Post job

Museum assistant vs museum docent

The differences between museum assistants and museum docents can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a museum assistant and a museum docent. Additionally, a museum docent has an average salary of $40,630, which is higher than the $40,072 average annual salary of a museum assistant.

The top three skills for a museum assistant include museum exhibits, front desk and museum visitors. The most important skills for a museum docent are natural history, museum gift shop, and museum exhibits.

Museum assistant vs museum docent overview

Museum AssistantMuseum Docent
Yearly salary$40,072$40,630
Hourly rate$19.27$19.53
Growth rate12%12%
Number of jobs52277
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 77%Bachelor's Degree, 81%
Average age4444
Years of experience44

Museum assistant vs museum docent salary

Museum assistants and museum docents have different pay scales, as shown below.

Museum AssistantMuseum Docent
Average salary$40,072$40,630
Salary rangeBetween $23,000 And $67,000Between $24,000 And $67,000
Highest paying City--
Highest paying state--
Best paying company--
Best paying industry--

Differences between museum assistant and museum docent education

There are a few differences between a museum assistant and a museum docent in terms of educational background:

Museum AssistantMuseum Docent
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 77%Bachelor's Degree, 81%
Most common majorFine ArtsHistory
Most common collegeHarvard UniversityHarvard University

Museum assistant vs museum docent demographics

Here are the differences between museum assistants' and museum docents' demographics:

Museum AssistantMuseum Docent
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 34.5% Female, 65.5%Male, 37.1% Female, 62.9%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 5.3% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 7.4% Asian, 5.1% White, 76.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2%Black or African American, 5.1% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 7.1% Asian, 4.9% White, 77.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2%
LGBT Percentage13%13%

Differences between museum assistant and museum docent duties and responsibilities

Museum assistant example responsibilities.

  • Aid development and implementation of NPS cataloging standards.
  • Participate in re-cataloging projects involving artifact research, condition assessment, and storage planning.
  • Assist in training fellow employees in NPS museum cataloging methodology.
  • Conduct back-room tours in the department of anthropology for invite visitors.
  • Maintain archival museum and fossil preparation records and treatment folders, transferring information to NPS archives catalog system.
  • Research and document descriptions about each artifact.
  • Show more

Museum docent example responsibilities.

  • Conduct tours of the anthropology and paleontology museums * Write/edit exhibit- and art show-relate materials
  • Create and present educational PowerPoint oral presentations.

Museum assistant vs museum docent skills

Common museum assistant skills
  • Museum Exhibits, 17%
  • Front Desk, 8%
  • Museum Visitors, 8%
  • Museum Events, 6%
  • Educational Programs, 6%
  • Press Releases, 4%
Common museum docent skills
  • Natural History, 39%
  • Museum Gift Shop, 9%
  • Museum Exhibits, 8%
  • Front Desk, 7%
  • Public Speaking, 7%
  • Educational Programs, 6%

Browse education, training, and library jobs