Appendix D: Staff Survey Data Tables
Museums Moving Forward Staff Survey
Fielded November 2024–February 2025
Number of Survey Respondents |
3,102 |
Average years in art museums |
9.3 |
Average years in current museum |
6.1 |
3. Which of the following best describes your current position level in the museum? Every museum uses different terms and titles; please choose whichever level you feel is most aligned with your experience.
Entry |
10% |
Associate |
48% |
Manager |
26% |
Director |
10% |
Executive |
6% |
4. What type of position do you have at the museum? Please select all that apply (e.g., you may be both full time and temporary).
Full-time employee |
84% |
Part-time employee |
17% |
Temporary/seasonal employee |
1% |
5. What best reflects your compensation rate?
< $15/hour |
6% |
$15–$18/hour |
29% |
$18–$21/hour |
27% |
$21–$25/hour |
21% |
$25–$30/hour |
10% |
> $30/hour |
8% |
Average |
$20.84/hour |
6. Would you prefer another level of employment (e.g., full time, part time, permanent) with the museum other than what you currently have? Please select all that apply.
No, I have the type of employment that I prefer |
85% |
Yes, I’d prefer a full-time position |
10% |
Yes, I’d prefer a part-time position |
2% |
Yes, I’d prefer a permanent position |
6% |
7. In which of the following department categories does your current museum position fall? Select all that apply.
Administration |
31% |
Building Operations |
20% |
Collections/Exhibitions |
29% |
Communications |
10% |
Public Engagement |
31% |
None of the above |
3% |
8. Are you a member, or do you have the option of being a member, of a union with a collective bargaining agreement in place as part of your museum job?
Yes, I am a union member for my museum job |
14% |
Not yet; We have a union but are still negotiating for our first contract |
1% |
No, I have the option to be a union member for my museum job but have not chosen to join |
2% |
No, there is a union at my museum but my position is ineligible for membership |
25% |
No, there are no unions at my museum |
59% |
9. How long has your museum union been certified? (In other words, how long has it been since the union won its election or was voluntarily recognized?)
< 1 year |
18% |
1–2 years |
22% |
3–5 years |
15% |
6–10 years |
1% |
> 11 years |
13% |
I don't know / I'm not sure |
31% |
10. What impact (if any) do you believe your union has had on the following conditions at your museum over the past year?*
Negative impact |
Neutral |
Positive impact |
I don't know |
|
My salary/wages |
3% |
11% |
73% |
12% |
Pay equity across the institution |
4% |
22% |
53% |
21% |
Opportunities for career advancement |
9% |
41% |
31% |
20% |
Availability of healthcare benefits or paid family leave |
1% |
26% |
51% |
22% |
Availability of grievance procedures |
3% |
14% |
62% |
21% |
Transparency within the organization |
9% |
28% |
47% |
16% |
Practicing diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion |
3% |
36% |
41% |
20% |
Having a voice in decisions that affect workers |
6% |
19% |
62% |
13% |
Job security and protections from retaliation |
5% |
13% |
69% |
14% |
Positive connection to my colleagues |
8% |
21% |
61% |
10% |
* Collapsed from a 5-point scale: large negative impact, small negative impact, no impact, small positive impact, large positive impact, I don’t know
11. What impact (if any) do you believe the union you're eligible for but have chosen not to join has had on the following conditions at your museum over the past year?*
Negative impact |
Neutral |
Positive impact |
I don't know |
|
My salary/wages |
2% |
29% |
29% |
39% |
Pay equity across the institution |
2% |
24% |
34% |
39% |
Opportunities for career advancement |
15% |
32% |
20% |
34% |
Availability of healthcare benefits or paid family leave |
3% |
35% |
25% |
38% |
Availability of grievance procedures |
3% |
23% |
30% |
45% |
Transparency within the organization |
13% |
31% |
21% |
36% |
Practicing diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion |
2% |
22% |
37% |
39% |
Having a voice in decisions that affect workers |
5% |
28% |
35% |
33% |
Job security and protections from retaliation |
7% |
23% |
33% |
38% |
Positive connection to my colleagues |
20% |
23% |
23% |
35% |
* Collapsed from a 5-point scale: large negative impact, small negative impact, no impact, small positive impact, large positive impact, I don’t know
12. What impact (if any) do you believe unions at your museum that you are ineligible to join have had on the following conditions at your museum over the past year?*
Negative impact |
Neutral |
Positive impact |
I don't know |
|
My salary/wages |
6% |
41% |
29% |
24% |
Pay equity across the institution |
8% |
17% |
46% |
29% |
Opportunities for career advancement |
12% |
33% |
23% |
33% |
Availability of healthcare benefits or paid family leave |
1% |
36% |
28% |
35% |
Availability of grievance procedures |
8% |
19% |
36% |
36% |
Transparency within the organization |
