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Associate Museum Curator Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Visitor Services Manager and Associate Curator of Museum Experiences About The Bronx Children's Museum At the Bronx Children's Museum, we nurture the wonder of childhood, fostering curiosity ...

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Museum Educator

Bronx, NY · On-site

$20/hr

Visitor Services Manager and Associate Curator of Museum Experiences About The Bronx Children's Museum At the Bronx Children's Museum, we nurture the wonder of childhood, fostering curiosity ...

New

Curatorial Associate

Manhattan, NY · On-site

$93K - $98K/yr

Curatorial Associate The American Museum of Natural History is one of the world's preeminent scientific and cultural institutions, and has as its mission to discover, interpret and disseminate ...

Museum Educator

Bronx, NY · On-site

$20/hr

Visitor Services Manager and Associate Curator of Museum Experiences About The Bronx Children's Museum At the Bronx Children's Museum, we nurture the wonder of childhood, fostering curiosity ...

New

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Associate Museum Curator information

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How much do associate museum curator jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 16, 2026, the average hourly pay for associate museum 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.

What is the difference between Associate Museum Curator vs Museum Curator?

AspectAssociate Museum CuratorMuseum Curator
Required CredentialsBachelor's or Master's degree in Art History, Museum Studies, or related field; some experienceSimilar educational background; often more experience required
Work EnvironmentAssist with exhibitions, collections, and research under supervisionLead projects, make curatorial decisions, oversee collections
Employer & Industry UsageCommon entry-level or mid-level role in museums and galleriesSenior or lead role in similar institutions
Search & Comparison IntentYes, often compared for career progressionYes, as a more advanced position

The Associate Museum Curator typically supports curatorial activities, assisting with collections and exhibitions, often as an entry or mid-level role. The Museum Curator holds more responsibility, leading projects and making key decisions. Both roles require similar educational backgrounds, but the Museum Curator usually has more experience and authority within the museum setting.

How much do you get paid as an associate museum curator?

The average salary for an associate museum curator in the United States ranges from $40,000 to $55,000 per year, depending on experience, location, and the size of the institution. Entry-level positions may start lower, while those with specialized skills or advanced degrees can earn higher salaries. Benefits often include health insurance, paid time off, and opportunities for professional development.

What are the typical responsibilities of an associate museum curator, and how do they collaborate with other museum staff?

An Associate Museum Curator is often responsible for assisting with the development, organization, and interpretation of museum collections and exhibitions. They frequently conduct research, help manage collections, and contribute to exhibition planning and installation. Collaboration is key in this role, as Associate Curators regularly work with educators, registrars, conservators, and marketing staff to ensure exhibitions are well-researched, preserved, and effectively communicated to the public. This teamwork helps create engaging and educational experiences for museum visitors.

Do associate museum curators get paid a lot?

Associate museum curators typically earn a moderate salary that varies by institution, location, and experience. Entry-level positions may pay less, while those with more experience or specialized skills can earn higher wages, often supplemented by benefits such as health insurance and professional development opportunities.

What does an associate museum curator do?

An Associate Museum Curator assists in managing and developing museum collections, planning exhibitions, and conducting research on artifacts or artworks. They often work under the supervision of a senior curator and collaborate with other museum staff to ensure the proper care and display of items. Their responsibilities can also include writing catalog descriptions, organizing educational programs, and engaging with the public to promote the museum’s mission. Overall, they play a vital role in shaping the museum's offerings and contributing to scholarly research.

How hard is it to get a job as an associate museum curator?

Securing an associate museum curator position typically requires a relevant master's degree in art history, archaeology, or a related field, along with prior experience such as internships or assistant roles. Competition can be high, and candidates often need strong research, organizational, and communication skills, as well as familiarity with collections management tools.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an associate museum curator, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Associate Museum Curator, you generally need a background in art history or a related field, research skills, and experience with collections management. Familiarity with museum collection databases, cataloguing systems, and sometimes certifications in museum studies are commonly required. Strong organizational abilities, attention to detail, and effective communication are crucial soft skills for collaborating with staff and engaging the public. These competencies ensure the preservation, interpretation, and accessibility of collections, which are essential for the museum's mission and visitor experience.
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Infographic showing various Associate Museum Curator job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 69% Full Time, 28% 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, Tang Museum

Skidmore College

Saratoga Springs, NY • On-site

Full-time

Re-posted 14 days ago


Skidmore College rating

7.6

Company rating: 7.6 out of 10

Based on 8 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

289th of 618 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. The CA will also be responsible for the management and distribution of the Tang's publications. 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.
  • Manage the Tang's published catalogues. This includes arranging and overseeing sales, catalogue shipments, fulfilling orders, management and maintenance of on-line sales platforms (Amazon Seller Central, Tang's website/Spree) and VSD sales (Square), maintain the catalogue stock at the VSD and advertise specials throughout the year, tracking inventory, evaluating storage needs, working closely with the Manager of Finance and Planning on catalogue related payments, and meeting quarterly to report sales and inventory to the Dayton Director, ADE, and MFP. In addition, working with the Building Manager and Head of Installations to supervise the transport of catalogues into inventory and coordinate the delivery of incoming shipments. This position brings Tang catalogues to buyers worldwide by handling on-site sales and phone orders as well as online sales. These efforts enhance the museum's reputation as a lively and engaging destination, a vital cultural resource, and an important contemporary art museum with a national reach.
  • 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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