How to Become a Curator
Build and care for museum collections, deciding what a community sees, learns, and preserves. It typically requires a master's degree, with a median salary of $63,420 per year and much faster than average projected job growth.
Median pay
$63,420/yr
Job growth
7%
Openings / yr
1,800
Majors that lead here
Key skills
- Collection Management
- Exhibition Design
- Research
- Grant Writing
- Public Programming
Helpful certifications
- MA in museum studies or related field
Is this career a fit?
Remote-friendly
null/100
Work-life balance
null/100
Stress level
null/100
Satisfaction
null/100
Related careers
- School Principal (K-12 Administrator)$105,870 median
- College Administrator (Postsecondary)$104,590 median
- School Psychologist$95,990 median
- Instructional Coordinator$77,440 median
- Teacher (Secondary Education)$72,040 median
- Librarian$68,270 median
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Curator make?
The median pay for a Curator is $63,420 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025). Actual pay varies with experience, location, and employer.
What degree do you need to become a Curator?
The usual entry point is a master's degree. Common majors are History, Anthropology, Fine Arts, and Museum Studies.
Is Curator a growing field?
The BLS projects much faster than average demand for this role, about 7% over the decade, with roughly 1,800 U.S. openings a year.
What skills does a Curator use most?
Common skills for this role are Collection Management, Exhibition Design, Research, Grant Writing, and Public Programming.
Planning to become a Curator?
Save this career to your PlanexAI path and track the majors, courses, and milestones that lead to it.
Not sure this is right for you?
Take our free 2-minute quiz to match your interests to majors and careers.
Take the major quizSalary and job-growth figures: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034). National figures; actual pay varies by location, employer, and experience.