Starting Curator Salaries With a Masters
- As of May 2010, curators earned from $27,640 to $86,450 a year, according to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics. The average salary of a curator was $53,160 as reported by the BLS. Most museums require a master's degree. Curators working in museums in were earning $50,380, while those at universities and professional schools earned an average of $57,510 according to the BLS. The BLS also notes that curators working for the federal executive branch, which usually requires a doctoral degree, were earning an average of $79,440.
- Museums employ curators with a master's degree and a specialization. Usually specializations are in archaeology, art or history. Curators can also pursue a museum studies master's degree. To gain an advantage in the job market, potential curators may choose to pursue two master's degrees -- one master's in museology and another in a specialized subject. For employment with small museums, a curator may need only to earn a bachelor's degree. However, because smaller museums employ fewer people, business courses are helpful due to additional responsibilities in the administrative and managerial realms of the museum.
- Curators must have knowledge from many different fields. Curators work with computers for databases of their archives, and the Internet for publishing materials on their exhibits. For conservation, curators apply knowledge of chemistry and physics to conserve artistic pieces. Curators need skills in business. In smaller museums, a curator may be responsible for leadership among the employees, fundraising for the museum and overall museum attendance.
- U.S. News and World Report voted the career of curator as one of the 50 best careers in 2011. Curators select and handle artifacts of scientific or historical value. When they are not archiving objects or setting up exhibits, curators are many times the public face of the museum. Curators also lead educational programs for the museum, present lectures at conferences and educational events, and are relied upon for their expertise in various subject matter.
