ZipRecruiter

Log In

1

Volunteer Museum Docent Jobs (NOW HIRING)

City of Dublin (CA)

Volunteer

Dublin, CA · On-site

This historic house museum is unique because it has all of the original family furniture and ... As a docent, you will learn and enjoy meaningful time spent in a beautiful park setting. You will ...

Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum

FT Reserve Keeper II

Tucson, AZ · On-site

$19.51/hr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • PTO

... museum operations. • Participates in educational activities as required, (i.e., Docent classes, ADC, Art Institute, media). • May be responsible for training volunteers, Docents and Education ...

ACCESS

Coordinator of Public Programming

Dearborn, MI · On-site

Work in close collaboration with relevant museum staff and seek to extend AANM's educational and ... Assess event staffing and volunteer needs and recruit/communicate with staff/volunteers as ...

previous pagenext page

Showing results 21-40

All JobsVolunteer Museum Docent Jobs

Volunteer Museum Docent information

See salary details

$8

$19

$33

How much do volunteer museum docent jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 16, 2026, the average hourly pay for volunteer museum docent 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 are some common challenges faced by volunteer museum docents, and how can they be addressed?

Volunteer museum docents often encounter challenges such as engaging diverse visitor groups, mastering complex exhibit information, and managing time during tours. To overcome these, docents can participate in ongoing training sessions, collaborate with fellow docents to share best practices, and seek feedback from both staff and visitors. Being adaptable and open to learning helps ensure a positive experience for both the docent and museum guests.

What do you need to be a volunteer museum docent?

To be a volunteer museum docent, you typically need good communication skills, an interest in the museum's subject matter, and the ability to engage visitors. Many programs require a background check, training sessions, and a commitment of a certain number of hours per week or month. Some museums prefer volunteers with prior experience in education, history, or art, but training is often provided for new volunteers.

How to become a volunteer museum docent?

To become a volunteer museum docent, individuals typically complete an application process and attend training sessions provided by the museum. Training often covers museum history, exhibit details, and visitor engagement skills, preparing volunteers to guide tours and answer questions effectively.

What is the difference between Volunteer Museum Docent vs Volunteer Museum Guide?

AspectVolunteer Museum DocentVolunteer Museum Guide
Required CredentialsNone typically required; some knowledge of exhibits beneficialNone typically required; focus on guiding visitors
Work EnvironmentIndoor museum settings, interacting with visitors and explaining exhibitsIndoor museum or gallery settings, assisting visitors and providing information
Employer & Industry UsageMuseums, historical sites, cultural institutionsMuseums, art galleries, cultural centers

Volunteer Museum Docents and Volunteer Museum Guides both assist visitors in museums, but docents often provide more in-depth educational talks about exhibits, while guides focus on general visitor assistance. Both roles enhance visitor experience and require good communication skills, with minimal formal credentials needed.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a volunteer museum docent?

To thrive as a Volunteer Museum Docent, you need a solid understanding of the museum's subject matter, strong public speaking abilities, and a genuine interest in education or history. Familiarity with tour scheduling systems, audio-visual equipment, and sometimes basic training or orientation provided by the museum is typical. Exceptional interpersonal skills, enthusiasm, and adaptability help docents engage diverse audiences and handle unexpected questions or situations. These skills ensure that visitors have an informative, enjoyable, and memorable museum experience.

What is a volunteer museum docent?

Volunteer Museum Docents are trained individuals who guide visitors through museum exhibits, providing educational information and enhancing the visitor experience. They often lead tours, answer questions, and share their knowledge about the museum's collections. Docents play a vital role in making art, history, or science accessible and engaging to the public. Although they are volunteers, they usually receive special training from museum staff. Their work helps foster a deeper appreciation and understanding of the exhibits among visitors.

What cities are hiring for Volunteer Museum Docent jobs?

Cities with the most Volunteer Museum Docent job openings:

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

The most popular types of Museum Docent jobs are:

What states have the most Volunteer Museum Docent jobs?

States with the most job openings for Volunteer Museum Docent jobs include:

Volunteer Museum Docent jobs near you

Teacher Programs Coordinator

NORTON MUSEUM OF ART INC

West Palm Beach, FL • On-site

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 25 days ago

Job description

About the Norton Museum of Art: 

Founded in 1941 by Ralph Hubbard Norton and his wife Elizabeth Calhoun Norton, the Norton Museum of Art is Florida’s largest art museum, renowned for its distinguished collection. The Norton Museum of Art welcomes visitors to experience the transformative power of art through intimate and creative encounters with wide-ranging collections and programs of the highest quality. With holdings spanning Contemporary, Early European, Modern, and Asian Art, as well as Photography, the Norton serves as a cherished institution within its community.

Our Commitments:

To uphold our mission and ensure the Norton’s relevance to our community, we are dedicated to the following principles:

  • Art: We celebrate and share excellence in the arts in all its forms.
  • Audience: We cultivate meaningful dialogues and relationships with a diverse and inclusive audience.
  • Ambassadors: Our employees, Trustees, volunteers, and partners are the vital links connecting Art and Audience.
  • Foundations: We are committed to preserving the Norton’s fiscal and physical legacy for future generations.