11% |
28% |
30% |
31% |
Practicing diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion |
6% |
35% |
24% |
35% |
Having a voice in decisions that affect workers |
7% |
23% |
38% |
32% |
Job security and protections from retaliation |
6% |
24% |
38% |
32% |
Positive connection to my colleagues |
20% |
26% |
24% |
31% |
* Collapsed from a 5-point scale: large negative impact, small negative impact, no impact, small positive impact, large positive impact, I don’t know
13. What is your approximate gross annual income (before taxes and deductions) from your current position in the museum? (If this changes from month to month because of overtime or other reasons, please provide your best guess across this past year.) Report only income from your museum job.*
< $25,000 |
12% |
$25,000–$50,000 |
22% |
$50,000–$75,000 |
36% |
$75,000–$100,000 |
16% |
$100,000–$150,000 |
10% |
$150,000–$200,000 |
3% |
$200,000–$300,000 |
2% |
> $300,000 |
1% |
Average |
$68,039 |
Median |
$60,000 |
* Percentages add up to 102% due to rounding
14. Thinking back to this month last year, what was your approximate gross annual income (before taxes and deductions) from your position in the museum?
Average change in salary over the past two years |
6% increase |
15. What is your approximate gross household income (before taxes and deductions)?
< $25,000 |
7% |
$25,000–$50,000 |
13% |
$50,000–$75,000 |
21% |
$75,000–$100,000 |
13% |
$100,000–$150,000 |
19% |
$150,000–$200,000 |
12% |
$200,000–$300,000 |
9% |
> $300,000 |
5% |
Average |
$117,469 |
Median |
$88,000 |
16. Have you ever received any of the following combinations of promotions and pay increases while at your current museum? Please consider promotions triggered by merit, tenure, union contract, etc. if they fit the criteria below. Select all that apply.
FULL PROMOTION: title change and pay increase |
31% |
HOLLOW PROMOTION: title change but no pay increase |
12% |
PAY-FOCUSED PROMOTION: pay increase but no title change |
28% |
None of the above |
45% |
17. How well does your current compensation from the museum cover your living expenses (e.g., rent, utilities, food, transportation, childcare)?
Always enough |
18% |
Usually enough |
25% |
Sometimes enough |
16% |
Rarely or never enough |
12% |
Only in combination with other household income (yours or someone else’s) |
29% |
18. What is your current work location?
I am working on-site only |
50% |
I am working in a hybrid setup with some time on site and some from home |
50% |
I am working from home only |
0% |
19. Please rate how much you agree or disagree with the following statements in relation to the culture of your current museum workplace.*
I believe that I can learn and grow in this organization |
74% |
I believe that what I do here is meaningful |
87% |
I feel burned out in this organization |
43% |
I don’t feel that I have a voice in decision-making in this organization |
42% |
I feel like I have to hide some of who I am working in this organization |
29% |
I’ve developed positive relationships with my coworkers |
93% |
My direct manager supports me |
81% |
* The proportion of respondents who agree or strongly agree with this statement, indicated by selecting a 4 or 5 on a 5-point scale
20. Please rate how much you agree or disagree with the following statements in relation to the culture of your current museum workplace.*
I believe performance reviews contribute to growth and/or advancement in my institution |
34% |
Diversity and difference are not celebrated in this organization |
14% |
The culture of my workplace negatively affects my mental and/or physical health |
32% |
People in my organization are held accountable for discrimination and harassment |
46% |
Mistakes are held against staff members in this organization |
22% |
I would recommend this workplace to friends and family |
56% |
Mentor(s) are available to me within this museum |
48% |
Mentor(s) at this museum have a positive influence on my career |
47% |
* The proportion of respondents who disagree or strongly disagree with this statement, indicated by selecting a 1 or 2 on a 5-point scale
21. Which of the following statements best reflect the salary sharing practices of your museum workplace? Select all that apply.
My workplace shares the specific salaries of all positions |
10% |
My workplace shares salary ranges for all positions |
21% |
My union handbook lists salary levels for each job |
8% |
My workplace shares salary ranges for every open position |
47% |
My workplace actively discourages employees from discussing their salaries |
15% |
I don’t know |
22% |
22. Have you actively looked for another job at a different organization within the last 12 months?
Yes |
49% |
No |
51% |
23. Have you ever considered leaving your current museum workplace for another art museum?
Yes |
54% |
No |
46% |
24. Which of the following reasons made you consider leaving your current museum workplace for another art museum? Select all that apply.
