Curator | Salary & Job Information

Becoming a Curator via Online Education?

At the very least, online education can help you lay a foundation and/or open up alternate career paths. Ashford University, one of the highest ranking online schools, is a US school (accredited) offering history courses to train individuals to become top-notch historians, art history teachers, professor of histories, art history professors, history professors, history instructors, museum archivists, museum curators, museum guides, etc. Currently, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics there are 10,410 people employed as curators alone in America, and their average annual salary is $52,330. Colleges and universities like Ashford University that provide online education are successfully launching workers into this field.

Typical Work Locations for a Curator
  • Government Establishments
  • Museums
  • Zoos
  • Universities
  • Corporations
  • Educational Institutions
  • Libraries
  • Scientific Institutions
  • Hospitals
  • Government Archives
Potential Advantages and Benefits of Working as a Curator
  • Well-paid salary when paid
  • Paid vacations
  • Excellent benefits
  • Opportunities to make good connections
  • Ability to meet like-minded people in the industry
  • Opportunities to learn about historical pieces regularly
  • Detail-oriented job
  • Working with deadlines for events
  • Good working conditions
  • Job security
Potential Drawbacks
  • Often works alone
  • Doesn't receive high pay
  • Other jobs in this particular field are difficult to find
  • High levels of competition
  • Sometimes isn't able to acquire items desired for exhibit
  • Works in very quiet environments
  • Must be detail oriented in order not to damage exhibit items
  • May not have say in exhibit to be curated
  • Has to solicit funds from donors constantly for new exhibits
  • Salary often depends on grants
Related Professions to Consider
  • Museum Exhibits Coordinator
  • Museum Programs Officer
  • Director Art Gallery
  • Associate Curator
  • Assistant Curator of European Art
  • Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art
  • Curator
  • Assistant to the Chief Curator
  • Curator of Native American Art
  • Chief Curator
Possible Interview Questions When Applying to be a Curator
  • How you been terminated from a job before?
  • Have you been reassigned from a position?
  • Describe your ideal role in a job?
  • What do you have to offer to the company if your the supervisor?
  • Can you give an example of a difficult or stressful situation on the job and how you handled it?
  • What the program of different people in special group?
  • Why does this particular post interest you?
  • How are you growing professionally as a leader?
  • What do you have to offer to this company?
  • What do you mean by technical inbound and outbound?
Common Collaborating Professions
  • Museum Directors
  • Tour Guides
  • Museum Technicians
  • Art Restorers
  • Facility Managers
  • Security Guides
  • Marketing Managers
  • Museum Grant Coordinator
  • Museum Retail Service Clerk
  • Research Assistants
Curator Training books Curator (More) Popular books Potential Companies to Work For Common College Majors
  • Classics
  • Art History
  • Anthropology
  • History
  • Chemistry
  • Museum Studies
  • Interior Design
  • Public Relations
  • Curatorial Studies
  • Studio Arts

Curator Salary Information

Category: Curators

Total # Employed in the US 10,410
Average Hourly Wage: $25.16/hr
Hourly Wage Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$12.98 $16.97 $23.04 $31.29 $40.34
Average Yearly Salary $52,330
Yearly Salary Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$27,000 $35,300 $47,930 $65,080 $83,900
Employment Demographics
% OF WORKERS WITH
< High School Diploma High School Diploma Some College Associate Degree Bachelor Degree Master Degree Doctoral Degree
1.2% 5.9% 9.5% 3.8% 31.7% 38.2% 9.7%
Curators — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
STATEAverage Hourly WageAverage Annual Salary
Florida $37.22/hr $77,410
Colorado $29.27/hr $60,890
Mississippi $28.44/hr $59,160
Oklahoma $27.87/hr $57,960
Kansas $27.54/hr $57,290
Montana $27.46/hr $57,110
New York $27.39/hr $56,980
Missouri $27.3/hr $56,780
Delaware $27.17/hr $56,510
Connecticut $26.55/hr $55,220
Utah $26.29/hr $54,680
New Hampshire $25.69/hr $53,430
Ohio $25.44/hr $52,920
New Mexico $25.13/hr $52,280
Wyoming $24.92/hr $51,830
District of Columbia $24.81/hr $51,600
South Carolina $24.56/hr $51,080
Virginia $24.55/hr $51,060
Guam $24.47/hr $50,910
Idaho $24.23/hr $50,400
Alaska $24.17/hr $50,280
North Dakota $23.45/hr $48,770
Puerto Rico $23.19/hr $48,230
Nebraska $22.98/hr $47,790
Arkansas $22.79/hr $47,390
North Carolina $22.51/hr $46,820
Maryland $22.27/hr $46,320
California $22.26/hr $46,300
Kentucky $22.17/hr $46,120
Alabama $22.04/hr $45,840
Tennessee $22.03/hr $45,820
Washington $21.31/hr $44,330
Oregon $21.2/hr $44,100
Michigan $21.19/hr $44,070
South Dakota $20.83/hr $43,320
Wisconsin $20.62/hr $42,880
Louisiana $20.61/hr $42,870
West Virginia $20.15/hr $41,920
Maine $20.12/hr $41,860
Hawaii $19.89/hr $41,380
New Jersey $17.83/hr $37,080
Massachusetts $15.15/hr $31,510


Category: Archeologists

Total # Employed in the US 5,570
Average Hourly Wage: $27.52/hr
Hourly Wage Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$15.16 $18.77 $25.7 $34.35 $42.25
Average Yearly Salary $57,230
Yearly Salary Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$31,530 $39,030 $53,460 $71,450 $87,890
Employment Demographics
% OF WORKERS WITH
< High School Diploma High School Diploma Some College Associate Degree Bachelor Degree Master Degree Doctoral Degree
0.2% 1.3% 7.3% 3.7% 37.8% 34.3% 15.4%


History Programs by State & City