Education25-4012.00Specialization

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.

$61,750
Median Pay
6-12 years
Training
🟒
AI-Resilient

This is a specialization of

Librarians & Educational Specialists

Career Overview Video

AI Impact Assessment

AI Resilience Score

Score 5/6: growing job demand, strong human advantage provides strong protection from AI displacement

🟒AI-Resilient

How we calculated this:

AI Exposure
Medium+1

50% of tasks can be accelerated by AI

Job Growth
Growing+2

+7% projected (2024-2034)

Human Advantage
Strong+2

EPOCH score: 25/25

Total Score5/6
Methodology: v2.0 - GPTs are GPTs / BLS / EPOCH Additive ScoringUpdated: 2026-01-09

Key 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.

Education & Training

Typical Entry Education

Master's degree

Time to Job Ready

6-12 years

Based on Job Zone 5. For formal education duration only, see education_duration.

Technology Skills

Collections management software (EMu, TMS)Microsoft OfficeAdobe Creative SuiteDatabase systemsDigital asset managementResearch databases

Key Abilities

Oral ComprehensionWritten ComprehensionOral ExpressionWritten ExpressionDeductive ReasoningNear VisionInductive ReasoningCategory FlexibilitySpeech ClarityProblem Sensitivity

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Find jobs and training programs for curators- Median salary: $62K/year

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Compensation Details

$38,000
10th Percentile
$61,750
Median
$107,860
90th Percentile

Based on 12,510 employed workers

Also Known As

Art CuratorArt HandlerCoin CollectorCollections CuratorCollections ManagerContent CuratorCuratorData CuratorDigital CuratorEducation Curator

Data from O*NET 30.1 and BLS Occupational Employment Statistics

O*NET Code: 25-4012.00