Pay is too low (and/or my hours have been cut) |
57% |
No full-time work is available in this institution |
9% |
Opportunities for growth at the other museum |
60% |
Experiences of discrimination or harassment |
11% |
Lack of opportunities for growth at my museum |
53% |
Positive reputation of the other museum |
24% |
Burnout |
52% |
Desire to live in a different town or city |
29% |
Interpersonal issues with other staff members |
18% |
Poor management |
42% |
I don’t believe my institution can change for the better |
24% |
I have felt disrespected at work |
30% |
I feel like I’m being pushed out |
12% |
Job isn’t as described |
10% |
Other |
13% |
25. Have you considered leaving the art museum field altogether in the past five years?
Yes |
54% |
No |
46% |
26. Which of the following reasons made you consider leaving the art museum field altogether? Select all that apply.
Pay is too low in art museums (and/or my hours have been cut) |
66% |
More interested in other fields |
21% |
Full-time work is unavailable to me in most art museums |
12% |
Experiences of discrimination or harassment in art museums |
8% |
Lack of opportunities for growth in art museums |
45% |
Burnout in the art museum field |
54% |
Exciting opportunities in other fields |
26% |
Interpersonal issues with other staff members are common in art museums |
14% |
Poor management in art museums |
40% |
I don’t believe art museums can change for the better |
13% |
Personal reasons unrelated to art and/or museums |
21% |
I have felt disrespected at work |
23% |
I feel like I’m being pushed out |
9% |
Other |
12% |
27. In the past two years, have you felt discriminated against or harassed on the basis of your gender, sexual orientation, racial or ethnic background, social or economic status, religion, age, or disability while working in your current museum workplace?
Yes |
15% |
No, I haven’t had any experiences of discrimination or harassment at my current museum |
79% |
No, but I had experience(s) of discrimination or harassment more than two years ago at my current museum |
5% |
28. Thinking about the last two years, how often have you felt discriminated against and/or harassed while working in your current museum workplace?
Very frequently (daily or almost daily) |
5% |
Often (a few times a month) |
20% |
Sometimes (a few times a year) |
47% |
Rarely (one or two times total) |
28% |
29. Thinking about the last two years, which of the following forms of discrimination and/or harassment have you experienced in your current museum workplace? Select all that apply.
Based on gender (including pregnancy, gender expression, gender identity, etc.) |
48% |
Based on sexual orientation |
10% |
Based on race and/or ethnicity |
36% |
Based on social or economic status |
27% |
Based on religion |
5% |
Based on age |
41% |
Based on disability |
13% |
Another form of discrimination or harassment |
14% |
30. Thinking about the last two years, who discriminated against or harassed you? Please select all that apply.
My supervisor |
34% |
The museum’s director |
20% |
A colleague |
74% |
A board member or donor |
17% |
A museum visitor |
25% |
Other |
14% |
31. Thinking about the last two years, have you taken any of the following actions in response to discrimination and/or harassment in your current museum workplace? Select all that apply.
I filed an HR complaint form (in person or online) |
14% |
I talked to an HR staff member |
30% |
I used an anonymous reporting mechanism |
6% |
I followed a union-provided grievance process for reporting |
4% |
I talked to a neutral employee or manager who reported to HR |
12% |
I used another reporting mechanism |
3% |
I talked to a neutral employee or manager who did NOT report to HR |
37% |
I shared my story publicly in some way |
4% |
I haven’t done anything in response |
37% |
32. Thinking about the last two years, how satisfied are you with how HR and /or the museum resolved your complaint(s) overall?
Not at all satisfied |
65% |
Somewhat satisfied |
27% |
Very satisfied |
7% |
33. If you have experienced any discrimination or harassment and decided NOT to take action in response, what were your reasons? Select all that apply.
