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Photo Curator Jobs (NOW HIRING)

The New York Times Magazine is looking for a photo editor to conceptualize, assign and produce ... visual curation role * Demonstrate strong editorial judgment working with editors and the legal ...

Senior Art Director

Greenwood Village, CO · On-site

$105K - $120K/yr

Photo Curation & Asset Direction: Select and curate visual imagery, software UI screenshots, and graphical assets that elevate our brand above generic tech tropes. * Systems Architecture: Build ...

Staff Photo Editor

New York, NY · On-site

$113K - $115K/yr

The New York Times Magazine is looking for a photo editor to conceptualize, assign and produce ... visual curation role * Demonstrate strong editorial judgment working with editors and the legal ...

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Photo Curator information

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$25.5K

$72.6K

$119.5K

How much do photo curator jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 5, 2026, the average yearly pay for photo curator in the United States is $72,627.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $50,000.00 and $94,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a photo curator?

Photo curators are professionals responsible for selecting, organizing, and preserving photographic collections in museums, galleries, archives, or private collections. They research and acquire photographs, plan exhibitions, and ensure the historical and artistic value of images is maintained. Photo curators also collaborate with artists and scholars, write catalog essays, and often engage the public through educational programs. Their work helps to contextualize and showcase photography as an important cultural and artistic medium.

What are some common challenges photo curators face when managing large digital archives?

Photo Curators often encounter challenges in organizing, preserving, and providing access to extensive digital photo collections. Ensuring proper metadata tagging, maintaining consistent file formats, and implementing efficient digital asset management systems are crucial for long-term accessibility and usability. Curators must also balance the need for public access with copyright considerations and privacy concerns, often working closely with IT specialists, archivists, and institutional stakeholders to create sustainable workflows.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a photo curator, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Photo Curator, you need a solid background in art history, photography, and archival practices, often supported by a relevant degree or museum studies certification. Familiarity with digital asset management systems, cataloging software, and image editing tools like Adobe Photoshop is typically required. Strong attention to detail, organizational skills, and the ability to communicate effectively with artists and stakeholders set exceptional curators apart. These skills and qualities are crucial for preserving collections, crafting compelling exhibitions, and ensuring public engagement with photographic works.

What is the difference between Photo Curator vs Photo Archivist?

AspectPhoto CuratorPhoto Archivist
CredentialsBachelor's degree in art, photography, or related field; knowledge of art historyBachelor's degree in library science, information management, or related field; archival training
Work EnvironmentMuseums, galleries, art institutionsLibraries, archives, museums
Primary FocusSelecting, acquiring, and organizing photographs for exhibitions or collectionsPreserving, cataloging, and maintaining photographic archives
Industry UsageArt, cultural institutions, museumsLibraries, archives, historical societies

While both roles involve working with photographs, a Photo Curator focuses on selecting and organizing images for exhibitions or collections, emphasizing artistic and thematic considerations. A Photo Archivist concentrates on preserving and cataloging photographs for long-term access and research. Both roles require specialized knowledge and often collaborate within cultural institutions, but their core responsibilities differ in purpose and scope.

Do photo curators make a lot of money?

Photo curators typically earn a median annual salary that varies depending on experience, location, and the organization they work for, with salaries generally ranging from $40,000 to $70,000. Advanced roles or those in major institutions may offer higher compensation, especially for professionals with specialized skills in digital archiving or art history. Overall, while the role can be financially stable, it is not usually considered a high-paying position compared to other art or museum careers.
More about Photo Curator jobs
Infographic showing various Photo Curator job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 53% Full Time, 37% Part Time, 3% Temporary, 3% Contract, and 3% Nights. Highlights an 96% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 3% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $72,627 per year, or $34.9 per hour.

Curator of Collections & Exhibits

City & Borough of Juneau

Juneau, AK • On-site

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Posted 24 days ago


Job description

Description We are looking for someone who enjoys interacting with the public, providing outstanding customer service, and working with diverse groups. WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR A strong candidate for this position would have experience working with collection management, be able to prioritize and multitask in a busy workplace, collaborating with artists and contractors to create exhibits and programs that complement the City Museum's mission. Incumbents provide information about exhibit changes to Museum staff, seek opportunities for partnerships and alternative funding (grants), and guide temporary exhibit artists and contractors with design, installation, and maintenance of temporary exhibits.

Candidates should possess effective computer skills, clear verbal and written communication skills particularly as it pertains to exhibit text, exceptional attendance, reliability, flexibility, and strong attention to detail. A strong candidate will be able to perform extensive research for public and external inquiries, referral, source validation related to local historical artifacts. THE BENEFITS OF JOINING OUR TEAM In this position you will receive a competitive salary package that includes the opportunity for regular pay increases, 13 paid holidays a year, an excellent health insurance program that includes medical, dental, vision and orthodontia care options, paid leave and retirement credit through PERS (Public Employees' Retirement System).

We value the health and well-being of our employees. The CBJ provides paid parental leave, free parking, paid time off for parent teacher conferences, the ability to participate in a robust wellness program that includes discounts to CBJ recreational centers and local fitness programs, free bi-annual health screenings, free flu shots, free classes, challenges and webinars on healthy living to assist you with achieving work/life balance. WORKING HOURS AND LOCATION Depending on season, this position works at the City Museum five (5) days a week.

During installations and special events, this will include evenings and weekends. You will work at a staff desk, in the collections area, and at the museum front reception desk when needed. Typical Responsibilities DESCRIPTION OF WHAT YOU WILL BE DOING Under general direction, performs professional curatorial duties related to the acquisition, registration, management, security, and care of the museum's permanent exhibits and loan collections.

This position is also responsible for the design, development and maintenance of museum exhibits and displays. Typical responsibilities include the following: Acquisition, registration, condition, study and management of the Juneau Douglas City Museum permanent and loan collections, including approximately 7,000 objects, 90,000 photographs, 10,000 archival papers, 4,000 reference documents, and structures/large objects of historical significance located off-site around the City and Borough of Juneau. Researches and recommends the solicitation, acquisition or de-accession of art works, historical objects and archival material for the collections; assists with establishing insurance values; document in-coming and out-going loans.

Maintenance and upgrades for permanent exhibits; lends professional advice to the Library Director to develop and recommend exhibits, including the design, installation, and dismantling of temporary exhibits. Supports solo artist exhibits with instillation, design, and dismantling. Performs extensive research for public and external inquiries, including historical information, complex analysis, summarization, artifact searches, interpretation, translation, and referral, source validation related to historical artifacts, structures, and geographic areas.

Identifies and assesses needs from collections and makes recommendations to the Library Director for prioritization. Provides information on the collections for newsletter, publicity, reports, grants, and public presentations. Makes recommendations on and develops and implements exhibit and collection management guidelines and policies.

Provide professional curatorial advice or consultative services to small and larger museums locally and within the region. Maintains and upgrades collections database, photo-documentation and insurance records of all collections. May assist at the front desk, including opening and closing the Museum facility and utilizing a point-of-sale(POS) system.

Monitors environmental conditions in exhibits and storage areas; makes or recommends modifications to ensure the preservation of the collections. Assists with facility operations and monitoring of the HVAC system. Minimum Qualifications Education: Master's degree in museum studies/Museology.

Substitutions: The following combination of education and experience may substitute for the required Master's degree in Museum Studies/Museology: Master's degree in art history, Humanities, Archeology, Anthropology or equivalent field as determined by the Museum Director AND one (1) year of experience working with museum/art collections or exhibits. OR Bachelor's degree from an accredited college including some coursework in museology; art, anthropology, education, archaeology, history or a closely related field, AND Two (2) years of experience working in a museum/art collections or exhibits. Other: A valid Driver's License at time of appointment and for continued employment.

Employee MUST have access to reliable transportation to transport self to locations where community collections and programs are held. Supplemental Information HIRING MANAGER CONTACT INFO Hiring Manager: Catherine Melville Phone Number: (907) 586-04436 Email: catherine.melville@juneau.org This position is open until filled. We have one vacancy to fill

We are reviewing applicants and inviting qualified individuals to participate in our selection process as they apply. If you have applied after the vacant position is filled, you will be notified. We encourage all applicants who are interested in this position to apply in a timely fashion.

The NEXT review of applications will occur on October 01, 2026. Please read the below information carefully to ensure your application submission meets all submittal requirements. Education If you are using education to meet the minimum qualifications, you must document your education in your application, and you may be required to provide transcripts.

Work Experience If you are using work experience to meet the minimum qualifications, you must document your work experience in the application. If your application does not support minimum qualifications, you may not advance to the interview and selection phase of the recruitment. NOTE: Attaching a resume or curriculum vitae is not an alternative to filling out the application in its entirety.

Noting "see resume or CV" or any similar response on any portion of your application may lead to a determination that your application is incomplete and removal from consideration for this job posting. Application Assistance For questions regarding application submission or system operation errors, please visit: www.governmentjobs.com/careers/juneau/helpandsupport/applicationguide. If your question is not answered in the FAQ, you may contact the Department of Human Resources & Risk Management at (907) 586-5250 or human.resources@juneau.gov

For applicant password assistance, please visit: https://www.governmentjobs.com/OnlineApplication/User/ResetPassword EEO Statement The City & Borough of Juneau complies with Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Individuals with disabilities who require accommodation, auxiliary aides or services, or alternative communication formats, please call (907) 586-5250 or TTY: Alaska Relay 711 or 1-800-770-8973, or correspond with the Department of Human Resources & Risk Management at employment@juneau.gov or 155 Heritage Way, Juneau, AK 99801. The City and Borough of Juneau is an equal opportunity employer.