Curators

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.

On the job, you would:

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.
Develop and maintain an institution's registration, cataloging, and basic record-keeping systems, using computer databases.
Plan and conduct special research projects in area of interest or expertise.

Important Qualities

Analytical skills. Archivists, curators, museum technicians, and conservators must explore minutiae to determine the origin, history, and importance of the objects they work with.

Customer-service skills. Archivists, curators, museum technicians, and conservators work regularly with the general public. They must be courteous, friendly, and able to help users find materials.

Detail oriented. Archivists and museum technicians must be able to focus on specifics because they use and develop complex databases related to the materials they store and access.

Organizational skills. Archivists, curators, museum technicians, and conservators store and easily retrieve records and documents. They must also develop logical systems of storage for the public to use.

Personality

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Characteristics of this Career
		93%	Attention to Detail - Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
		93%	Initiative - Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
		89%	Integrity - Job requires being honest and ethical.
		86%	Dependability - Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
		83%	Cooperation - Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
		83%	Leadership - Job requires a willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction.
		82%	Analytical Thinking - Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.
		80%	Independence - Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.
		80%	Persistence - Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.
		76%	Innovation - Job requires creativity and alternative thinking to develop new ideas for and answers to work-related problems.
		76%	Achievement/Effort - Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.
		75%	Adaptability/Flexibility - Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
		73%	Stress Tolerance - Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high-stress situations.
		72%	Self-Control - Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
		61%	Concern for Others - Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.
		54%	Social Orientation - Job requires preferring to work with others rather than alone, and being personally connected with others on the job.

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Strengths
		89%	Enterprising - Work involves managing, negotiating, marketing, or selling, typically in a business setting, or leading or advising people in political and legal situations. Enterprising occupations are often associated with business initiatives, sales, marketing/advertising, finance, management/administration, professional advising, public speaking, politics, or law.
		78%	Conventional - Work involves following procedures and regulations to organize information or data, typically in a business setting. Conventional occupations are often associated with office work, accounting, mathematics/statistics, information technology, finance, or human resources.

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Values of the Work Environment
		83%	Independence - Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.
		78%	Achievement - Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.
		72%	Working Conditions - Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.
		67%	Recognition - Occupations that satisfy this work value offer advancement, potential for leadership, and are often considered prestigious. Corresponding needs are Advancement, Authority, Recognition and Social Status.

Aptitude

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Abilities \| Cognitive, Physical, Personality
		75%	Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
		75%	Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
		75%	Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
		72%	Deductive Reasoning - The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
		72%	Written Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
		72%	Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
		69%	Speech Clarity - The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
		69%	Inductive Reasoning - The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
		69%	Category Flexibility - The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
		66%	Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
		66%	Speech Recognition - The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
		63%	Originality - The ability to come up with unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situation, or to develop creative ways to solve a problem.
		60%	Information Ordering - The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
		60%	Fluency of Ideas - The ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity).
		56%	Visualization - The ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.
		53%	Selective Attention - The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
		53%	Far Vision - The ability to see details at a distance.
		53%	Flexibility of Closure - The ability to identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material.

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Skills \| Cognitive, Physical, Personality
		66%	Writing - Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
		66%	Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
		63%	Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
		61%	Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
		59%	Active Learning - Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
		59%	Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
		57%	Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
		55%	Judgment and Decision Making - Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
		54%	Coordination - Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
		54%	Management of Material Resources - Obtaining and seeing to the appropriate use of equipment, facilities, and materials needed to do certain work.
		54%	Systems Evaluation - Identifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system.
		52%	Management of Personnel Resources - Motivating, developing, and directing people as they work, identifying the best people for the job.
		52%	Persuasion - Persuading others to change their minds or behavior.
		52%	Complex Problem Solving - Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
		52%	Time Management - Managing one's own time and the time of others.
		52%	Management of Financial Resources - Determining how money will be spent to get the work done, and accounting for these expenditures.

Job Details

Responsibilities

Develop library or archival databases.

Provide information to the general public.

