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Volunteer Fossil Preparation Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Earthjustice

2027 Fossil Fuels Clerkship

Chicago, IL

$1.3K/wk

Please be prepared to respond to our September follow-up e-mail, requesting your ranked choice of ... or volunteer supervisors. RESOURCES While identical applications for each team will be considered ...

Earthjustice

2027 Fossil Fuels Clerkship

New Orleans, LA · On-site +1

$1.3K/wk

Please be prepared to respond to our September follow-up e-mail, requesting your ranked choice of ... or volunteer supervisors. RESOURCES While identical applications for each team will be considered ...

Earthjustice

2027 Fossil Fuels Clerkship

Chicago, IL · On-site

Please be prepared to respond to our September follow-up e-mail, requesting your ranked choice of ... or volunteer supervisors. RESOURCES While identical applications for each team will be considered ...

Earthjustice

2027 Fossil Fuels Clerkship

New Orleans, LA · On-site

$1.3K/wk

Please be prepared to respond to our September follow-up e-mail, requesting your ranked choice of ... or volunteer supervisors. RESOURCES While identical applications for each team will be considered ...

Earthjustice

2027 Fossil Fuels Clerkship

Chicago, IL · On-site +1

$1.3K/wk

Please be prepared to respond to our September follow-up e-mail, requesting your ranked choice of ... or volunteer supervisors. RESOURCES While identical applications for each team will be considered ...

Earthjustice

2027 Fossil Fuels Clerkship

New Orleans, LA · On-site

$1.3K/wk

Please be prepared to respond to our September follow-up e-mail, requesting your ranked choice of ... or volunteer supervisors. RESOURCES While identical applications for each team will be considered ...

Earthjustice

2027 Fossil Fuels Clerkship

New Orleans, LA · On-site

Please be prepared to respond to our September follow-up e-mail, requesting your ranked choice of ... or volunteer supervisors. RESOURCES While identical applications for each team will be considered ...

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

$69.15/hr

Prepare clearances under the direction of the Chief Power Plant Operator. * Place clearance tags ... US Citizens Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through ...

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Volunteer Fossil Preparation information

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$19

$33

How much do volunteer fossil preparation jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 14, 2026, the average hourly pay for volunteer fossil preparation 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 skills and qualifications are needed to thrive as a volunteer fossil preparator?

To excel as a Volunteer Fossil Preparator, you need attention to detail, steady hand-eye coordination, and a basic understanding of paleontology, often gained through museum training or workshops. Familiarity with specialized tools like air scribes, dental picks, and consolidants is typically required, along with adherence to lab safety protocols. Patience, meticulousness, and the ability to work collaboratively make individuals stand out in this role. These skills are crucial for preserving valuable fossil specimens accurately and contributing effectively to scientific research and public education.

What is a volunteer fossil preparator?

Volunteer Fossil Preparators are individuals who assist museums, universities, or research institutions in cleaning, preserving, and sometimes assembling fossil specimens. Their work supports professional paleontologists by preparing fossils for study, display, or storage. Volunteers may use specialized tools and follow specific techniques to ensure fossils are preserved properly without causing damage. This role is often unpaid but provides valuable hands-on experience for those interested in paleontology and museum work.

What is the difference between Volunteer Fossil Preparation vs Volunteer Paleontological Field Assistant?

AspectVolunteer Fossil PreparationVolunteer Paleontological Field Assistant
Required SkillsFossil cleaning, preservation techniquesField excavation, site surveying
Work EnvironmentLaboratory or museum settingsOutdoor excavation sites
CertificationsBasic paleontology knowledge often helpfulField safety training, sometimes certifications
Industry UsageMuseums, research labsField expeditions, research projects

Volunteer Fossil Preparation involves cleaning and preserving fossils in labs or museums, focusing on specimen care. Volunteer Paleontological Field Assistants participate in outdoor excavations, assisting with digging and site documentation. Both roles support paleontology but differ mainly in work environment and specific tasks.

What does a volunteer fossil preparator do?

As a Volunteer Fossil Preparator, you’ll typically work on cleaning, repairing, and assembling fossil specimens using specialized tools under the supervision of professional paleontologists. Common challenges include handling extremely delicate or fragmented fossils, following precise protocols to avoid damage, and sometimes working with unfamiliar materials like consolidants or adhesives. Collaboration is key, as you'll often coordinate with staff and other volunteers to ensure specimens are properly documented and stored. The work is detail-oriented and requires patience, but it offers a unique opportunity to contribute directly to scientific research and public exhibits.

What cities are hiring for Volunteer Fossil Preparation jobs?