I worried about retaliation from people in leadership at the institution |
46% |
I worried about retaliation from the person who discriminated against/harassed me |
39% |
I don’t trust HR |
56% |
I reported in the past and no action was taken |
5% |
I didn’t think anything would be done about it |
70% |
I didn’t think anything could be done about it because the person who discriminated against/harassed me is not an employee of the museum (e.g., visitor, board member, artist) |
18% |
I didn’t know about what actions I could take |
15% |
My workplace doesn’t provide any mechanisms to report discrimination and/or harassment |
10% |
34. In your current employment situation, how satisfied are you with each of the following characteristics?*
Level of pay |
43% |
Enjoying your day-to-day work |
74% |
Employee benefits |
62% |
My opportunities for training/developing new skills |
49% |
My opportunities for promotion at work |
24% |
Having a sense of purpose and dignity in your work |
74% |
Stable and predictable pay |
79% |
Job security |
72% |
My job overall |
75% |
My relationship with coworkers |
87% |
My relationship with my manager or supervisor |
79% |
* The proportion of respondents who agree or strongly agree with this statement, indicated by selecting a 4 or 5 on a 5-point scale
35. Thinking about the past month in your workplace, which of the following emotions do you most associate with working at your museum? Select up to three.
Content |
41% |
Worried |
37% |
Excited |
24% |
Sad |
9% |
Connected to others |
45% |
Bored |
15% |
Angry |
12% |
Hopeful |
30% |
Disappointed |
34% |
Inspired |
27% |
36a. Please imagine a ladder with steps numbered from 0 at the bottom to 10 at the top. The top of the ladder represents the best possible work life for you and the bottom of the ladder represents the worst possible work life for you.
On which step of the ladder would you personally feel your work life is at this time?
Thriving (7–10) |
46% |
Surviving (5–6) |
36% |
Suffering (1–4) |
17% |
36b. Please imagine a ladder with steps numbered from zero at the bottom to 10 at the top. The top of the ladder represents the best possible work life for you and the bottom of the ladder represents the worst possible work life for you.
On which step of the ladder do you think your work will be at in five years?
Thriving (7–10) |
72% |
Surviving (5–6) |
20% |
Suffering (1–4) |
8% |
37. Who do you feel most supported by within your museum?
My direct manager |
45% |
Museum leadership other than my direct manager |
5% |
Other colleagues |
43% |
Board member(s) |
1% |
Donor(s) |
1% |
Other |
4% |
I don’t feel supported by anyone within my museum |
2% |
38. Has your museum implemented any of the following within the last two years?
Completed a compensation study |
24% |
Changed compensation systematically to better reflect museum market rates |
28% |
Conducted surveys or interviews with current employees to assess job satisfaction |
39% |
Improved onboarding support |
29% |
Implemented a diversity retention plan |
12% |
Conducted exit interviews to learn from departures |
35% |
Implemented new policies to reduce discrimination and harassment |
24% |
Provided management and /or leadership training for all supervisors |
33% |
None of the above |
16% |
39. What/Who do you believe has a large impact on your museum leadership's decisions? Please select all that apply.
The museum’s mission, vision, and/or values |
54% |
The priorities of the museum’s board |
63% |
The priorities of donors/funders |
53% |
Input from museum staff members |
25% |
The interests of current museum visitors |
22% |
The interests of the communities around the museum |
26% |
Other |
16% |
None of the above |
2% |
40. In order to help us calculate living wages for your position, which of the following best describes your household?
I am the only adult in my household |
33% |
There are two or more adults working for wages in my household |
57% |
There are two or more adults in my household, with one who’s working for wages |
9% |
41. How many children (under age 18) live in your household?
None |
77% |
One |
13% |
Two |
9% |
Three or more |
2% |
42. Other than children, are you an unpaid caregiver to a relative or friend, involved in assisting them with activities of daily living and/or medical tasks?
Yes |
12% |
No |
88% |
43. Do you identify as transgender?
Yes |
3% |
No |
97% |
44. How would you define your sexual orientation? Select all that apply.
Heterosexual |
67% |
LGBTQ+ |
36% |
45. What is the highest level of education that you have completed?
Some high school |
0% |
High school graduate |
2% |
Some college/Associate’s degree |
10% |
Bachelor’s degree |
45% |
Master’s degree |
36% |
Professional or doctorate degree |
6% |
46. Do you identify as a person with a disability and/or as neuroatypical or neurodivergent?
Yes |
24% |
No |
76% |
47. If yes, how do you identify? Select all that apply.
Blind or visually impaired |
2% |
Person with a chronic illness disability |
27% |
Person with a communication disorder, who is unable to speak, or who uses a device to speak |
1% |
Deaf or hard of hearing |
3% |
Person with an emotional or behavioral disability |
17% |
Person with a learning disability |
15% |
Person with an intellectual, cognitive, or developmental disability |
15% |
Person with a mental health disability |
55% |
Person with a physical disability or mobility impairment |
9% |
None of the above |
13% |