Job description template
Curator Job Description Template
A copy-ready curator job description with responsibilities, qualifications, skills and pay guidance: customize it for your company in minutes.
Copy the template below, replace the bracketed fields and tailor duties to your workplace. For pay, national BLS data shows curators earn a median of $63,420 ($30.49/hour); the middle 50% earn $48,870–$83,080.
Job title
Curator
Job summary
[Company name] is seeking a dependable curator to join our team in [city, state]. In this role, you will research collections, recommend acquisitions and support our team’s commitment to safety, quality and service.
Responsibilities
- Research collections
- Recommend acquisitions
- Plan exhibitions
- Write labels and catalogs
- Work with donors
- Coordinate loans
- Give public talks
- Follow company policies, safety procedures and applicable regulations
Required qualifications
- Master's degree
- Working knowledge of research and exhibition planning
- Storytelling and curiosity
- [Add role-specific requirements, such as driver’s license or ability to pass a background check, if job-related]
Preferred qualifications
- Master’s
- Ph.D.
- Museum studies certificate
- Experience with collections databases
Skills
- Writing
- Collections care
- Provenance research
- Public speaking
- Relationship building
- Organization
Work environment and schedule
Curators work in museums, galleries and historic sites. Full time, with evening events.
Pay and benefits
$[min]–$[max] per [hour/year], depending on experience. [List benefits: health insurance, paid time off, retirement plan, training and certification support.]
Equal opportunity
[Company name] is an equal opportunity employer. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law, and we provide reasonable accommodations upon request.
Tips for a curator job posting that attracts applicants
- Use the title candidates search for. “Curator” is the clearest; alternates include Museum Curator, Collections Curator, Exhibition Curator.
- Show the pay range. Postings with pay get more qualified applicants, and a growing number of states and cities require pay ranges in job postings.
- Separate must-haves from nice-to-haves. Long requirement lists discourage qualified candidates, especially career changers.
- Describe a real day. Borrow from our day in the life of a curator so applicants self-select accurately.
- Mention training. Highlighting structured onboarding: such as Curator training: widens your applicant pool.
Next steps
Screen and interview with our Curator hiring guide, then onboard with the 30-60-90 day plan.