Train staff members.

Direct activities of subordinates.

Negotiate purchases or contracts.

Order instructional or library materials or equipment.

Research topics in area of expertise.

Confer with others to conduct or arrange operational activities.

Promote educational institutions or programs.

Plan community programs or activities for the general public.

Evaluate scholarly materials.

Write grant proposals.

Write articles, books or other original materials in area of expertise.

Evaluate characteristics of archival or historical objects.

Maintain inventories of materials, equipment, or products.

Construct exhibits or parts of exhibits.

Order instructional or library materials or equipment.

Plan community programs or activities for the general public.

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Attributes & Percentage of Time Spent
		93%	Electronic Mail - How often do you use electronic mail in this job?
		92%	Structured versus Unstructured Work - To what extent is this job structured for the worker, rather than allowing the worker to determine tasks, priorities, and goals?
		91%	Telephone - How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?
		89%	Face-to-Face Discussions - How often do you have to have face-to-face discussions with individuals or teams in this job?
		87%	Freedom to Make Decisions - How much decision making freedom, without supervision, does the job offer?
		87%	Indoors, Environmentally Controlled - How often does this job require working indoors in environmentally controlled conditions?
		83%	Contact With Others - How much does this job require the worker to be in contact with others (face-to-face, by telephone, or otherwise) in order to perform it?
		83%	Work With Work Group or Team - How important is it to work with others in a group or team in this job?
		77%	Deal With External Customers - How important is it to work with external customers or the public in this job?
		77%	Importance of Being Exact or Accurate - How important is being very exact or highly accurate in performing this job?
		71%	Coordinate or Lead Others - How important is it to coordinate or lead others in accomplishing work activities in this job?
		70%	Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results - What results do your decisions usually have on other people or the image or reputation or financial resources of your employer?
		68%	Responsibility for Outcomes and Results - How responsible is the worker for work outcomes and results of other workers?
		65%	Frequency of Decision Making - How frequently is the worker required to make decisions that affect other people, the financial resources, and/or the image and reputation of the organization?
		65%	Letters and Memos - How often does the job require written letters and memos?
		64%	Spend Time Sitting - How much does this job require sitting?
		61%	Level of Competition - To what extent does this job require the worker to compete or to be aware of competitive pressures?
		56%	Time Pressure - How often does this job require the worker to meet strict deadlines?
		68%	Duration of Typical Work Week - Number of hours typically worked in one week.

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Tasks & Values
		89%	Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events - Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
		88%	Documenting/Recording Information - Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
		86%	Getting Information - Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
		84%	Thinking Creatively - Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
		80%	Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work - Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
		78%	Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships - Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
		76%	Making Decisions and Solving Problems - Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
		76%	Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates - Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
		75%	Communicating with People Outside the Organization - Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
		75%	Working with Computers - Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
		75%	Processing Information - Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
		74%	Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge - Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
		74%	Handling and Moving Objects - Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
		73%	Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People - Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.
		72%	Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others - Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
		70%	Performing for or Working Directly with the Public - Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
		70%	Analyzing Data or Information - Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
		66%	Scheduling Work and Activities - Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
		64%	Training and Teaching Others - Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.
		63%	Developing Objectives and Strategies - Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them.
		60%	Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings - Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
		56%	Monitoring and Controlling Resources - Monitoring and controlling resources and overseeing the spending of money.
		56%	Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others - Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.
		55%	Developing and Building Teams - Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.
		55%	Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards - Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
		55%	Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates - Providing guidance and direction to subordinates, including setting performance standards and monitoring performance.
		54%	Performing Administrative Activities - Performing day-to-day administrative tasks such as maintaining information files and processing paperwork.
		53%	Providing Consultation and Advice to Others - Providing guidance and expert advice to management or other groups on technical, systems-, or process-related topics.
		52%	Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials - Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.

What Archivists, Curators, and Museum Workers Do

Museum technicians often prepare materials for display.

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.

