Museum Jobs in NJ
NJ museum and cultural jobs: museum curator, museum attendant, exhibit artist, zoo curator, and historic preservation titles, with salary ranges.
Category: Education & Culture
Museum and cultural jobs in New Jersey civil service run from museum attendants and exhibit artists to museum curators, zoo curators, historic site interpreters, and historic preservation specialists. Positions sit with the New Jersey State Museum, the Department of State's cultural and historic sites, the Historic Preservation Office, and state parks and zoos, and combine collection care, public programming, research, and preservation work.
Typical Requirements
- Museum attendant and interpreter roles may require only a high school diploma
- Curator and preservation specialist titles require a bachelor's or master's degree in a relevant field (history, art history, museum studies, historic preservation)
- Many titles are competitive and require a civil service exam; some professional roles are non-competitive
- Relevant collection, curatorial, or preservation experience for senior titles
Career Progression
- Museum Attendant
- → Historic Site Interpreter
- → Museum Curator
- → Historic Preservation Specialist 1
- → Historic Preservation Specialist 2
- → Supervising Curator
Available Museum positions in New Jersey
New Jersey civil service has 33 museum titles, paying from $58,222 at entry level to $148,187 at the top step.
Which employers actually hire museum titles
State payroll records show 46 people in these titles across 1 state agency, concentrated at Department of State. This is where the work exists today, not a list of current openings.
- Department of State — 46 employees
Local employers file their payroll separately and are not counted here, so county, municipal and school-district jobs in these titles are additional to the figures above.
About NJ Civil Service Employment
Civil service employment in New Jersey comes with negotiated salary schedules, health coverage, PERS or PFRS pension enrollment, and the due-process protections that come with merit-based hiring. Most titles are filled from a ranked eligibility list after a competitive exam, and each job family has its own promotional ladder.
You will find openings for these titles at state departments as well as county, municipal, and school-district employers. The classification rules and job specifications are shared statewide, regardless of which level of government is hiring.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I become a museum professional in New Jersey?
To work as a museum professional in NJ civil service, you typically need to: Museum attendant and interpreter roles may require only a high school diploma; Curator and preservation specialist titles require a bachelor's or master's degree in a relevant field (history, art history, museum studies, historic preservation); Many titles are competitive and require a civil service exam; some professional roles are non-competitive. Most positions require passing a civil service examination and placement on an eligibility list.
What is the salary range for Museum positions?
Museum salaries in NJ civil service range from $58,222 at entry level to $148,187 for senior positions. Actual salary depends on the specific title, experience, and step level.
Are Museum positions available at state and local level?
Availability varies by position. Use the job listings below to see jurisdiction-specific opportunities.
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