Curators
Administer collections, such as artwork, collectibles, historic items, or scientific specimens of museums or other institutions. May conduct instructional, research, or public service activities of institution.
Also called: Collections Curator · Collections Manager · Curator · Education Curator · Exhibitions Curator · Exhibits Curator
Median pay (national)
$61,770
$37,110–$105,520 (10th–90th)
Employed (US)
12,280
BLS OEWS, May 2024
Outlook 2024–34
+7%
~1,800 openings/yr
Typical entry
Master's degree
What the numbers say
Refit analysis ·Pay for curators shows an unusually wide range: the top 10% earn $105,520 versus $37,110 at the bottom 10% — 2.8x. The median of $61,770 leaves roughly 71% of headroom to the 90th percentile, which is where seniority, specialization, and the skills below tend to pay off.
Refit analysis ·Employment is projected to change +7% from 2024 to 2034 — faster than the 3% all-occupation average. Even so, BLS projects about 1,800 openings a year, mostly to replace workers who retire or change careers.
Refit analysis ·Where you work moves the number a lot. Across the 49 states with released data, District of Columbia pays the most for this role (median $81,990, +33% vs the national median), while Oklahoma sits lowest at $48,470 — a 69% spread for the same job title.
Refit analysis ·O*NET rates Reading Comprehension, Speaking, Active Listening as the highest-importance skills here — so a resume aimed at this role should lead with evidence of those, not a generic skills list. On the tools side, O*NET flags Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft PowerPoint as in-demand technologies for this role.
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Top skills employers ask for
Ranked by O*NET importance for this occupation.
- Reading Comprehension
- Speaking
- Active Listening
- Writing
- Critical Thinking
- Active Learning
- Monitoring
- Learning Strategies
- Mathematics
- Science
What they actually do
Core O*NET tasks for this role.
- Plan and organize the acquisition, storage, and exhibition of collections and related materials, including the selection of exhibition themes and designs, and develop or install exhibit materials.
- Develop and maintain an institution's registration, cataloging, and basic record-keeping systems, using computer databases.
- Plan and conduct special research projects in area of interest or expertise.
- Provide information from the institution's holdings to other curators and to the public.
- Negotiate and authorize purchase, sale, exchange, or loan of collections.
- Inspect premises to assess the need for repairs and to ensure that climate and pest control issues are addressed.
- Write and review grant proposals, journal articles, institutional reports, and publicity materials.
- Design, organize, or conduct tours, workshops, and instructional or educational sessions to acquaint individuals with an institution's facilities and materials.
- Attend meetings, conventions, and civic events to promote use of institution's services, to seek financing, and to maintain community alliances.
- Train and supervise curatorial, fiscal, technical, research, and clerical staff, as well as volunteers or interns.
Tools & technology
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Adobe Creative Cloud software
- Adobe Illustrator
- Adobe InDesign
- Adobe Photoshop
- Apple macOS
- Autodesk AutoCAD
- Extensible markup language XML
- Linux
- Microsoft Visual Studio
- Perl
- Python
Knowledge areas
- English Language
- History and Archeology
- Fine Arts
- Administration and Management
- Sociology and Anthropology
- Communications and Media
- Administrative
- Education and Training