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: Art Curator, Art Handler, Coin Collector, Collections Curator, Collections Manager, Content Curator
Median pay
$63,420
per year, U.S.
Pay range (10th–90th)
$40,470 – $107,140
People employed
12,150
Holland code
CES
Conventional · Enterprising · Social
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Is this career right for you?
These are the things that stand out in this job compared with other U.S. jobs (O*NET 31.0 work context). Answer honestly.
- 1.Do you prefer a steady pace without constant deadlines?
- 2.Do you want variety, with new tasks often?
- 3.Do you want a lot of freedom to make your own decisions?
- 4.Do you enjoy serving customers or the public?
Curators pay by state
Highest-paying states
Annual median pay by state (48 states and DC with published data). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.
What curators do
- 01Plan 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.
- 02Develop and maintain an institution's registration, cataloging, and basic record-keeping systems, using computer databases.
- 03Plan and conduct special research projects in area of interest or expertise.
- 04Provide information from the institution's holdings to other curators and to the public.
- 05Negotiate and authorize purchase, sale, exchange, or loan of collections.
- 06Study, examine, and test acquisitions to authenticate their origin, composition, history, and to assess their current value.
Skills that matter most
- Speaking
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Writing
- Critical Thinking
- Active Learning
Knowledge
- English Language
- History and Archeology
- Fine Arts
- Administration and Management
- Sociology and Anthropology
Work styles that stand out
- Dependability
- Attention to Detail
- Integrity
- Intellectual Curiosity
- Achievement Orientation
Education and first steps
Share of workers by required education, as reported to O*NET.
How people get started
- Usually needs a graduate degree (O*NET Job Zone 5).
- Related work experience: over 4 years, up to and including 6 years.
- On-the-job training: over 6 months, up to and including 1 year.
Most common answers from O*NET 31.0 Education, Training and Experience.
Interest fit (Holland code)
O*NET occupational interest scores, scale 1–7. Take the Free Career Test to compare with your own.
Career changes
Change from curators
- Historians84% · +21%
- Anthropology and Archeology Teachers, Postsecondary72% · +57%
- Instructional Coordinators71% · +22%
- History Teachers, Postsecondary71% · +32%
- Anthropologists and Archeologists70% · +12%
Change into curators
Jobs whose skills carry over best (skill match, their median pay).
- Historians80% · $76,750
- Anthropologists and Archeologists70% · $70,770
- Set and Exhibit Designers55% · $75,240
Majors that lead here
- Museology/Museum Studies
- Digital Humanities and Textual Studies, General
- Digital Humanities
- Textual Studies
- Art History, Criticism and Conservation
- Public/Applied History
From the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk.