Librarians, Curators, and Archivists

How to become a Curator

Official title: Curators

Also called: Collections Curator, Collections Manager, Curator, Education Curator, Exhibitions Curator, Exhibits Curator, Museum Curator, Photography Curator, Vertebrate Zoology Curator

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.

Main tasks

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.

How to become one

Archivists, curators, and conservators typically need a master's degree in a field related to their position. Museum technicians typically need a bachelor's degree. Experience gained through an internship or by volunteering in archives or museums is helpful.

Typical education to start: Master's degree

Read the full guide from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Ways in

College: Arts & Humanities degrees, Offered by 35 universities in the US

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

Median pay: $63,420 a year The middle half earn $48,870 to $83,080.
About 14,200 people work in this job now, and about 14,900 are projected by 2035. (+4.9%)
People already use generative AI for some of this work. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as medium.

Questions people ask

How do I become a Curator?

How much does a Curator earn in the US?

Median full-time pay is $63,420 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $48,870 to $83,080.

Is a Curator a growing career in the US?

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 5% by 2035, from about 14,200 to about 14,900 people (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Do you need a degree to become a Curator?

Usually. 81% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Will AI change the work of a Curator?

People already use generative AI for some of this work. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as medium.

Sources

Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook (2025-35 edition (published 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS); photographs excluded, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03

Updated 2026-10-03

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.