Duties

Archivists typically do the following:

Authenticate and appraise historical documents and archival materials
Preserve and maintain documents and objects
Create and manage a system to maintain and preserve electronic records
Organize and classify archival materials
Safeguard records by creating film and digital copies
Direct workers to help arrange, exhibit, and maintain collections
Set and administer policy guidelines concerning public access to materials
Find and acquire new materials for their archives

Curators, museum technicians, and conservators typically do the following:

Acquire, store, and exhibit collections
Select the theme and design of exhibits
Design, organize, and conduct tours and workshops for the public
Attend meetings and civic events to promote their institution
Clean objects such as ancient tools, coins, and statues
Direct and supervise curatorial, technical, and student staff
Plan and conduct special research projects

Archivists preserve important or historically significant documents and records. They coordinate educational and public outreach programs, such as tours, lectures, and classes. They also may work with researchers on topics and items relevant to their collections.

Some archivists specialize in a particular era of history so that they can have a better understanding of the records from that period. Archivists typically work with specific forms of documentation, such as manuscripts, electronic records, websites, photographs, maps, motion pictures, or sound recordings.

Curators, who also may be museum directors, lead the acquisition, storage, and exhibition of collections. They negotiate and authorize the purchase, sale, exchange, and loan of collections. They also may research, authenticate, evaluate, and categorize the items in a collection.

Curators often perform administrative tasks and help manage their institution’s research projects and related educational programs. They may represent their institution in the media, at public events, and at professional conferences.

In large institutions, some curators may specialize in a particular field, such as botany, art, or history. For example, a large natural history museum might employ separate curators for its collections of birds, fish, and mammals.

In small institutions, one curator may be responsible for many tasks, from taking care of collections to directing the affairs of the museum.

Museum technicians, who may be known as preparators, registrars, or collections specialists, care for and safeguard objects in museum collections and exhibitions.

Preparators focus on readying items in museum collections for display or storage. For example, they might make frames and mats for artwork or fit mounts to support objects. They also help to create exhibits, such as by building exhibit cases, installing items, and ensuring proper lighting. And they transport items and prepare them for shipping.

Registrars and collections specialists oversee the logistics of acquisitions, insurance policies, risk management, and loaning of objects to and from the museum for exhibition or research. They keep detailed records of the conditions and locations of the objects that are on display, in storage, or being transported to another museum. They also maintain and store any documentation associated with the objects.

These workers also may answer questions from the public and help curators and outside scholars use the museum’s collections.

Conservators handle, preserve, treat, and keep records of artifacts, specimens, and works of art. They may perform substantial historical, scientific, and archeological research. They document their findings and treat items in order to minimize deterioration or restore them to their original state. Conservators usually specialize in a particular material or group of objects, such as documents and books, paintings, or textiles.

Some conservators use x rays, chemical testing, microscopes, special lights, and other laboratory equipment and techniques to examine objects, determine their condition, and decide on the best way to preserve them. They also may participate in outreach programs, research topics in their specialty, and write articles for scholarly journals.

Work Environment

Archivists, curators, and museum workers held about 37,700 jobs in 2022. Employment in the detailed occupations that make up archivists, curators, and museum workers was distributed as follows:

Museum technicians and conservators	14,400
Curators	13,900
Archivists	9,400

The largest employers of archivists, curators, and museum workers were as follows:

Museums, historical sites, and similar institutions	37%
Government	22
Educational services; state, local, and private	16
Self-employed workers	9
Religious, grantmaking, civic, professional, and similar organizations	5

Depending on the size of the institution and the position archivists, curators, and museum workers hold, these workers may spend time either at a desk or with the public, providing reference assistance and educational services. Museum workers who restore and set up exhibits or work with bulky, heavy record containers may have to lift objects, climb ladders and scaffolding, and stretch to reach items.

Work Schedules

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.

Getting Started

Education:

44%

Master's Degree

35%

Doctoral Degree

How to Become an Archivist, Curator, or Museum Worker

Prior experience through an internship or by volunteering in archives and museums is helpful in getting a position as an archivist, curator, museum technician, or conservator.

