Best Careers: Curator

The rundown:

The sign at the museum may say "Do Not Touch," but curators—the museum officials who select artifacts of artistic, scientific, and historical value to be displayed in a museum or institution—have a hands-on job. Whether it's ancient Egyptian sarcophagi, brachiosaurus fossils, or a splatter painting by Jackson Pollock, the pieces of history on display at your favorite museum were put in place by a curator, whose work involves organizing exhibits, soliciting new works, and researching, restoring, and verifying the authenticity of artifacts. Curators are often the public face of a museum, leading educational programs and lectures, writing books, and relied upon for their expertise in a particular subject matter, from geology to photography.

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The outlook:

The Labor Department projects the number of curators will rise by 23 percent over the next several years, well above the average rate for all careers. By 2018, there should be about 2,700 new positions added. Some museums have struggled over the past few years, cutting staff and putting extra burdens on those who remain. So competition for curatorial positions may be tough until the economy fully recovers. Those who don't rise to the top may seek related work as museum technicians, archivists, or researchers.

Money:

Salary depends on the size and prestige of the institution or museum. The median annual earnings of curators in 2009 were about $48,000, with the middle 50 percent earning between $35,000 and $65,000. The highest 10 percent of curators earned more than $83,000. Still, this is a job for people who love the work and can live without a fat paycheck.

Upward mobility:

In small museums and institutions, there may be few opportunities for upward mobility. Curators there often move on to positions at larger institutions. At larger museums, curators can be promoted to museum director. Being published in scholarly journals or writing a book can be a factor in advancement.

Activity level:

It depends on the institution. Some curators' duties are mainly comprised of research and working with the public, while others may be involved in the installation of exhibits, which can involve lifting, climbing ladders, and carrying objects. Curators for large institutions are often asked to travel, and the job increasingly involves fundraising. Those who work for scientific institutions or historical sites may do field work that involves vigorous outdoor activity.

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Stress level:

Moderate. Curators must be comfortable with public speaking. They also must be able to lead a large staff, from assistant curators to volunteers. This means they are able to delegate many tasks.

Education and preparation:

Most museums require a master's degree in the curator's area of expertise, such as art history or archeology, or in museum studies. Prestigious museums may prefer a doctorate degree. Curators who work in conservation may find that chemistry courses are good preparation for their career. The job also requires practical experience in one's area of expertise, whether it's years spent managing a gallery or a stint at an archeological dig. Curators also must demonstrate strong writing skills in order to contribute to catalogues and museum promotional materials. Leadership and business experience are highly valued, since many curators find that completing grant proposals is an important part of their job.

Real advice from real people about how to land a job as a curator:

"In terms of art, there are basically two paths you can go. One is contemporary art, and the other is every other field. If you want to be a curator of Old Masters, you'll almost definitely need a Ph.D. in art history. If you're interested in contemporary art, it's different. You'll probably need a master's but you also need to be out there where artists are living and breathing, working in a gallery or museum as early as possible. There's no specific path, but experience in the field is extremely important." — Sally Block, executive director of the Association of Art Museum Curators

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