  • Short Term & Long-Term Disability
  • Training & Development

EEO Statement
The company and its subsidiaries are an equal opportunity employer and celebrate the population of differences and does not discriminate in its hiring/hiring practices, regardless of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
Nothing in this job specification restricts management's right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.
Critical features of this job are described under various headings above. They may be subject to change at any time due to reasonable accommodation or other reasons. The above statements are strictly intended to describe the general nature and level of the work being performed. They are not intended to be construed as a complete list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of employees in this position.
This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee(s) incumbent in this position. Employees will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform any other job-related duties requested by any person authorized to give instructions or assignments. All duties and responsibilities are essential functions and requirements and are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities.
To perform this job successfully, the incumbents will possess the skills, aptitudes, and abilities to perform each duty proficiently.
Some requirements may exclude individuals who pose a direct threat or significant risk to the health or safety of themselves or others. The requirements listed in this document are the minimum levels of knowledge, skills, or abilities. This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an "at will" relationship.
Salary Description
$71,000 - $85,000

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