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.

Education

Archivists. Archivists typically need a master’s degree in history, library science, archival studies, political science, or public administration. Students may gain valuable archiving experience through volunteer or internship opportunities.

Curators. Curators typically need a master’s degree in art history, history, archaeology, or museum studies. In small museums, curator positions may be available to applicants with a bachelor’s degree. Because curators have administrative and managerial responsibilities, courses in business administration, public relations, marketing, and fundraising are recommended.

Museum technicians. Museum technicians typically need a bachelor’s degree in museum studies or a related field, such as archaeology, art history, or history. Some jobs require candidates to have a master’s degree in museum studies. In addition, museum employers may prefer candidates who have knowledge of the museum’s specialty or have experience working in museums.

Conservators. Conservators typically need a master’s degree in conservation or a related field. Graduate programs last 2 to 4 years, the latter part of which includes an internship. To qualify for entry into these programs, a student must have a background in archaeology, art history, chemistry, or studio art. Completing a conservation internship as an undergraduate may enhance an applicant’s prospects into a graduate program.

Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations

Although most employers do not require certification, some archivists may choose to earn voluntary certification because it allows them to demonstrate expertise in a particular area.

The Academy of Certified Archivists offers the Certified Archivist credential. To earn certification, candidates usually must have a master’s degree, have professional archival experience, and pass an exam. They must renew their certification periodically by retaking the exam or fulfilling continuing education credits.

Other Experience

To gain experience, candidates may have to work part time, as an intern or as a volunteer, during or after completing their education. Substantial experience in collection management, research, exhibit design, or restoration, as well as database management skills, is necessary for full-time positions.

Advancement

Continuing education is available through meetings, conferences, and workshops sponsored by archival, historical, and museum associations. Some large organizations, such as the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration in Washington, DC, offer in-house training.

Top museum positions are highly sought after. Performing unique research and producing published work are important for advancement in large institutions. In addition, a doctoral degree may be needed for some advanced positions.

Museum workers employed in small institutions may have limited opportunities for promotion. They typically advance by transferring to a larger institution that has supervisory positions.

Job Outlook

Overall employment of archivists, curators, and museum workers is projected to grow 10 percent from 2022 to 2032, much faster than the average for all occupations.

About 5,000 openings for archivists, curators, and museum workers are projected each year, on average, over the decade. 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.

Employment

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.

Archives and museums that receive federal funds may be affected by changes to the federal budget, which in turn might impact employment of archivists, curators, museum technicians, and conservators.

Contacts for More Information

For information about archivists and about schools offering courses in archival studies, visit

Society of American Archivists

For more information about archivists and archivist certification, visit

Academy of Certified Archivists

For information about government archivists, visit

Council of State Archivists

U.S. National Archives and Records Administration

For information about museum technicians, registrars, or collections specialists, visit

Association of Registrars and Collections Specialists

For more information about museum careers, including schools offering museum studies and related programs, visit

American Alliance of Museums

For more information about careers and education programs in conservation and preservation for conservators, visit

American Institute for Conservation

For information about job openings as curators, museum technicians, and conservators with the federal government, visit

USAJobs

Similar Occupations

This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of archivists, curators, and museum workers.

Occupation	Job Duties	Entry-Level Education	Median Annual Pay, May 2022
Anthropologists and Archeologists	Anthropologists and archeologists study the origin, development, and behavior of humans.	Master's degree	$63,940
Craft and Fine Artists	Craft and fine artists use a variety of materials and techniques to create art for sale and exhibition.	See How to Become One	$53,140
Historians	Historians research, analyze, interpret, and write about the past by studying historical documents and sources.	Master's degree	$64,540
Librarians and Library Media Specialists	Librarians and library media specialists help people find information and conduct research for personal and professional use.	Master's degree	$61,660

Curators

Archivist, Curator, or Museum Worker

What they do: