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How much do decorative arts jobs pay per hour?

As of Jun 13, 2026, the average hourly pay for decorative arts in the United States is $23.36, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $17.79 and $26.44 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are some common challenges decorative arts professionals face when working on restoration projects?

Decorative arts professionals often encounter challenges such as matching historical materials and techniques, adhering to conservation ethics, and working within budget or time constraints. Balancing authenticity with modern restoration standards requires careful research and collaboration with historians, conservators, and clients. Successful professionals stay organized, communicate effectively with team members, and continuously update their knowledge of new restoration technologies and industry best practices.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Decorative Arts Specialist, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Decorative Arts Specialist, you need a solid background in art history, knowledge of design periods, and often a relevant degree in fine arts, art history, or museum studies. Familiarity with collection management systems, conservation techniques, and authentication tools is typically required. Attention to detail, communication skills, and a passion for historical objects help you excel when working with collectors, institutions, and the public. These skills ensure accurate evaluation, preservation, and presentation of decorative art pieces, supporting their cultural and financial value.

What are the types of decorative arts work?

Decorative arts work includes designing and creating objects that are both functional and aesthetically pleasing, such as ceramics, furniture, textiles, jewelry, glassware, and metalwork. Professionals in this field often work with various materials and may use tools like CAD software or handcrafting techniques to produce their pieces.

How much do decorative painters make?

Decorative painters typically earn between $30,000 and $60,000 annually, depending on experience, skill level, and location. Skilled painters with specialized techniques or certifications can earn higher wages, especially when working on high-end projects or for established firms.

What is the difference between Decorative Arts vs Interior Designer?

AspectDecorative ArtsInterior Designer
CredentialsTypically requires art, design, or craft training; certifications varyOften requires interior design degrees or certifications
Work EnvironmentArt studios, museums, galleries, craft workshopsResidential, commercial, and hospitality spaces
Industry UsageFocuses on creating decorative objects and furnishingsFocuses on space planning and functional design

Decorative Arts involves creating and designing decorative objects and furnishings, emphasizing craftsmanship and aesthetics. Interior Designers focus on designing functional and visually appealing interior spaces. While both fields require a good eye for design, Decorative Arts centers on individual pieces, whereas Interior Design addresses entire spaces.

What are decorative arts?

Decorative arts refer to artistic disciplines that focus on the design and creation of functional objects that are also aesthetically pleasing. Unlike fine arts such as painting or sculpture, decorative arts include crafts like ceramics, furniture, textiles, glassware, metalwork, and jewelry. These objects combine utility with beauty, often reflecting the culture and era in which they were made. Decorative arts are highly valued for their craftsmanship and design and are featured in museums, galleries, and private collections.

What are 10 careers in art and design?

Careers in art and design include roles such as decorative arts specialist, graphic designer, interior designer, art director, museum curator, illustrator, fashion designer, set designer, art teacher, and conservator. These professions often require creativity, technical skills, and knowledge of design tools or art history. Many roles involve working in studios, galleries, or educational settings.

What is the highest paid job in art?

In the field of decorative arts, high-paying roles include senior art directors, museum directors, and specialized conservators, often requiring advanced degrees and extensive experience. These positions typically involve leadership, project management, and expert knowledge of art techniques and history, with salaries reaching six figures in some cases.
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Decorative Arts jobs near you
Infographic showing various Decorative Arts job openings in the United States as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 74% Full Time, 13% Part Time, and 13% Temporary. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $48,596 per year, or $23.4 per hour.

Assistant Curator of Sculpture and Decorative Arts

J. Paul Getty Trust, The

Los Angeles, CA • On-site

$70K - $94K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Posted 4 days ago

