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Librarians and curators

How to become a Museum Curator

Works as a qualified specialist at museums and art galleries, collecting, storing and displaying materials on history, art, folk culture, industry and natural science and carrying out related research.

Main tasks

Workers in this job say university or a master's degree is common. From job tag's survey of people in each job, who could give several answers. It shows what workers see as common, not how many workers hold each level.

How to become one

As a rule, to become a museum curator (gakugeiin) you need the qualification set out in the Museum Act. It is given to people with a bachelor's degree who have earned credits in museum-related subjects at university. You can also qualify by studying at university for at least two years, earning the required credits and working as an assistant curator for three years or more, or by passing the curator certification process. Once qualified, you become a curator by being appointed by a museum or similar institution. You can be hired as a public servant or join a private museum. For public positions you must pass a local government recruitment exam. Some people are hired as curators from the start, and others are appointed from among administrative or technical staff. Private museums often hire qualified curators whose research record is recognised. After starting, some curators are promoted within the field to chief curator or museum director, while others work in social education administration and move up as government officials. Which path you take depends on how curators are positioned in each council and on your own wishes. This job needs research ability in your own specialist field, along with the ability to explain your field clearly to the public and students.

Ways in

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Questions people ask

How do I become a Museum Curator?

As a rule, to become a museum curator (gakugeiin) you need the qualification set out in the Museum Act. It is given to people with a bachelor's degree who have earned credits in museum-related subjects at university. You can also qualify by studying at university for at least two years, earning the required credits and working as an assistant curator for three years or more, or by passing the curator certification process. Once qualified, you become a curator by being appointed by a museum or similar institution. You can be hired as a public servant or join a private museum. For public positions you must pass a local government recruitment exam. Some people are hired as curators from the start, and others are appointed from among administrative or technical staff. Private museums often hire qualified curators whose research record is recognised. After starting, some curators are promoted within the field to chief curator or museum director, while others work in social education administration and move up as government officials. Which path you take depends on how curators are positioned in each council and on your own wishes. This job needs research ability in your own specialist field, along with the ability to explain your field clearly to the public and students.

How much does a Museum Curator earn in Japan?

Average annual income in the private sector, bonus included, is ¥5,833,100 (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare). The figure is for the wage survey group Specialist professionals not classified elsewhere, which covers several jobs.

Do you need a degree to become a Museum Curator?

Usually. In this job's census occupation group, 77% of workers are university graduates.

Will AI change the work of a Museum Curator?

Generative AI could change some tasks in this job, by the ILO's global estimate.

Sources

独立行政法人労働政策研究・研修機構（JILPT）作成 職業情報データベース 解説系ダウンロードデータ（IPD_DL_description_7_01.xlsx）ver.7.01 職業情報提供サイト（job tag）より2026年10月4日にダウンロード（https://shigoto.mhlw.go.jp/User/download）を加工して作成

独立行政法人労働政策研究・研修機構（JILPT）作成 職業情報データベース 簡易版数値系ダウンロードデータ（IPD_DL_numeric_7_00.xlsx）ver.7.00 職業情報提供サイト（job tag）より2026年10月4日にダウンロード（https://shigoto.mhlw.go.jp/User/download）を加工して作成

Sources: JILPT Occupational Information Database download data via job tag (解説系 ver.7.01 and 簡易版数値系 ver.7.00, downloaded 4 October 2026), processed by Peernovo; MHLW, Basic Survey on Wage Structure 2025; Statistics Bureau of Japan, 2020 Population Census; MEXT, School Basic Survey 2025; MHLW, Employment Referrals for General Workers (Hello Work statistics). Figures processed by Peernovo. English job names, translations and the matching of jobs to statistical groups, schools and degree fields by Peernovo.

Updated 4 October 2026