Museums are places that display and house items of historical, cultural, or educational significance. Museums have many jobs that all work together to achieve their goals. You may be interested in working at a museum. Here are some tips to help you find the right opportunities and get them. This article will discuss the different types of museum jobs, the five steps to getting a job in a museum, and several positions with their responsibilities.

Writing a resume for a museum job can be a daunting task. You’ll need to demonstrate knowledge of the museum’s mission, provide evidence of your experience in the field, and showcase the unique skills you bring to the table. It’s important to tailor your resume for museum positions to highlight the qualifications and experiences most applicable to the job you are applying for. Fortunately, you don’t have to go it alone. 

The team at SkillHub resume editing service in Detroit can help you write a perfect resume that will showcase your qualifications and make you stand out from the competition. Reach out today and find out how they can help you land your dream job at a museum.

What are the different types of jobs in museums?

Museums employ a variety of professionals, from businesspeople to educators. Some jobs museums offer:

• Visitors services or attendants are staff who meet visitors and sell tickets.
• Facilities management: This includes engineers, janitorial staff, and specialists who can manage the delicate climate control that museum specimens may require.
• Marketing, development, and fundraising: This staff member focuses on advertising and securing funds for the museum.
• Curators and collections managers: These staff members oversee the items in a collection and manage its physical care protocol and displays. They also decide when and if to purchase new items.
• Administration and museum directors: These staffs oversee daily operations and long-term planning. They collaborate with curators to determine which objects should be included in the museum’s collection.
• Exhibits: This area is home to staff who work daily with exhibits, such as packing and unpacking, caring for animals, and installing new exhibits.
• Education: The museum’s staff can teach in or through community outreach programs.
• Business: These areas could include the museum gift shop, information technology, and accounting.
• Security: This staff protects the museum collection.
• Temporary staff includes interns, fellows, docents, and volunteers. The museum may pay for them.

How to find a job in a museum

There are five steps that you can take to get a job at a museum or advance your career.

1. Start with no-paid experience.

Many museums offer unpaid internships or volunteering programs. These positions allow you to get experience in museums. Some jobs can be temporary, while others may require a weekly or monthly commitment. Others, however, can last indefinitely.

They are a great way to explore different museums and departments and find the one that is most interesting. This is a great time to meet museum staff and discuss the types of jobs you’d like to have in museums.

2. Participate in museum-related events.

Many museum events offer opportunities to meet professionals from the museum industry. Professional networking can be enhanced by meeting people working in museums. They could help you get or find a job in a museum in the future. You could also volunteer or attend events hosted by museums. You can also participate in museum-industry conferences.

3. You might consider working in a museum-adjacent business.

You might consider working for companies that deal with museums before you apply to work in a museum. You could be a part of a shipping company that handles museum transportation or learn how to restore antiques, artifacts, and other items. You will not only meet museum professionals while you are working, but you could also learn skills that could help in your future museum job.

4. Find a job as an entry-level curator.

Apply for entry-level jobs in museums, and you can move up with experience and time. Volunteering or previous experience can make you more attractive to employers. You may also be more likely to get a job at a smaller or new museum, which might have fewer applicants—similar: How to Write a Resume For a Museum Job (With an Example)

5. Consider getting a degree.

You might consider a degree in museum studies if you have difficulty finding a job in a museum. This could help you land certain museum jobs, particularly those that require special expertise. You might be interested in applying for a fellowship to a museum if you already have a degree.

While not all museum jobs require a degree, some do. Most museums will consider applicants with work experience. Experience gained in the field that demonstrates your passion and ability to work in museums could be equivalent to a degree.

Museum jobs

1. Attendant

Average national salary: $28,412/year

Primary duties: The museum attendant works as a customer service professional to welcome and admit visitors. They can answer questions via email, phone, or person about the museum’s policies and collection. They are responsible for ensuring the safety of the collections and directing visitors through the museum galleries. Museum attendants can give tours and assist with other tasks, such as installing exhibits.

2. Animal caretaker

Average national salary: $29 049 per annum.

Primary duties: They care for the animals and maintain their displays. Sometimes, they also educate the public by bringing certain animals into public areas.

3. Registrar

Average national salary: $45,260/year

Primary duties: The museum registrar is responsible for setting up protocols for the care of museum collections. They also maintain documentation for each item. They also deal with logistical matters such as item acquisition, transport, and legal issues like insurance and customs.

4. Head custodian

Average national salary: $48,207/year

Primary duties: The museum head custodian oversees all staff duties and is responsible for maintaining the museum’s cleanliness and grounds. They manage the museum’s supplies inventory and assist with setting up and breaking down events. The head custodian’s responsibility is to ensure that all equipment is in working order. They are responsible for scheduling and managing the personnel requirements of the rest of their custodial staff.

5. Security officer

Average national salary: 50,039 per annum

Primarily, museum security officers are responsible for protecting the museum’s staff, collections, and visitors. They monitor video surveillance and patrol the museum to identify potential threats. The museum security guards will respond to any health emergency and assist.

Visitors may also be directed to the museum by security personnel. They can also answer questions and enforce proper conduct. Museum security officers should know the collection items, as visitors might ask for this information.

6. Curator

Average national salary: $53,817/year

Primary duties: Museum curators have administrative and research responsibilities. They manage the museum’s collections and make decisions about future items and transfers to other institutions. They also supervise the care and display. Curators are usually experts in a specific area and often conduct research related to that area. Museum curators may also assist other departments with fundraising or education.

7. Educator

Average national salary: $55,534/year

Primary duties: The museum’s educators are responsible for implementing the museum’s education programs. They can develop or modify existing programs. Museum educators can teach various people, including school groups, community members, and public museum visitors. Museum educators may also organize lectures or workshops.