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Southwest Museum Jobs (NOW HIRING)

HECKSCHER MUSEUM

Executive Director

Santa Fe, NM · On-site

$190 - $230/hr

... Southwest. Situated on 8.5 acres on "Museum Hill" just a 10-minute drive from Santa Fe's Plaza, the original structure, designed by William Penhallow Henderson, was conceived as a modern ...

Pacific Southwest Railway Museum

Work Camper

Campo, CA · On-site

Campo Railroad Museum provides a FREE RV space overlooking the Campo Valley with FREE included electricity, water, sewer, shower and laundry. In exchange, Work Campers bring your own RV and work 20 ...

Pacific Southwest Railway Museum

Work Camper

Campo, CA · On-site

Campo Railroad Museum provides a FREE RV space overlooking the Campo Valley with FREE included electricity, water, sewer, shower and laundry. In exchange, Work Campers bring your own RV and work 20 ...

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Southwest Museum information

See salary details

$31.5K

$44.2K

$56K

How much do southwest museum jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 28, 2026, the average yearly pay for southwest museum in the United States is $44,195.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $38,500.00 and $48,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a Southwest Museum?

A Southwest Museum is an institution dedicated to preserving, exhibiting, and interpreting the art, history, and cultures of the Southwestern United States, including Native American heritage. These museums often feature collections of artifacts, artwork, historical documents, and educational programs that highlight the region's unique cultural diversity. The Southwest Museum of the American Indian in Los Angeles, for example, is one of the oldest museums in the area and is known for its extensive Native American collections. Such museums play a vital role in cultural preservation and public education.

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

To thrive as a Museum Curator, you need a background in art history, archaeology, or museum studies, often supported by a relevant degree and experience in collections management. Familiarity with collection management software, archival systems, and exhibit design tools is typically required. Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and effective communication make someone stand out in this position. These skills are important to ensure the proper preservation, interpretation, and public engagement with museum collections.

What are some common challenges faced by professionals working at a museum like the Southwest Museum?

Professionals at the Southwest Museum often encounter challenges such as balancing preservation needs with public accessibility, managing diverse collections, and engaging the community through educational programs. Team members typically work closely together, coordinating with curators, educators, and conservators to ensure artifacts are properly cared for while creating engaging visitor experiences. Adapting to new technologies for cataloging and exhibitions, as well as securing funding for operations and special projects, are also common aspects of the role.

What is the difference between Southwest Museum vs Southwest Museum Curator?

AspectSouthwest MuseumSouthwest Museum Curator
Primary RoleMuseum with a focus on Southwest history and cultureProfessional responsible for managing collections, exhibitions, and research at the Southwest Museum
Required CredentialsTypically a degree in history, anthropology, or museum studiesLikely a master's or higher in related fields, with experience in curation
Work EnvironmentMuseum setting, public engagement, educational programsMuseum environment, collection management, research, and exhibit development

The Southwest Museum is a cultural institution dedicated to Southwest history, while the Southwest Museum Curator is a professional role within the museum responsible for managing collections and exhibitions. The curator requires specialized education and experience, whereas the museum itself is a public venue for cultural preservation and education.

What states have the most Southwest Museum jobs?

States with the most job openings for Southwest Museum jobs include:

What job categories do people searching Southwest Museum jobs look for?

The top searched job categories for Southwest Museum jobs are:

Southwest Museum jobs near you
Infographic showing various Southwest Museum job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $44,195 per year, or $21.2 per hour.

Lead Custodian

AUTRY MUSEUM OF THE AMERICAN WEST

Los Angeles, CA

$27.33/hr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 19 days ago

Job description

POSITION SUMMARY

The Lead Custodian is primarily responsible for overseeing custodial staff, ensuring quality work and completion in a timely manner. Additionally, this role will perform custodial cleaning functions for the Autry Museum of the American West and its other locations (Parks Resource Center and Southwest Museum) as needed. The Lead Custodian will report directly to the Custodial Manager regarding attendance, daily work duties/schedule, changes in work schedules, special event instructions, special cleaning projects and other related items.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

The Lead Custodian will be assigned multiple areas of the museum they will be responsible for; this may vary per business needs and duties can include up to, but are not limited to the following:

  • Routine duties will consist of cleaning, dusting, waxing, vacuuming, window cleaning and mopping within all the museum galleries, public areas, plaza, cafe and administrative offices as well as picking up paper, trash or other debris.
  • Assist in training new employees, coordinating breaks and/or meal periods
  • Monitor and inspect work quality, completeness and accuracy, reporting any safety or accuracy concerns to Custodial Manager
  • Upkeep of wood, concrete, carpeted and tiled floors - mopping, sweeping, dusting, polishing and vacuuming and trash removal.
  • Upkeep of windows, door glass, mirrors - wet wiping, dusting and dry wiping.
  • Upkeep of the building’s brass door fixtures, metal railing, handles and frames as well as the wooden railings and frames.
  • Ensure high quality cleaning of Museum Restrooms - clean, sanitize and restock all male, female and unisex restrooms by cleaning all toilets, sinks, floors, toilet cubicles, urinals, faucet fixtures and trash removal.
  • Upkeep of Administrative Offices, store sales area, cafe dining room, common office hallways and employee lounges. These areas require vacuuming, dry mopping as needed, wet mopping as needed or allowed and trash removal.
  • Set-up of chairs and tables, rubber mats and clean-up for all museum events. The custodial staff will also handle the removal of the same equipment after the event

Special cleaning projects will be scheduled and coordinated by the Custodial Manager and/or Senior Lead Custodian.  The needs of special events will vary, and they will be determined by the Event Coordinator and discussed with the Custodial Manager. The Custodial Manager and/or Senior Lead Custodian will also determine the type of cleaning procedure that will be implemented, the type of equipment needed, the type of cleaning solutions needed, if necessary and allowed. 

When the Custodial Manager is off or at a different site, the Lead Custodian will communicate scheduling changes for contract staff with the HR department. The Lead Custodian will also communicate to Custodial Staff to make sure that all work is performed in a safe manner and that the equipment is properly maintained and cleaned.

OTHER FUNCTIONS

Performs other related duties as assigned. The Autry reserves the right to add or change duties at any time.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
  • Previous Custodial experience is required, supervisory experience preferred
  • Knowledge of cleaning equipment and cleaning supplies, specifically which are appropriate for each type of surface area
  • Ability to assess high quality work completion for various facilities
  • Reliable transportation to work between all Autry sites
  • Flexible scheduling availability
  • Ability to communicate, both written and verbal, with all levels of the organization and keep supervisor apprised of all personnel issues
  • Ability to use a 2-way radio
  • Climb small 4-foot ladders or use a small footstool to help reach cleaning areas 
  • Must be able to lift up to 50 pounds unassisted
  • The ability to pull or push 80lbs

WORKING CONDITIONS

  • Involves: long periods of standing, walking, or sitting; frequent stooping, bending, reaching, squatting, and perform repetitive movements.  
  • Extended work hours as needed.
  • Ability to work indoors and outdoors per Museum needs
  • Cell phone use, headphones are not permitted while the employee is working.  
  • All accidents need to be reported immediately to the Custodial Manager or Security when the Custodial Manager is not available.

COVID-19 PROTOCOL

We take the health and safety of our colleagues, visitors, and their families very seriously. To that end, we have concluded that the best way to ensure the safety of everyone is to require that all staff be fully vaccinated for COVID-19.

Please know that in order to become employed by Autry Museum you may provide satisfactory proof that you are fully vaccinated for COVID-19. More information will be provided as we move along in the recruitment process.

GENEROUS BENEFITS PACKAGE

  • Best-in-class healthcare insurance plans:
    • 2 Medical HMOs - Narrow Network and Full Network
    • 2 Medical PPOs - Traditional and High Deductible PPO with Health Savings Account (HSA)
    • 2 Dental Plans
    • 1 Vision Plan
    • Health Reimbursement Account (HRA) to cover eligible costs of healthcare
  • Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) for medical and dependent care costs
  • Paid Time Off policies that include vacation, holidays, sick time, and bereavement leave  
  • 403(b) retirement plan with employer contributions
  • Employer-paid Life Insurance
  • Additional opportunities to enroll in Supplemental Insurance plans, including:
    • Voluntary Life Insurance
    • Critical Illness Insurance
    • Long-Term Disability Insurance
    • Pet Insurance
    • Identity Theft Insurance
    • AD&D Insurance

Please note you must be a California resident - we are not a multi-state employer.

Apply