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Associate Curator Jobs (NOW HIRING)

$50K/yr

Senior Curator, Modern & Contemporary Art FLSA: United States of America (Exempt) Employment Status : Regular/Full time ABOUT THE HIGH The High brings art, ideas, and people together to amplify the ...

ROLE SUMMARY As a Curator, you are a salesperson and will be the first point of contact for our ... REQUIRED EDUCATION and EXPERIENCE Minimum of an Associate degree One+ years sales experience ...

ROLE SUMMARY As a Curator, you are a salesperson and will be the first point of contact for our ... REQUIRED EDUCATION and EXPERIENCE Minimum of an Associate degree One+ years sales experience ...

New

Part-Time Curator

Miami, FL · On-site

$14.50/hr

ROLE SUMMARY As a Curator, you are a salesperson and will be the first point of contact for our ... REQUIRED EDUCATION and EXPERIENCE Minimum of an Associate degree One+ years sales experience ...

ROLE SUMMARY As a Curator, you are a salesperson and will be the first point of contact for our ... REQUIRED EDUCATION and EXPERIENCE Minimum of an associate degree One+ years sales experience ...

ROLE SUMMARY As a Curator, you are a salesperson and will be the first point of contact for our ... REQUIRED EDUCATION and EXPERIENCE Minimum of an Associate degree One+ years sales experience ...

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Associate Curator information

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$18

$28

$35

How much do associate curator jobs pay per hour?

As of Jul 14, 2026, the average hourly pay for associate curator in the United States is $28.71, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $26.20 and $31.49 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

Is an associate curator higher than an assistant curator?

Yes, an associate curator is generally a higher position than an assistant curator. The associate curator typically has more experience, responsibilities, and may oversee projects or staff, while the assistant curator supports the curatorial team and performs more entry-level tasks.

What are some typical challenges faced by an Associate Curator when developing new exhibitions?

Associate Curators often navigate challenges such as balancing scholarly research with audience engagement, managing tight deadlines, and coordinating with multiple departments like education, marketing, and installation teams. They must ensure that the exhibition aligns with the institution's mission and collection strengths while also appealing to a diverse audience. Additionally, Associate Curators regularly collaborate with artists, lenders, and conservators, which requires strong communication and organizational skills.

How much do associate curators make?

Associate curators typically earn between $40,000 and $60,000 annually, depending on experience, location, and the institution. Entry-level positions may start lower, while those with specialized skills or advanced degrees can earn higher salaries.

What is the difference between Associate Curator vs Collections Manager?

AspectAssociate CuratorCollections Manager
Required CredentialsBachelor's degree in art, history, or related field; experience in curationBachelor's degree; experience in collections management, preservation, or related field
Work EnvironmentMuseums, galleries, cultural institutionsMuseums, archives, cultural institutions
Employer & Industry UsageUsed in museums and galleries for curatorial rolesUsed in museums and cultural institutions for managing collections
Common Search & ComparisonOften compared for roles involving curation and collection oversightCompared with curatorial roles for collection management responsibilities

The Associate Curator primarily focuses on developing exhibitions, researching collections, and assisting with curation. The Collections Manager handles the preservation, cataloging, and physical management of collections. While both roles work closely within museums, the Associate Curator emphasizes research and exhibition planning, whereas the Collections Manager concentrates on collection care and logistics.

How much do assistant curators get paid?

Assistant curators typically earn between $30,000 and $50,000 annually, depending on experience, location, and the institution. Entry-level positions may start lower, while those with specialized skills or advanced degrees can earn higher salaries.

What are Associate Curators?

Associate Curators are museum or gallery professionals responsible for assisting in the development, organization, and management of collections and exhibitions. They work closely with senior curators to research, acquire, and interpret objects or artworks, and may also help design and implement educational programs. Their role often involves cataloging items, preparing materials for display, and collaborating with other departments to enhance the visitor experience. Associate Curators are typically early- to mid-career professionals who contribute to both the scholarly and practical aspects of a museum or gallery’s mission.

What is an associate curator?

