Curators earn a median of $63,420 per year ($30.49/hr) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Employment is projected to grow 4.9% through 2035, with about 1,600 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: Master's degree.
- SOC 25-4012
- Educational Instruction and Library
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Curator in four numbers
- Median pay
- $63,420a year, or $30.49/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $40KTop 10% $107K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +4.9%Faster than averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+4.9%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +4.9% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 1,60014,200 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 202514.2K
- Projected 203514.9K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 14.2K Projected 2035 14.9K - Typical education
- Master'sneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- Some college3.4%
- Bachelor's6.1%
- Post-bacc certificate8.1%
- Master's44.1%
- Doctorate34.8%
- Post-doctoral training2.1%
Highest education held by curators Segment Value Some college 3.4% Bachelor's 6.1% Post-bacc certificate 8.1% Master's 44.1% Doctorate 34.8% Post-doctoral training 2.1%
Also advertised as: Collections Curator, Collections Manager, Curator, Education Curator, Exhibitions Curator, Exhibits Curator.
Pay
How much do Curators make?
Every curator in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$63,420
Middle half earn $48,870 to $83,080
- 10th
- $40,470
- 25th
- $48,870
- 75th
- $83,080
- 90th
- $107,140
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $40,470 |
| 25th | $48,870 |
| Median | $63,420 |
| 75th | $83,080 |
| 90th | $107,140 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $63,420
- Median hourly wage
- $30.49/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $71,560
- People employed
- 12,150
Versus all US occupations
At $63,420, Curators earn 24% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $12,440 a year.
Versus educational instruction and library occupations
Inside the Educational Instruction and Library group, where the middle occupation pays $68,270, this is 7% below the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $107,140 or more while the bottom 10% earn $40,470, a gap of 2.6×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 38% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
District of Columbia pays the most at $93,310, and still leads at $84,904 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay Curators the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1District of Columbia | $93,310 | $84,904 | 140 |
| 2New Hampshire | $82,490 | $79,192 | 60 |
| 3New York | $79,120 | $73,313 | 1,330 |
| 4California | $78,740 | $71,116 | 1,140 |
| 5Rhode Island | $77,930 | $76,193 | 70 |
| 6New Jersey | $77,800 | $71,504 | 120 |
| 7Massachusetts | $77,790 | $73,555 | 370 |
| 8Connecticut | $76,510 | $73,844 | 190 |
| 9South Dakota | $74,990 | $84,652 | 50 |
| 10Washington | $74,030 | $69,179 | 260 |
Job outlook
Is Curator a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Faster than average. +4.9% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Curators | +4.9% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Faster than average
BLS projects employment of Curators to change 4.9% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 700 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 1,600 openings are projected each year, 11.3% of the 14,200 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Overall employment of archivists, curators, and museum workers is projected to grow 4 percent from 2025 to 2035, about as fast as the average for all occupations.
Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Demand for archivists is expected to increase as public and private organizations have more information and records that need to be organized and made accessible. In particular, the growing use of electronic records may create jobs for archivists.
Continued public interest in museums and other cultural centers is expected to increase the demand for curators, museum technicians, and conservators.
Getting in
How to become a Curator
Archivists, curators, and conservators typically need a master’s degree; museum technicians typically need a bachelor’s degree. Fields of degree may include fine and performing arts, history, or social science. Experience gained through an internship or by volunteering in archives or museums is helpful.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
Master's degree
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
None
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Considerable preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as curators.
- Master's Degree44.1%
- Doctoral Degree34.8%
- Post-Baccalaureate Certificate8.1%
- Bachelor's Degree6.1%
- Some College Courses3.4%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | 44.1% |
| Doctoral Degree | 34.8% |
| Post-Baccalaureate Certificate | 8.1% |
| Bachelor's Degree | 6.1% |
| Some College Courses | 3.4% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does a Curator 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.
Archivists appraise, process, catalog, and preserve permanent records and historically valuable documents. Curators oversee collections of artwork and historical items and may conduct public service activities for an institution. Museum technicians and conservators prepare and restore objects and documents in museum collections and exhibits.
Day-to-day 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.
- Provide information from the institution's holdings to other curators and to the public.
- Design, organize, or conduct tours, workshops, and instructional or educational sessions to acquaint individuals with an institution's facilities and materials.
- Train and supervise curatorial, fiscal, technical, research, and clerical staff, as well as volunteers or interns.
- Attend meetings, conventions, and civic events to promote use of institution's services, to seek financing, and to maintain community alliances.
- Plan and conduct special research projects in area of interest or expertise.
