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Museum docent vs art preparator

The differences between museum docents and art preparators 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 docent and an art preparator. Additionally, an art preparator has an average salary of $59,856, which is higher than the $40,630 average annual salary of a museum docent.

The top three skills for a museum docent include natural history, museum gift shop and museum exhibits. The most important skills for an art preparator are art exhibitions, art installation, and art preparation.

Museum docent vs art preparator overview

Museum DocentArt Preparator
Yearly salary$40,630$59,856
Hourly rate$19.53$28.78
Growth rate12%12%
Number of jobs772,769
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 81%Bachelor's Degree, 71%
Average age4444
Years of experience44

Museum docent vs art preparator salary

Museum docents and art preparators have different pay scales, as shown below.

Museum DocentArt Preparator
Average salary$40,630$59,856
Salary rangeBetween $24,000 And $67,000Between $29,000 And $120,000
Highest paying City--
Highest paying state--
Best paying company--
Best paying industry--

Differences between museum docent and art preparator education

There are a few differences between a museum docent and an art preparator in terms of educational background:

Museum DocentArt Preparator
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 81%Bachelor's Degree, 71%
Most common majorHistoryFine Arts
Most common collegeHarvard UniversityHarvard University

Museum docent vs art preparator demographics

Here are the differences between museum docents' and art preparators' demographics:

Museum DocentArt Preparator
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 37.1% Female, 62.9%Male, 78.3% Female, 21.7%
Race ratioBlack 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%Black or African American, 5.4% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 7.5% Asian, 3.5% White, 77.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.4%
LGBT Percentage13%13%

Differences between museum docent and art preparator duties and responsibilities

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.

Art preparator example responsibilities.

  • Manage graphic arts department and camera and typesetting departments.
  • Work on set design and advance photo editing including color swapping and color correcting for commercial photography studio.
  • Generate quotes for custom screen print and embroidery projects that require art time and or outside service bureau charges.

Museum docent vs art preparator skills

Common museum docent skills
  • Natural History, 39%
  • Museum Gift Shop, 9%
  • Museum Exhibits, 8%
  • Front Desk, 7%
  • Public Speaking, 7%
  • Educational Programs, 6%
Common art preparator skills
  • Art Exhibitions, 34%
  • Art Installation, 21%
  • Art Preparation, 21%
  • Museum Standards, 15%
  • Condition Reports, 9%

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