An associate curator is a professional responsible for assisting in the management, research, and exhibition of collections in museums or galleries. They often support senior curators, conduct research, and help with educational programs, typically requiring knowledge of art, history, or science and relevant organizational skills.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an Associate Curator, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Associate Curator, you need a solid background in art history or a related field, often supported by a master's degree and prior museum experience. Familiarity with collection management systems, exhibition planning software, and research databases is typically required. Strong organizational, communication, and collaboration skills help you coordinate exhibitions and engage diverse audiences. These competencies ensure effective stewardship of collections, successful programming, and enhanced visitor experiences.
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Infographic showing various Associate Curator job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 67% Full Time, 30% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 97% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 2% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $59,714 per year, or $28.7 per hour.
Kiki Pohlad '13 Curatorial Assistant

Kiki Pohlad '13 Curatorial Assistant

Skidmore College

Saratoga Springs, NY • On-site

$24.73 - $25.83/hr

Full-time

Re-posted 10 days ago


Skidmore College rating

7.6

Company rating: 7.6 out of 10

Based on 8 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

251st of 553 rated colleges and universities


Job description

The Curatorial Assistant (CA) will assist the Associate Curator, Malloy Curator, and Dayton Director in research, administrative, and editorial tasks for exhibitions and accompanying publications.  The CA will also help facilitate access to the museum collection; give public, private, and class-based tours of the museum and exhibitions; respond to external requests for images and research on the museum collection; and supervise student interns. The CA has the opportunity to propose and execute exhibitions and programs that they author. Because of the broad scope of the museum's exhibitions and goals, the successful candidate will have a wide range of interests, the ability to learn quickly, an innate aptitude for flexibility, the ability to juggle multiple tasks on projects with both near and distant deadlines, and a positive solutions-oriented approach. 

  • Assists in all aspects of department administration, providing critical support to the Associate Curator, Malloy Curator, and Dayton Director on all exhibitions, publications, and other projects. This work necessitates a high level of organization at broad project levels as well as detail-oriented attention to project logistics and communications and a dedication to ensuring the department meets internally and externally set deadlines. 
  • Organizes and maintains exhibition checklists. Works closely with individual curators to keep all images and artwork captions up-to-date and communicates changes to relevant departments. 
  • Communicates about curatorial projects across departments, including but not limited to collaborating with registrars on loan requests and followups; brainstorming with engagement team about programming; offering ideas, images, and writing for social media and other publicity; providing information and feedback to designer. Communicates with external book designers and other freelancers about individual projects.
  • Writes and/or edits exhibition and publication texts under the supervision of the organizing curator. Requires research skills, in-depth knowledge of contemporary art and art history, excellent writing skills, and experience in proofreading or other editing texts. Knowledge of Chicago Manual of Style required.
  • Organize exhibition images. This work includes liaising with outside photographers, ensuring all exhibitions are photographed in a timely fashion, working with supervising curators to review and approve images, communicating with Tang Museum colleagues about using and locating approved images. 
  • Manage exhibition catalogs and other publications. Work with individual curators to ensure that publications stay on track by liaising with photo editors, designers, writers, outside editors, and printers. Edit or proofread texts that come from a variety of sources including newly commissioned interviews and essays, existing gallery texts, reviews, historic material, and so on; secure hi-res images and copyright permissions as needed. 
  • Offer support to the Associate Curator on cataloging and digitization needs by researching the collection, completing data-entry tasks, and updating approved revisions to cataloging data in the collections management system, EmbARK. Experience with a collection management system preferred, though training is provided for the right candidate. 
  • Correspond and engage with museum colleagues and scholars external to the Tang. This work might include responding to requests: to publish images by ensuring such use is acceptable, providing captions and hi-res images; to borrow Tang collection artwork on loan; for research on the Tang collection or past exhibitions. Responsibly represents the curatorial department, the museum, and the museum mission both on and off campus by giving public and private tours to campus and external groups, attending art fairs and conferences, and assisting in hosting responsibilities for visiting artists and scholars.
  • The CA is invited to propose their own authored exhibitions, programs, or other projects; if approved, this work includes executing the project from initial conception/proposal through to realization, managing all logistical details, collaborating with key artists, and communicating across museum departments.
  • Supervise 3-5 student interns. Assign projects and deadlines, provide training as needed, and review and offer feedback to interns on all tasks. 

Education: The successful candidate will also have a Bachelor's Degree, in addition to museum and/or prior work experience.

Required documents needed to apply:

  • On-line application
  • Cover Letter
  • Resume
  • List of Three References    

Pay Range:  $24.73 - $25.83 per hour ($45,000-$47,000 annually) for this 35 hours per week, 12 months per year position commensurate with experience.

EEO STATEMENT

Skidmore College is committed to being an inclusive campus community and, as an Equal Opportunity Employer, does not discriminate in its hiring or employment practices on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, gender, age, national or ethnic origin, physical or mental disability, military or veteran status, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, predisposition or carrier status, domestic violence victim status, familial status, dating violence, or stalking, or any other category protected by applicable federal, state or local laws.
Employment at Skidmore College is contingent upon an acceptable background check result.
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