Curators

SOC Code: 25-4012
Also known as:
Art Curator, Art Handler, Coin Collector, Collections Curator, Collections Manager
Median Annual Salary
$61,770
+7.0% growth (2024-2034)
2K
Openings/Year
15K
Current Jobs

What Curators Do

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.

💰 Salary

$61,770
Median annual wage (2024)

📈 Job Growth

+7.0%
Faster than average

🎓 Education

Master's degree
Typical entry-level requirement

🚀 Annual Openings

2K
Projected average per year

Employment Projections (2024-2034)

Current Employment (2024)

15,100

Projected Employment (2034)

16,200

Related Careers

Historians

$74,050 • +2.2% growth
View →

Anthropology and archeology teachers, postsecondary

$95,770 • +2.7% growth
View →

Archivists

$61,570 • +3.8% growth
View →

Museum technicians and conservators

$47,460 • +5.4% growth
View →

Librarians and media collections specialists

$64,320 • +1.7% growth
View →

Top Skills Required

Reading Comprehension
Speaking
Active Listening
Writing
Critical Thinking

Daily Tasks & Responsibilities

  • 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.
  • Study, examine, and test acquisitions to authenticate their origin, composition, history, and to assess their current value.
  • 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.

Technology & Tools

Adobe Acrobat Adobe Creative Cloud software Adobe Illustrator Adobe InDesign Adobe Photoshop Apple macOS Autodesk AutoCAD Extensible markup language XML Facebook Linux

📚 Entry-Level Education

Master's degree
Most common requirement

🎯 Recommended Education

Master's Degree
O*NET recommended level

Degree Programs for Curators

These degree programs can prepare you for a career as a curators:

Art History, Criticism and Conservation

3,557 degrees awarded • 351 colleges offer this program
View Colleges →

Museology/Museum Studies

838 degrees awarded • 77 colleges offer this program
View Colleges →

Public/Applied History

743 degrees awarded • 54 colleges offer this program
View Colleges →

Digital Humanities

126 degrees awarded • 14 colleges offer this program
View Colleges →

Best Colleges for Becoming a Curators

Ranked by Repit grade, then by degrees in related programs. These are the top-rated colleges that prepare students to become curators.

# College Location Related Degrees Repit Grade
1 University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA 62 A+
2 University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, MI 39 A+
3 New York University New York, NY 150 A
4 Harvard University Cambridge, MA 117 A
5 Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, MD 109 A
6 Columbia University in the City of New York New York, NY 75 A
7 The University of Texas at Austin Austin, TX 64 A
8 Yale University New Haven, CT 53 A
9 University of California-Berkeley Berkeley, CA 49 A
10 University of Georgia Athens, GA 47 A
11 Boston University Boston, MA 43 A
12 University of California-Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA 42 A
13 University of Chicago Chicago, IL 34 A
14 Tufts University Medford, MA 32 A
15 Princeton University Princeton, NJ 28 A
16 Brown University Providence, RI 27 A
17 University of Southern California Los Angeles, CA 23 A
18 University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA 23 A
19 University of Florida Gainesville, FL 21 A
20 Washington University in St Louis Saint Louis, MO 21 A

Want this ranking as a spreadsheet? Investor Pro+ members can export any Repit table to CSV. See plans →

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do curators make?
The median annual salary for curators is $61,770.
What education do curators need?
Most curators positions require a master's degree. Common degree programs include Art History, Criticism and Conservation, Museology/Museum Studies, Public/Applied History.
Is becoming curators a good career choice?
Curators is projected to see +7.0% job growth from 2024 to 2034, which is faster than average for all occupations. With approximately 1,800 job openings expected annually, there are good opportunities for those entering the field.
What are the best colleges for curators?
Top colleges for aspiring curators include University of California-Los Angeles, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, New York University, Harvard University, Johns Hopkins University. These schools are ranked based on their Repit grade and the number of graduates in related programs.
What other job titles are similar to curators?
Curators may also be known as: Art Curator, Art Handler, Coin Collector, Collections Curator, Collections Manager, Content Curator, Curator, Data Curator, Digital Curator, Education Curator, Educational Institution Curator, Educational Resource Coordinator, Exhibitions Curator, Exhibits Curator, Field Collector, Herbarium Curator, Metadata Curator, Museum Coordinator, Museum Curator, Museum Manager. These titles often refer to similar roles with varying responsibilities or specializations.