Position Summary: 

The Teacher Programs Coordinator supports the Director of School and Teacher Programs to develop, coordinate and execute the Museum's school partnership and teacher programs. This position creates and leads teacher workshops, teaches school students, as well as leads efforts for the Marden Community Gallery student exhibition

Essential Duties and Responsibilities: 

Responsibilities include but are not limited to: 

   Administrative Duties:

  • Coordinate sending and saving agreements for partnership schools.
  • Coordinate event rentals and contracts for programs such as teacher happy hour and partnership family days.
  • Coordinate the ordering and organization of school program art supplies. 
  • Create and manage event flows for teacher and school events. 
  • Create agendas and take notes for meetings including offsite meetings at partnership schools.
  • Manage school programs’ volunteers including creating their monthly schedules, and onboarding new volunteers each semester.

   Programmatic Duties:

  • Greet tour groups arriving and leaving the Museum.
  • Teach virtual school tours along with the Director of School and Teacher Programs and the School Programs Coordinator.
  • Be prepared to train and then lead school tours or/and extended tours if/when necessary, due to last-minute docent cancellations and teach in the galleries on average two to three times per month.
  • Collaborate with School and Teacher Programs and Family and Community Programs Directors to develop extended tour resources, content, teaching artist training and scheduling. 
  • Collaborate, coordinate, and participate in developing and implementing teacher workshops. 
  • Support the Director of School and Teacher Programs in the creation and implementation of K-12 interdisciplinary, art educational resources and curriculum materials for the classroom that support state and national teaching standards.
  • Co-develop school tour themes for permanent and special exhibitions with STP team.
  • Collaborate with the Director of School and Teacher Programs to plan and manage all aspects of the school program exhibitions in Marden Community Gallery including developing themes, coordinating dates, collecting of artwork, marketing, and co-curating the exhibitions.
  • Participate in and support the development and teaching of partnership school programs at the Museum and in schools.
  • Participate in and support training for Docent continuing education for school programs.
  • Represent the Museum and the LCE Department at community and professional meetings and conferences. 
  • Contribute to the LCE department during weekly department meetings.
  • Collaborate with other LCE staff to curate interactive exhibits in the William Randolph Hearst Education Center Project Space.
  • Work with Director of School and Teacher Programs and Marketing to develop and execute a marketing plan for School and Teacher Programs
  • Review and give suggestions for evaluations created for all school and teacher programs.

   Special Projects and Additional Duties:

  • Be prepared to assist family festivals on occasional weekends.
  • Complete special projects or additional duties as assigned, and consistent with the skills, training, level of responsibility and other requirements for this position.

Qualifications:  

  • Must have strong collaboration skills and will be able to work across all areas of the museum and with the public and will demonstrate a commitment to the mission and goals of the Museum.
  • Minimum Bachelor of Arts in related field
  • Relevant experience in K-12 school settings and/or Museum education preferred 
  • Excellent written and oral communication skills
  • Proficient in Microsoft Office and Outlook; Altru (preferred but can be trained on the job)
  • Experience with budgets and scheduling
  • Demonstrates a positive outlook in dealing with fellow staff and external patrons
  • Is proactive, detail-oriented, organized
  • Shows willingness to learn about the Museum collection and exhibitions to develop exciting and innovative programs and teacher materials related to Museum content.
  • Maintains flexibility in a fast-paced program environment, including an openness to re-direction and shifting priorities.
  • Serves as a community ambassador for the Museum and its mission.
  • Ability to speak and write Spanish a plus

Hours and Compensation: 

  • Monday-Friday 9am-5pm (occasional weekends as needed)
  • Full-Time, Non-Exempt
  • Compensation: Commensurate with experience

Location Requirements:

At the time of employment, employees are expected to be located within reasonable commuting distance of the museum. Commuting Distance means they are located in South Florida, and able to commute to and from the Museum in a single day. 

  • Museum Location: 1450 South Dixie Hwy, West Palm Beach, FL 33413

Benefits Offerings:

The museum provides competitive compensation and generous benefits and perks for all eligible employees. Note: Benefits may differ based on employment status. 

  • Medical, Dental, Vision, Worksite plans & Additional Life Insurance
  • Basic Life Insurance and AD&D, employer paid
  • Short-term Disability Insurance, employer paid
  • Flexible Spending Accounts and Health Savings Accounts
  • 401(k) retirement plan and 2% employer match 
  • Considerable paid time off, plus 4 additional discretionary days, and 9 recognized holidays 
  • Flex Work options; hybrid & flexible schedule after an employee’s 90-day probationary period. NOTE: FlexWork is not suitable for all positions. 
  • 20% discount for staff in the Museum store
  • 10% discount at The Restaurant
  • Membership to the ROAM Museum network 

Note: Nothing in this job description restricts management’s rights to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time. 

Norton Museum of Art is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws. This policy applies to all employment practices within our organization, including hiring, recruiting, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, leave of absence, compensation, benefits, training, and apprenticeship. Norton Museum of Art makes hiring decisions based solely on qualifications, merit, and business needs at the time.

Apply