museum tour guide jobs

What is a museum tour guide and how to become one

A museum tour guide is a professional who leads visitors through museum exhibits and shares information about the artifacts and history on display. They provide educational tours for individuals, groups, and even schools. They also prepare curriculum for educational programs, manage customer service, and handle financial transactions in museum gift shops. Their role also involves answering questions about the museum, its exhibits, and its history. Tour guides must have a good understanding of the museum's collections and be able to explain them in a clear and concise manner.

How long does it takes to become a museum tour guide?

It typically takes 2-3 years to become a museum tour guide:

• Year 1-2: Obtaining an associate degree in a relevant field, such as art history or museum studies.
• Year 3: Accumulating the necessary work experience in tour guide duties, such as leading tours, providing information about exhibits, and answering visitor questions.
• Salary $31,318
• Jobs Number 1,113
• Most Common Skill Museum Tours
• Most Common Degree Bachelor's degree
• Best State Tennessee

Museum Tour Guide career paths

A museum tour guide's skills and knowledge can lead to various career paths. They may become a teacher, imparting their knowledge to students, or a consultant, helping organizations make informed decisions. They may also consider roles like a project manager or executive assistant, where they can manage and oversee projects and operations.

Key steps to become a museum tour guide

Explore museum tour guide education requirements.

The educational requirements for a museum tour guide are varied, with the majority holding at least an Associate degree. According to the data, 32.48% of museum tour guides have an Associate degree, 30.03% have a Bachelor's degree, and 3.85% have a Master's degree. However, a significant number, 21.82%, have only a high school diploma. Certifications such as First Aid, CPR and AED Instructor, Travel and Tourism Professional, and Certified Tour Guide / Director can also be beneficial. Common majors for museum tour guides include History, Graphic Design, Psychology, English, and Business. Top schools for these majors include Stanford University, Harvard University, University of Pennsylvania, Yale University, and Cornell University.

Most common museum tour guide degrees

Bachelor's

Master's

Start to develop specific museum tour guide skills

Museum tour guides need a range of skills. They provide educational tours of exhibits, perform customer service, and answer questions. They may also develop and present programs, research topics, and monitor visitors' activities to ensure safety. They must be able to communicate effectively and answer inquiries from visitors.

Complete relevant museum tour guide training and internships

Research museum tour guide duties and responsibilities.

Museum tour guides provide educational and informative tours of exhibits, conduct workshops, and answer questions for visitors. They also handle customer service and fiscal transactions in the gift shop, and even conduct interactive programs like campfires and summer-school classes. They may also design personalized tour guides and assist in customer service for prospective students.

• Manage the canoe landing including guests, workers, and canoe traffic in a way that all run smoothly and safely.
• Facilitate a therapeutic outdoor adventure experience for teenagers struggling with a variety of behavioral, mental health and substance abuse challenges.
• Deliver a service-focuse guest experience through excellent leadership and communication skills, and problem-solving expertise.

Prepare your museum tour guide resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your museum tour guide resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a museum tour guide resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose From 10+ Customizable Museum Tour Guide Resume templates

Apply for museum tour guide jobs

Now it's time to start searching for a museum tour guide job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

• Browse job boards for relevant postings
• Consult your professional network
• Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
• Watch out for job scams

Are you a Museum Tour Guide?

Share your story for a free salary report.

Average museum tour guide salary

The average Museum Tour Guide salary in the United States is $31,318 per year or $15 per hour. Museum tour guide salaries range between $17,000 and $56,000 per year.

What Am I Worth?

How do museum tour guides rate their job?

Updated April 25, 2024

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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What Does a Museum Guide Do?

Find out what a Museum Guide does, how to get this job, salary information, and what it takes to succeed as a Museum Guide.

The Museum Guide serves as the face of the museum’s educational mission, offering visitors a window into the rich tapestry of history, art, and culture housed within its walls. Through engaging narratives and insightful explanations, they enhance the visitor experience, making each exhibit more accessible and enjoyable. This role involves a delicate balance of sharing knowledge, facilitating discovery, and fostering an appreciation for the museum’s collections. By tailoring their approach to suit diverse audiences, Museum Guides ensure that each guest leaves with a deeper understanding and a heightened curiosity about the subjects on display. Their contributions are instrumental in creating a memorable and educational visit, encouraging public engagement with the museum’s offerings.

Museum Guide Job Duties

• Greet visitors and provide them with an overview of the museum, including layout, special exhibits, and general rules.
• Lead guided tours, tailoring the presentation to the specific interests and age groups of the audience.
• Answer visitors’ questions about the museum’s collections, exhibits, and history in an informative and engaging manner.
• Monitor galleries to ensure the safety of the exhibits and the comfort of visitors, addressing any concerns or issues that arise.
• Facilitate interactive educational activities and workshops for a variety of audiences, including school groups and families.
• Collect and report feedback from visitors to museum management to help improve the visitor experience.
• Assist in the setup and takedown of temporary exhibits, ensuring that all pieces are handled with care.
• Perform light maintenance and cleaning tasks in exhibit areas to ensure spaces are presentable and welcoming to visitors.