Cities with the most Volunteer Fossil Preparation job openings:

What are the most commonly searched types of Fossil Preparation jobs?

The most popular types of Fossil Preparation jobs are:

What states have the most Volunteer Fossil Preparation jobs?

States with the most job openings for Volunteer Fossil Preparation jobs include:

What job categories do people searching Volunteer Fossil Preparation jobs look for?

The top searched job categories for Volunteer Fossil Preparation jobs are:

Volunteer Fossil Preparation jobs near you
Infographic showing various Volunteer Fossil Preparation job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 76% Full Time, 21% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 94% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 4% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $39,804 per year, or $19.1 per hour.

2027 Fossil Fuels Clerkship

Earthjustice

Chicago, IL

$1.3K/wk

Full-time

Re-posted 7 days ago

Job description

FOSSIL FUELS PROGRAM
The oil and gas industry's aggressive expansion of fossil fuel infrastructure escalates harm to communities and locks us into decades of future fossil fuel use at a time when we desperately need to reduce greenhouse grass emissions. Earthjustice’s Fossil Fuels program is confronting this massive build-out. We use litigation, administrative advocacy, and partnership to advance an end to U.S. oil and gas extraction and production, and stop new infrastructure (e.g., petrochemical facilities, export terminals and pipelines), focused in the U.S. Gulf Region and Appalachia.
 
ABOUT US 
Founded in 1971, Earthjustice has a distinguished track record of achieving significant, lasting  environmental protections. We wield the power of law and the strength of partnership to protect people’s health; preserve magnificent places and wildlife; advance clean energy; and combat climate change. We partner with thousands of groups and supporters to take on the biggest, most precedent-setting cases across the country and have a distinguished track record of achieving significant, lasting environmental protections. We are here because the earth needs a good lawyer. 
  
We welcome all interested law students from across the country to apply for a summer law clerk position.  We expect that students will work proximate to or in an office where the program is located. 
  
RESPONSIBILITIES 
Summer Law Clerks will have the opportunity to work with several attorneys on case development and litigation strategy. Students may draft pleadings and briefs, do legal research, develop strategy and legal theories, gather evidence, and attend client meetings and court proceedings. Earthjustice’s summer law clerk program also includes various programmatic offerings, such as in-person and virtual seminars with attorneys and guest speakers on current environmental issues, interactions with other local and regional environmental groups, and a job interview workshop.  
  
COMPENSATION 
Earthjustice summer law clerkships are paid positions. The total stipend amount will be dependent on any external funding a student secures, such as through their law school’s summer funding program. Earthjustice will provide a one-time stipend at the start of the clerkship in the amount of $1,382.00 per week, minus the total amount received from any other sources and applicable taxes. The summer law clerkship is designed to be 10 weeks long at full-time hours (37.5 hours/week).  
  
You are welcome to pursue outside funding. The ability to secure outside funding will not be considered as part of the hiring process.  
  
HOW TO APPLY 
Eligibility: Candidates must be enrolled in a U.S. law school through fall 2027 (i.e., not graduating before December 2027) and be available to commit ten weeks during summer 2027. Summer law clerks must work from the U.S. during their clerkship.  
  
HOW TO APPLY
Interested candidates should submit their complete application via Jobvite by September 7, 2026. Incomplete applications will not be considered.  
  
Each Earthjustice litigation team participates in clerk hiring; candidates may submit applications to whichever and however many litigation teams they are interested. Please be prepared to respond to our  September follow-up e-mail, requesting your ranked choice of the teams for which you have applied. Do not include such rankings within your Jobvite application. 
 
Application Materials Requested:  
  • Resume. 
  • Cover letter that addresses:  
    • (1) relevant aspects of your background that are not apparent or fully explained in your resume; 
    • (2) why you are drawn to Earthjustice’s mission and the litigation teams for which you are applying; and 
    • (3) whether there are particular environmental or public interest issues that inspire you. 
  • Additional documents (select “Add Files” in Jobvite): 
    • (1) A recent legal writing sample of no more than 10 pages that primarily reflects your work. Please include a cover page indicating the extent to which your writing sample reflects edits and feedback from others.  
    • (2) Unofficial transcript. 
  • Finalists will be asked to submit two references; these may be law school faculty or legal professional, clinical, or volunteer supervisors. 
 
RESOURCES  
While identical applications for each team will be considered, we recommend tailoring your cover letter to describe why you are interested in that specific team. Additional information about our hiring process and tips for success can be found at https://earthjustice.org/about/jobs/hiring-process.   
  
If you experience any technical difficulties or require any accommodations throughout the hiring process, please contact us at jobs@earthjustice.org. No phone calls, drop-ins, or hard copies. 
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