- Negotiate and authorize purchase, sale, exchange, or loan of collections.
- Write and review grant proposals, journal articles, institutional reports, and publicity materials.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Most archivists, curators, museum technicians, and conservators work full time.
Archivists in government agencies and corporations generally work during regular business hours. Curators in large institutions may travel extensively to evaluate potential additions to the collection, organize exhibits, and conduct research. For curators in small institutions, however, travel may be rare. Museum technicians may need to work evenings and weekends if their institutions are open to the public during those times.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather
NeverEvery day
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantFace-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayFace-to-face discussions every day.
Dealing with the public
Not importantExtremely importantDealing with customers or the public is very important.
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayConflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lotA lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first.
Schedules: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition. Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Reading Comprehension4.0
- Speaking4.0
- Active Listening3.9
- Writing3.9
- Critical Thinking3.8
- Active Learning3.5
- Monitoring3.4
- Learning Strategies3.3
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 4.0 |
| Speaking | 4.0 |
| Active Listening | 3.9 |
| Writing | 3.9 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.8 |
| Active Learning | 3.5 |
| Monitoring | 3.4 |
| Learning Strategies | 3.3 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Complex Problem Solving3.6
- Judgment and Decision Making3.5
- Systems Analysis3.4
- Social Perceptiveness3.3
- Systems Evaluation3.3
- Coordination3.1
- Time Management3.1
- Persuasion3.0
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.6 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.5 |
| Systems Analysis | 3.4 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.3 |
| Systems Evaluation | 3.3 |
| Coordination | 3.1 |
| Time Management | 3.1 |
| Persuasion | 3.0 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Analytical or scientific software · in demand
- Computer aided design CAD software · in demand
- Data base user interface and query software · in demand
- Desktop publishing software · in demand
- Development environment software · in demand
- Document management software · in demand
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Enterprise application integration software · in demand
- Graphics or photo imaging software · in demand
- Object or component oriented development software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Operating system software · in demand
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a Curator?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Curator |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 2 |
| Investigative | 3 |
| Artistic | 3 |
| Social | 4 |
| Enterprising | 4 |
| Conventional | 5 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around organising, following procedures and working precisely with data, combined with leading, persuading, selling and making decisions.
- Conventional5.4
- Enterprising3.8
- Social3.8
- Investigative3.4
- Artistic3.0
- Realistic2.5
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Curator
O*NET related occupations
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More educational instruction and library careers
Median annual pay, with curators highlighted
- Nursing Instructor and Teacher, Postsecondary$80,250
- Special Education Teacher, Secondary School$74,260
- Librarian$68,270
- Career/Technical Education Teacher, Secondary School$66,270
- Curator$63,420
- Kindergarten Teacher$62,680
- Library Technician$44,580
- Tutor$43,350
- Preschool Teacher, Except Special Education$38,140
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Nursing Instructor and Teacher, Postsecondary | $80,250 |
| Special Education Teacher, Secondary School | $74,260 |
| Librarian | $68,270 |
| Career/Technical Education Teacher, Secondary School | $66,270 |
| Curator | $63,420 |
| Kindergarten Teacher | $62,680 |
| Library Technician | $44,580 |
| Tutor | $43,350 |
| Preschool Teacher, Except Special Education | $38,140 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Specialty careers within curator
Distinct careers BLS counts inside this occupation, each with its own profile.
Lists Curator appears on
Questions
Curator: frequently asked questions
How much do Curators make?
Curators earn a median of $63,420 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 24% above the $50,980 US median across all occupations. That works out at $30.49/hr. The middle half earn between $48,870 and $83,080. The top 10% earn $107,140 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Curator?
Yes. BLS reports a master's degree as the typical entry-level education for Curators, and O*NET rates the preparation needed as considerable preparation. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 44.1% hold master's degree.
Is Curator a growing career?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 4.9% over 2025–2035, faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 1,600 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Curator do?
Archivists appraise, process, catalog, and preserve permanent records and historically valuable documents. A core O*NET task: 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. Employers most often ask for Analytical or scientific software, Computer aided design CAD software, Data base user interface and query software.
Which states pay Curators the most?
The highest state medians for Curators are District of Columbia ($93,310), New Hampshire ($82,490), New York ($79,120) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits a Curator?
O*NET scores Curators highest on the Conventional, Enterprising and Social interest areas, so the work mixes organising, following procedures and working precisely with data with leading, persuading, selling and making decisions. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping the closest types are ESFJ, ESTJ, ISFJ. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.