Museum Collections Assistant Salary in the United States

How much does a Museum Collections Assistant make in the United States?

As of July 01, 2026, the average salary for a Museum Collections Assistant in the United States is $39,959 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $19.

However, a Museum Collections Assistant's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $47,622
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $36,000 to $43,970
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $32,394
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View as table View as graph 25% $36,000 10% $32,394 90% $47,622 75% $43,970 $39,959 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Museum Collections Assistant Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $43,970 $3,664 $846 $21
Average $39,959 $3,330 $768 $19
25th Percentile $36,000 $3,000 $692 $17
Check out Museum Collections Assistant Job Openings in the United States
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Key Factors That Influence Museum Collections Assistant Salaries

A Museum Collections Assistant's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Museum Collections Assistant Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Museum Collections Assistant's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $40,784
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $88,365
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $102,345
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $135,827
  • Expert (over 8 years): $168,156
Levels Salary
Museum Co... Level Museum Collections Assistant$40,784
Behaviora... Level Museum Collections Assistant$88,365
Behaviora... Level Museum Collections Assistant$102,345
Behaviora... Level Museum Collections Assistant$135,827
VP of Beh... Level Museum Collections Assistant$168,156
$40,784 0 yr
$88,365 < 2 yrs
$102,345 2-4 yrs
$135,827 5-8 yrs
$168,156 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

How Do Museum Collections Assistant Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Museum Collections Assistants. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $44,243.
  • California: $44,075.
  • Massachusetts: $43,488.

Top Paying Cities for Museum Collections Assistants

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $50,401
  • San Francisco: $49,849
  • Oakland: $48,798

What Skills Can Increase a Museum Collections Assistant's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 16.68% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • Social Work (Mentioned in 3.01% Job Postings): Social work is an academic discipline and profession that concerns itself with individuals, families, groups and communities in an effort to enhance social functioning and overall well-being. Social functioning is the way in which people perform their social roles, and the structural institutions that are provided[by whom?] to sustain them. Social work applies social sciences, such as sociology, psychology, political science, public health, community development, law, and economics, to engage with client systems, conduct assessments, and develop interventions to solve social and personal problems; and to bring about social change. Social work practice is often divided[by whom?] into micro-work, which involves working directly with individuals or small groups; and macro-work, which involves working with communities, and - within social policy - fostering change on a larger scale.
  • First Aid (Mentioned in 2.61% Job Postings): First aid refers to medical attention that is usually administered immediately after the injury occurs and at the location where it occurred.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 16.68%
Social Work 3.01%
First Aid 2.61%
What skills can make your compensation higher?
Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Museum Collections Assistant's salary.
  • Commitment: Can increase your salary by up to 23%.
  • Child Development: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
  • Applied Behavior Analysis: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Commitment
$49,150
23%
Child Development
$42,756
7%
Applied Behavior Analysis
$41,558
4%
Social Work
$41,558
4%
Products and Services
$41,158
3%
Organizational Skills
$40,758
2%
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Museum Collections Assistant Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Museum Collections Assistant roles, the industry you choose can impact your earning potential by as much as 40% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the highest-paying industry, Insurance, offers compensation 20% above the average. Conversely, Museum Collections Assistant positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view Museum Collections Assistant as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for a Museum Collections Assistant

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Insurance$47,951$23.020%

How Education impacts a Museum Collections Assistant's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Museum Collections Assistants enter the field with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Museum Collections Assistant with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate is between $38,567 and $40,902).

Museum Collections Assistant Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Museum Collections Assistant
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.3%
High School 17.7%
Associates 12.6%
Bachelors 53.0%
Masters 16.4%
Doctorate 0.0%
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Museum Collections Assistant Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Museum Collections Assistant's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on July 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Museum Collections Assistant

Salaries for a Museum Collections Assistant can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $37,285 in 2023 to around $36,652 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Museum Collections Assistant salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Museum Collections Assistant Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$37,285
2024
$36,933
2025
$36,652
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $37,285
2024 $36,933
2025 $36,652
2026
View More
2027
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Most common benefits for Museum Collections Assistant

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Museum Collections Assistant

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Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

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