Museum Guide Salary & Outlook

Salaries for Museum Guides can vary based on the institution’s size, funding, and prestige. Experience and specialized knowledge in the museum’s focus area significantly impact earnings. Guides fluent in multiple languages or with expertise in engaging diverse audiences may command higher salaries. Seasonal visitor traffic also influences income potential.

• Median Annual Salary: $51,975 ($24.99/hour)
• Top 10% Annual Salary: $109,800 ($52.79/hour)

The employment of museum guides is expected to grow faster than average over the next decade.

This growth is driven by increasing tourism, a rising interest in cultural education, and museums expanding their interactive and educational programs to enhance visitor experiences. Museum Guides are crucial in facilitating these engaging, informative tours, thus elevating the demand for their expertise.

Museum Guide Job Requirements

Education: Museum Guide positions often require a diverse educational background. Candidates typically hold degrees ranging from Associate’s to Bachelor’s, with majors in history, art history, archaeology, or museum studies being particularly relevant. A High School Diploma is a minimum for some roles, emphasizing the importance of courses in history, communication, and public speaking. Education in these areas equips guides with the knowledge and skills to engage and educate visitors effectively.

Experience: Museum Guides often come from diverse backgrounds, with a significant portion having prior experience in customer service, public speaking, or educational roles. On-the-job training is common, allowing guides to familiarize themselves with the museum’s collections, exhibit themes, and the storytelling aspect of their role. Training programs may also cover crowd management and engagement techniques, ensuring guides can effectively communicate and interact with visitors of all ages. Continuous learning is encouraged to keep up with new exhibits and historical research.

Certifications & Licenses: Museum Guide positions typically do not require specific certifications or licenses.

Museum Guide Skills

Art History: Delving into the progression of artistic movements, techniques, and their socio-political influences equips museum guides with the tools needed to enhance visitor experiences. Such knowledge facilitates accurate presentation of artworks and fosters a deeper appreciation among audiences, effectively bridging historical contexts with contemporary perceptions.

Public Speaking: The ability to share the history and art with enthusiasm and clarity ensures that visitors of all ages gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of the exhibits. Skilled communication transforms a simple tour into an engaging, memorable experience, highlighting the importance of this skill for museum guides.

Exhibit Design: Creating engaging and educational displays involves a thorough understanding of subject matter and visual storytelling principles. Attention to detail in selecting artifacts, and strategic use of lighting and space, are crucial for crafting immersive experiences that captivate diverse audiences.

Cultural Sensitivity: Guides adeptly respect the diverse cultural backgrounds of their audience, ensuring narratives are inclusive. This approach fosters a welcoming environment, encouraging appreciation for artifacts and stories from various cultures, thereby enhancing the educational experience.

Visitor Engagement: Through storytelling, interactive dialogue, and tailored presentations, guides create memorable and educational experiences. This method enriches the visitor’s journey, promoting a deeper appreciation and understanding of the museum’s collections.

Educational Programming: Designing engaging, informative experiences for diverse audiences requires blending historical accuracy with storytelling. Guides must have a profound knowledge of the museum’s collections and the ability to create programs that are both accessible and engaging, ensuring visitors of all ages leave with a richer understanding of the exhibits.

Museum Guide Work Environment

Museum Guides operate in a unique setting where history and art converge, spending most of their time within the museum’s galleries and exhibit spaces. Their workspace is dynamic, surrounded by artifacts and artworks, requiring them to navigate through different rooms and sometimes confined spaces. The tools of their trade are relatively simple, often including audio-visual aids, mobile devices for accessing information, and occasionally handling protective equipment for artifacts.

The work hours for Museum Guides can vary, often aligning with the museum’s operating hours, which may include weekends and public holidays. This role demands a certain level of flexibility, especially during special exhibitions or events. Dress codes are generally in place, aiming to reflect the museum’s professional atmosphere, often requiring guides to wear attire that is both smart and practical for their day-to-day duties.

Interaction with visitors is at the heart of a Museum Guide’s role, necessitating excellent communication skills and a patient demeanor. The environment is generally quiet, aiming to create a contemplative space for visitors, though noise levels can rise during busy periods or events. Despite the physical demands and the need for constant engagement with the public, the role offers a rewarding experience for those passionate about education and cultural preservation.

Advancement Prospects

Museum Guides can advance their careers by specializing in certain historical periods or types of art, positioning themselves as experts and potentially leading to roles such as Curatorial Assistants. Gaining experience in various exhibitions enhances their prospects for such transitions.

Developing strong storytelling and public speaking skills can open opportunities in educational programming within museums. Guides with a knack for engaging diverse audiences might progress to Education Coordinator positions, where they design and implement public programs.

Another path involves moving into administrative roles, such as Visitor Services Manager, where responsibilities expand to overseeing staff, budgeting, and enhancing the overall visitor experience. Success in this area requires a deep understanding of museum operations beyond the exhibit halls.

To achieve these advancements, Museum Guides should seek opportunities for involvement in project management and exhibit planning, demonstrating their capability to handle larger responsibilities within the museum setting.