Job description

Getty is committed to creating a welcoming workplace that reflects the various backgrounds of the communities we serve. We value differences in the pursuit of inquiry and knowledge, mutual understanding, respect, trust, transparency, and cooperation. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, citizenship or immigration status, color, disability, ethnicity, familial status, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, marital status, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other protected status.
Job Summary
Our Mission
The J. Paul Getty Museum seeks to inspire curiosity about, and enjoyment and understanding of, the visual arts by collecting, conserving, exhibiting and interpreting works of art of outstanding quality and historical importance and is one of four programs of the J. Paul Getty Trust. The Museum operates two facilities, the Getty Villa in Malibu, which exhibits its collection of Greek and Roman antiquities, and the Getty Center in Brentwood, which displays its collections of European art: Medieval and Renaissance illuminated manuscripts, paintings, sculpture, decorative arts, drawings to 1900, and photography to the present day (including non-European works). The Museum mounts approximately 25 temporary exhibitions a year across its two sites; maintains an annual permanent gallery improvement program, and offers wide-ranging and ambitious programming for its visitors.
The Opportunity
The J. Paul Getty Museum seeks a qualified Assistant Curator with expertise in European Decorative Arts to join the Department of Sculpture and Decorative Arts. Reporting directly to the Senior Curator of Sculpture and Decorative arts, the Assistant Curator will assist in developing, displaying, maintaining, and managing the decorative arts collection within their area of expertise, working collaboratively with colleagues and under the guidance of senior curators. This is a full-time position within the curatorial team responsible for the Getty's collection of European sculpture and decorative arts from the Middle Ages through 1900. The successful candidate will have a strong academic background and an established record of publications in European decorative arts of these periods. Ideally, the candidate would be a specialist in French or Italian decorative arts dating from 1650-1800. Responsibilities include developing engaging displays and interpretive materials for the collection during the redesign of the permanent galleries, conducting research and scholarly study of artworks, maintaining and updating the online catalogue, proposing exhibitions and research projects, recommending acquisitions, and collaborating with museum colleagues, scholars, dealers, and auctioneers. The ideal candidate will be passionate about connoisseurship and archival research, committed to shaping the future of the collection through thoughtful display, gifts, and acquisitions, and eager to work as part of a team. They will collaborate closely with other curators in the department, colleagues across the Museum, and programs throughout the Getty, and demonstrate a strong dedication to the Museum's mission of public engagement and outreach.
Major Job Responsibilities
  • Applies advanced knowledge of art history and art education to curatorial assignments of moderate complexity
  • Performs scholarly research on the Decorative Arts collection
  • May develop gallery installations and organize smaller exhibitions in collaboration with contributing departments
  • Travels and networks internationally to develop partnerships with other museums
  • Publishes and lectures in area of specialization
  • Manages day-to-day operations of assigned collections, including consultation with conservators, inputting information in the database, updating the information for the online collection pages, answering inquiries about the collection, giving collection tours for educators, docents, scholars, and the general public
  • May research and propose acquisitions and donations for the collections in collaboration with curators and participate in the preparation of acquisition proposals
  • Collaborates in research projects; serves as a resource to scholars, visitors and staff and develops relationships with outside institutions and professionals to foster cross-institutional initiatives
  • Contributes to the development of interpretive programming, including public and educational programs, digital media and social media
  • Other duties as assigned
  • Foster and maintain good working relationships with colleagues from other institutions in the U.S. and abroad as well as with the scholarly community, dealers and collectors

Qualifications
  • Master's degree in art history, art or art education OR 2-4 yrs of curatorial experience OR Ph.D.
  • Fluency in at least one foreign language (modern or ancient) required
  • Competent to work in most curatorial functions
  • Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States for Getty, without the need for current or future visa sponsorship.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
  • Demonstrated experience with art historical research and writing
  • Proven interest in the field
  • Strong interpersonal and organizational skills
  • Ability to communicate and distill information for diverse audiences in print and online
  • Demonstrated ability to build relationships and collaborate with teams across disciplines
  • Excellent knowledge of collection management and digital asset management tools, in particular the TMS database system

Benefits and Perks
Here are just some examples that Getty offers/provides for full-time employees:
  • Medical, Dental and Vision insurance coverage, starting on date of hire. Getty pays 75%-95% of the premium, depending on the plan selected.
  • 403(b) Employee Investment retirement plan - with up to 5% Getty Match
  • Getty contribution of 6%, on behalf of employee, to 401(a) retirement account
  • Educational Assistance and professional development
  • Paid Vacation, Sick and Personal Days
  • 12 Paid Holidays
  • Many positions have bi-weekly Off-Fridays
  • On-Site Fitness Center at Getty Center
  • Community service opportunities

To learn more about our comprehensive benefits and long list of perks, go to Getty HR.

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