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Temporary Museum Conservation Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Temporary Museum Specialist

Brighton, CO · On-site

$28K - $39K/yr

The Museum Specialist will act as the lead for museum volunteers. Examples of Essential ... The Ten Agents of Deterioration and preventative conservation. Ability to: Be highly self-motivated ...

Art Preparator I

Norfolk, VA · On-site

$21 - $24.04/hr

... temporary and permanent exhibitions. * Artwork Handling & Transport Efficiency - Safely packing ... Compliance with Museum Standards & Protocols - Adhering to conservation-approved handling methods ...

Supports other priority departmental projects as assigned (e.g., temporary exhibition management ... conservation, art historical research, and collections management and care. Preferred ...

... all museum buildings locations * Installs/deinstalls artwork for temporary exhibitions and ... Assists conservation with outdoor sculpture maintenance * Loads/unloads art crates from trucks as ...

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Temporary Museum Conservation information

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How much do temporary museum conservation jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 5, 2026, the average hourly pay for temporary museum conservation in the United States is $20.78, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $16.35 and $22.60 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is temporary museum conservation?

Temporary museum conservation jobs are short-term positions focused on the preservation and restoration of artifacts, artworks, or historical objects within museums. These roles often involve assisting with conservation treatments, environmental monitoring, documentation, and preparing objects for exhibitions or storage. Temporary conservators may be hired for specific projects, to cover staff absences, or during busy periods such as exhibition installations. These jobs require a background in conservation science or a related field and are ideal for gaining hands-on experience in museum settings.

What are some common challenges faced in a temporary museum conservation role?

One of the primary challenges in a temporary museum conservation position is acclimating quickly to the institution’s specific protocols and workflows, as each museum may have unique procedures and documentation practices. Temporary conservators often work on targeted projects with tight deadlines, such as preparing artifacts for special exhibitions or assisting with emergency treatments. Working collaboratively with curators, registrars, and other conservation staff is essential for success, as is being adaptable to shifting priorities. The role provides a valuable opportunity to expand your conservation skills and network within the museum field, although the short-term nature of the contract may require flexibility regarding long-term planning.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a temporary museum conservation professional?

To thrive as a Temporary Museum Conservation professional, you need a background in conservation, art history, or museum studies, along with hands-on experience in handling and preserving artifacts. Familiarity with conservation tools, condition reporting software, and environmental monitoring systems is typically required. Strong attention to detail, problem-solving abilities, and effective communication are important soft skills in this role. These competencies ensure the proper care and documentation of collections, preserving cultural heritage and supporting museum operations.

What is the difference between Temporary Museum Conservation vs Museum Conservator?

AspectTemporary Museum ConservationMuseum Conservator
CredentialsTypically requires a conservation or related degree, certifications varyRequires a conservation degree and professional certification
Work EnvironmentShort-term projects, temporary assignments within museums or galleriesLong-term, ongoing preservation work within museums or institutions
Employer & Industry UsageUsed for specific projects or seasonal work in museumsFull-time staff responsible for ongoing collection care
Search & Comparison IntentOften searched for when looking for short-term conservation rolesMore general, for permanent conservation positions

Temporary Museum Conservation roles focus on short-term, project-based work requiring specialized conservation skills, often for specific exhibitions or collections. Museum Conservators hold permanent positions, overseeing ongoing preservation efforts. Both roles require similar credentials but differ mainly in duration and scope of work.

What cities are hiring for Temporary Museum Conservation jobs?

Cities with the most Temporary Museum Conservation job openings:

What are the most commonly searched types of Museum Conservation jobs?

The most popular types of Museum Conservation jobs are:

What states have the most Temporary Museum Conservation jobs?

States with the most job openings for Temporary Museum Conservation jobs include:

Infographic showing various Temporary Museum Conservation job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 70% Full Time, 26% Part Time, 3% Temporary, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 82% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 17% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $43,215 per year, or $20.8 per hour.

Temporary Museum Specialist

City of Brighton

Brighton, CO • On-site

$28K - $39K/yr

Full-time, Temporary

Posted 6 days ago


Job description

Job Description Starting hiring salary - $27.45 to $29.08 hourly Definition 30 hours per week, Monday through Thursday This temporary position is responsible for preserving and sharing Brighton's history through the daily operations of the Brighton City Museum. This position is responsible for collections management, curation, the development and production of new exhibits for public viewing and educational purposes, record keeping including archiving historical documents, operations, promotion, staff and volunteer management and development, and properly caring for the museum's collection. In addition, this position performs and oversees property research and other duties as needed by the public, Historic Preservation Commission (HPC), and the Community Development Department

This position must work well in a group setting with peers and with the public, while providing excellent, respectful customer service and human relations skills, which support the City of Brighton's mission and values. Supervision Exercised and Received This position is supervised by the Development Coordinator of the Community Development Department. The Museum Specialist will act as the lead for museum volunteers.

Examples of Essential Responsibilities and Duties Curates, organizes and archives the historic elements located within the Brighton City Museum ensuring long-term safe storage best practices. Cares for the museum's collection of objects, photos, and archives, while adhering to professional standards regarding acquisition, documentation, housing, and exhibiting. Develops and implements collection-oriented plans, policies, and procedures (collections management, pest management, operations manual, etc.)

Digitizes historic newspapers, documents, photographs, and artifacts; performs data entry of material information and archival, restoration, and storage of the historic elements. Maintains catalog records in PastPerfect software. Creates and rotates displays of the historic materials within and around the museum.

Accepts and tracks donations of new materials and accessions items into the collection. Creates exhibits, both on and off-site, including script development, design, and installation of materials. Locates appropriate artifacts/objects/documents for use in exhibits.

Develops and executes educational and outreach programming for a wide variety of audiences through dynamic museum events and initiatives. Assists the HPC, staff, and/or general public with historic research. Identifies grant opportunities, writes grant applications, administers grant funding, and prepares grant reporting and documentation.

Works with staff, volunteers, the HPC and the Museum Committee to organize and hold museum events. Promotes the Brighton City Museum through partnerships with other organizations, cooperative programming, attendance at public events, and other means. Creates educational and promotional public information and disseminates that information to the public with oversight from the Communications and Engagement Department.

Oversees the daily operations of the Brighton City Museum including purchasing, pest management, scheduling and management of volunteers, and maintaining vital statistics of museum interactions. Recruits, manages, and trains volunteers to assist in daily operations of the museum. May perform other duties as necessary to assist the Community Development Department.

Qualifications Knowledge of: Past Perfect Software and standard museum practices regarding collections, exhibition development, historical interpretation, design, and educational programming. Collections management, including acquisition, artifact and archival care and handling, environmental controls, and standardized documentation systems. Grant writing and grant management.

Historic interpretation and education methodology and practices. The Ten Agents of Deterioration and preventative conservation. Ability to: Be highly self-motivated, detail-oriented, and organized.

Work independently with minimal direction but also coordinate with other staff and the general public. Train and direct temporary volunteers in collections work and exhibit creation. Develop and maintain relationships with community members and organizations, volunteers, and donors.

Demonstrate competence with computers and large scanners and input data with ease. Education and Experience A bachelor's degree, or equivalent experience, in Public History, Historic Preservation, or Museum Studies is required. Minimum of 3 years of experience working with and handling historic documents and/or artifacts.

Experience designing, creating or assembling museum exhibits is also highly preferred. Physical Requirements The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to twenty-five (25) pounds. Special Requirements Valid Colorado Driver's License with safe driving record.

Bilingual English/Spanish preferred.