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• Become the Dream
• Board of Directors
• Board Meetings By-Laws

By working at the National Civil Rights Museum, you can support the museum’s mission to share the inspiring lessons that have come from the American Civil Rights Movement.

CHIEF EDUCATION & INTERPRETATION OFFICER

The Chief Education and Interpretation Officer leads the education , collections, and interpretation strategy for the National Civil Rights Museum and is responsible for the curation of permanent and rotating exhibit s .  This person ensures th at the civil rights story is told with integrity and accuracy through primary sources and i s key to ensuring that high quality museum program ming exists for Museum visitors, in person and virtually. He/She/ They oversees the administration of all Museum collections, including receipt of donations and loans.

To apply, submit a resume to [email protected] .

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The Tour Guide is responsible for providing interpretive and educational content of the museum’s permanent and changing galleries to museum visitors, groups, and special guests  

To apply, submit a resume to [email protected] .

Museum educator.

The Museum Educator is responsible for ensuring the accuracy and academic rigor of all Museum messages based on solid historical research.  This position serves in the capacity of both historian and teacher for the Museum.

To apply, submit a resume and cover letter to  [email protected] .

Program manager, community engagement & dei initiatives .

The Program Manager is critical to the smooth operations and development of Community Engagement and DEI Initiatives at the National Civil Rights Museum. The ideal candidate will have a proven program and project management track record and the ability to build and drive the programs that support and sustain the organization’s Community Engagement and DEI efforts.

To apply, submit a resume to  [email protected] .

The Accountant is responsible for implementing & managing accounting functions for the Finance Department.

To apply, submit a resume to [email protected] .

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER.

The National Civil Rights provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, amnesty, or status as a covered veteran in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws.

Museum Hours for Today Today: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM

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2,5 absolutely FREE DAILY walking tour in Moscow. We're TOP-rated company according to TA reviews! Book now and get meeting points details!

TOURS / SERVICES

Testimonial

"A very enjoybale day in Moscow. We had a very nice and knowledgeable guide Anastasia.(Nastia) She was very passionate about the City and we learnt so much in our brief four hours walk with her! Certainly this walking tour added a lot of value to our Moscow Holiday. A great idea to educate visitors about Russia and Moscow. The group was intimate enough to ask questions and stop for snacks etc..we thoriughly enjoyed it and would highly reccomend it.Carry on doing a great job!"

"I really enjoyed the tour, it was a great experience, very informative and fun. I will definitely tell everybody about that tour, keep it it is a fantastic idea!"

"Sorry I do not remember the names :( ... They were very talkative and very into everything. I think they both really love the city, and they made me feel like this to. They knew much about History, which was very informative! Great guides!!!"

"We partook of the fantastic Petersburg Free Tour. Due to our timing during the low season (shockingly not everyone is flocking to Moscow while the average temperature is 15F), it ended up being just us and Sonia, the afore-mentioned super-guide. She quickly ascertained the limited scope of our wanderings.."

THE 10 BEST Moscow Museums

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1. State Tretyakov Gallery

2. Moscow Kremlin

3. Tsaritsyno Museum-Reserve

4. Armoury Chamber

5. Kolomenskoye Historical and Architectural Museum and Reserve

6. The Museum of Cosmonautics

7. Kuskovo Estate

8. Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts

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10. State Darwin Museum

11. Diamond Fund (Almazny Fond)

12. Experimentanium Museum of Entertaining Sciences

13. Jewish Museum and Tolerance Center

14. Museum of Soviet Arcade Machines

15. Art Gallery of the European and American Countries of the XIX-XX centuries

16. Orlov Paleontological Museum

17. Muzeon Art Park

18. Mikhail Bulgakov State Museum

19. Moscow Planetarium

20. Historical Park Russia - My History

21. Entertainment Center Arbat 16

22. Bunker-42 Cold War Museum at Taganka

23. Museum-Diorama Tsar-Layout

24. The State A.S. Pushkin Museum

25. Museum Moskovskiy Transport

26. Victor Vasnetsov House Museum

27. Novospasskiy Monastery

28. Gorky's House (Ryabushinsky Mansion)

29. Artplay Design and Architecture Center

30. Borodino Battle Museum Panorama

What travelers are saying

• State Tretyakov Gallery
• Moscow Kremlin
• Tsaritsyno Museum-Reserve
• The Museum of Cosmonautics
• Armoury Chamber
• Museum-Diorama Tsar-Layout
• Victor Vasnetsov House Museum
• Museum Moskovskiy Transport
• Kolomenskoye Historical and Architectural Museum and Reserve
• Museum in the Dark Sensorium
• Art Gallery of the European and American Countries of the XIX-XX centuries
• Kuskovo Estate
• Muzeon Art Park
• Jewish Museum and Tolerance Center
• Orlov Paleontological Museum
• Novospasskiy Monastery
• Historical Park Russia - My History
• Experimentanium Museum of Entertaining Sciences
• Mikhail Bulgakov State Museum
• Museum of Soviet Arcade Machines
• Entertainment Center Arbat 16
• Bunker-42 Cold War Museum at Taganka
• Museum of Illusions
• Museum of Death