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Brooklyn Museum

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Poor compensation for talented staff. - Project Conservator Brooklyn Museum Employee Review

1.0
May 4, 2015
Recommend
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Business outlook

Pros

Schedule, flexibility, superb collection, passionate staff, public education programs.

Cons

Unbelievably low pay. A recent survey of the conservation field ranks my current salary (for comparable institutions) in the bottom 10% of the field. Benefits although good, rank in the 50%, meaning they are average. HR claims to offer "competitive salary and benefits", but this is completely untrue. Most of my colleagues in the same position at other similar museums in NYC make exactly twice my salary with the same or better benefits. No upward mobility. The museum does not promote staff. There is no room for growth and strong, talented staff are forced to leave at the first opening outside of the museum. The institution does not support its staff professionally. The museum is also highly understaffed for the amount of work and exhibition schedule that management plans. Although most of the staff is passionate, there are a handful of employees with full job security who do no work at all. Everyone else picks up the slack. The amazing collection at the museum is wildly undervalued. Few exhibitions draw from the permanent collection. The collection is loaned heavily because other institutions recognize its value, however, management is primarily focused on drawing outside exhibitions and collecting contemporary art, while neglecting research and care of the permanent collection. Complete lack of transparency from senior management.

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5.0
Mar 9, 2026
Anonymous employee
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CEO approval
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Pros

staff very mission oriented and invested in the community - shared sense of purpose

Cons

limited resources sometimes impaired ability to make progress

4.0
Mar 30, 2026
Anonymous intern
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Kind, inspiring co-workers; interesting materials.

Cons

At the time I was at the museum, leadership was extremely lacking.

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