How to hire an exhibit technician

How to hire an exhibit technician, step by step

Here's a step-by-step exhibit technician hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write an exhibit technician job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new exhibit technician
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The exhibit technician hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   An exhibit technician's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, exhibit technicians from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   This list presents exhibit technician salaries for various positions.

   Type of Exhibit Technician	Description	Hourly rate
   Exhibit Technician	Archivists appraise, process, catalog, and preserve permanent records and historically valuable documents. Curators oversee collections of artwork and historic items, and may conduct public service activities for an institution... Show more	$8-30
   Museum Educator	Museum educators develop and carry out all the museum's education and public programs. They are in charge of the community outreach programs and writing curriculum around their museum's collection institution... Show more	$12-29
   Administrative Technician	Administrative technicians are employees who manage a variety of administrative tasks. They are in charge of sorting out mail, taking phone calls, and managing meeting room reservations... Show more	$12-31

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Exhibit Design
   • Prototyping
   • Exhibit Maintenance
   • Interactive Exhibits
   • Exhibit Components
   • Museum Exhibits
   • Aquarium
   • HVAC
   • Troubleshoot
   • Trade Shows

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage paperwork associate with HVAC procedures.
   • Diagnose, troubleshoot and repair systemic problems, commission new turbines, evaluate readiness for operations.
   • Perform archeological field excavations and laboratory analysis.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your exhibit technician job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. An exhibit technician salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, exhibit technicians' average salary in idaho is 53% less than in district of columbia.
   • Seniority. Entry-level exhibit technicians earn 71% less than senior-level exhibit technicians.
   • Certifications. An exhibit technician with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in an exhibit technician's salary.

   Average exhibit technician salary

   $16.53hourly

   $34,387 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level exhibit technician salary

   $18,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 19, 2025

4. Writing an exhibit technician job description

   An exhibit technician job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of an exhibit technician job description:

   Exhibit technician job description example

   Posting Number S01021JP
   
   Department Arctic Museum Arctic Studies
   
   Job Summary
   
   Under the direction of the Exhibits Coordinator, assists with the development and design, fabrication, installation, documentation, and maintenance of the Arctic Museum exhibits, as well as the de-installation of exhibit displays.
   
   Education/Skills Requirements
   
   Required: High school diploma or GED : some college coursework is preferred. Also required: working familiarity with hand tools and power tools; the ability to read technical drawings; ability to work with care and extreme attention to detail; demonstrated command of basic Microsoft Office or equivalent computer programs.
   
   Experience Requirements and/or Equivalents
   
   Required: Minimum of two years of experience relevant to museum exhibition work, including working with hand and power tools, as well as computers.
   
   Standard Work Days and Hours
   
   Year round, part time; schedule to be determined, additional hours possible. Normal work day is 8:30 am-5:00 pm twice a week and 8:30 am-12:00 pm once a week. Other configuration is possible.
   
   About Bowdoin
   
   Bowdoin embraces diversity in all forms, and the College is home to talented students, faculty and staff-with a variety of racial, ethnic, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds; religious beliefs; and gender identities, among other factors.
   
   We encourage applications from candidates committed to the support of an inclusive campus community and those who will enrich and contribute to the College's multifaceted diversity. We value a community in which individuals of all backgrounds are warmly welcomed and encouraged to succeed.
   
   Founded in 1794, Bowdoin has maintained its commitment to the liberal arts for well over 200 years. Bowdoin's reputation as a preeminent liberal arts college rests on the excellence of its faculty, students, and staff; intimate size; strong sense of community; and connections to the people, history, and natural beauty of Maine.
   
   Bowdoin's campus is situated in a beautiful natural setting. Located in Brunswick, Maine, a town of approximately 20,000, the College is a short drive from the Maine coast, twenty-five miles from Portland and 120 miles from Boston.
   
   Shift First Shift
   
   Employment Category Part Time Year Round
   
   FTE 0.50
   
   Benefits Eligible Yes
   
   Pay Type Hourly
   
   Background Check Package Requirements Support Staff + MVR + Credit
   
   Is driving a vehicle (e.g. Bowdoin vehicle or off road vehicle, rental car, personal car) an essential function of this job? Yes
   
   Is a pre-placement physical required for this position? Yes
   
   Posting Date 10/14/2022
   
   Applications Accepted Until
   
   Open Until Filled Yes
   
   Type of Posting Internal/External
   
   Special Instructions to Applicants
   
   Submit a cover letter explaining your interest in and qualifications for the job, your resume, and the names and contact information for three professional references.
   
   EEO Information
   
   Bowdoin College complies with applicable provisions of federal and state laws that prohibit unlawful discrimination in employment, admission, or access to its educational or extracurricular programs, activities, or facilities based on race, color, ethnicity, ancestry and national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, age, marital status, place of birth, genetic predisposition, veteran status, or against qualified individuals with physical or mental disabilities on the basis of disability, or any other legally protected statuses.
   
   Supplemental Questions

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right exhibit technician for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your exhibit technician job on Zippia to find and recruit exhibit technician candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with exhibit technician candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new exhibit technician

   Once you have selected a candidate for the exhibit technician position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   To prepare for the new exhibit technician first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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