Museum Curator Job Description
Museum curators help to preserve valuable items, such as art pieces, historic documents and other artifacts. They work in a variety of museums, and usually receive an advanced degree in a chosen area of specialty. According to Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were approximately 11,700 curators employed in the United States in 2009. While employment is expected to increase going forward, competition will be fierce because many qualified candidates are drawn to the field.
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Duties
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Curators select and obtain items to be displayed in museums. These may include works of art, photographs, documents, coins, stamps and other historic items. Curators are responsible for negotiating the purchase of items or arranging the loan of collections. They must authenticate collection items and catalogue them as well. Museum curators also design the layout of exhibits, and oversee their installation. They are often responsible for public education programs as well, such as school trips, lectures and workshops. In addition, they may lead fundraising efforts for their museums by writing articles and publicity materials or attending civic meetings. Some curators specialize in a specific field, such as art, history or paleontology, and large museums may employ curators for each collection. Museum curators may also perform research and administrative duties as well.
Education
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Most museum curators have a master's degree in a specialty, such as museum studies, archeology, art or history. Those who wish to work in natural history or science museums usually earn doctoral degrees. Some curators earn two graduate degrees, including one in museum studies and one in a chosen specialty, because it often makes candidates more appealing to employers. Smaller museums may hire curators who only have bachelor's degrees. Museum curator positions often include managerial and administrative responsibilities, so it is a good idea to take classes in fundraising, marketing, business administration and public relations. In addition to a strong academic background, many curators receive hands-on experience by participating in a full-time internship at a museum.
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Working Conditions
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Museum curators often have to spend a great deal of time traveling as they must appraise new items for their collection, perform research in their specialty and arrange exhibitions. The job requires significant contact with the public, as curators aid individuals with research and educate the public about exhibits and artifacts. Museum curators usually work standard 40-hour weeks, but overtime may be required when new exhibits are opening.
Salary
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According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for curators was $47,220 in May 2008. The highest 10 percent were paid more than $83,290, while the lowest 10 percent were paid less than $26,850. The middle 50 percent earned between $34,910 and $63,940.
Employment Outlook
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The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that employment for curators, archivists and other museum technicians will increase by 20 percent between 2008 and 2018, which is a much faster rate than the average for all occupations. Growing public interest in art, history and science will create job opportunities for curators as museum attendance remains strong. There will be significant competition for jobs, however, because many people are drawn to the curator career and have the necessary skills and training. Those who have experience with research, collection management and exhibit design will see the best prospects.
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References
- Photo Credit Roman art gallery, Vatican Museums image by Eishier from Fotolia.com
