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Plant Curator Jobs (NOW HIRING)

The Morton Arboretum

Research Technician Fellowship

Lisle, IL · On-site

$17.75 - $24.50/hr

The Plant Pathology Laboratory offers hands-on experience with molecular, microbiological, and ... May voucher and assist with the curation of herbarium specimens. * Demonstrate alignment with the ...

Ladew Topiary Gardens

Director of Horticulture

MD · On-site

$95K - $125K/yr

... plant-related information. Ladew is known as one of the top gardens in the country and is recognized for excellence in horticultural display; continuously curating, maintaining, and advancing this ...

Springpoint Living

Grounds Worker

Lewes, DE · On-site

$15.50 - $20.75/hr

Make judgments concerning selection and grading of soil to assure proper plant vitality. * Assist with preventative and curative maintenance of machinery including but not limited to oil changes ...

University of Arizona

Assistant Conservator

Tucson, AZ · On-site

... plant-based material, metals, and mixed-media contemporary art. The successful candidate will have ... In collaboration with supervisor, curatorial personnel, and stakeholders, collaborate on the design ...

CYNET SYSTEMS

Laboratory Technician

Johnston, IA · On-site

$18 - $23/hr

Working with a team to execute insect and plant-based experiments. * Collection and curation of high-quality data under deadlines. * Assisting with all aspects of insect colony tasks, such as daily ...

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How much do plant curator jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 19, 2026, the average yearly pay for plant 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.

How in demand is a curator?

Plant curators are in moderate demand, especially in botanical gardens, museums, and conservatories that focus on plant collections and education. Employment opportunities often require specialized knowledge of botany, horticulture, or related fields, along with experience in collection management and conservation practices.

What is a Plant Curator job?

A Plant Curator is responsible for managing and maintaining a botanical collection, such as those found in botanical gardens, arboretums, or research institutions. They oversee plant acquisition, documentation, and care to ensure the health and scientific value of the collection. Their duties may include coordinating conservation efforts, conducting research, and educating the public about plant biodiversity. Plant Curators often collaborate with scientists, horticulturists, and other professionals to enhance and preserve plant collections.

What does a plant curator do?

A plant curator is responsible for managing and maintaining plant collections in botanical gardens, arboretums, or similar institutions. They select, care for, and research plants, often using tools like labels and databases, and may develop educational programs or exhibits. The role requires knowledge of horticulture, plant taxonomy, and conservation practices.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the Plant Curator position, and why are they important?

A Plant Curator typically needs expertise in botany, horticulture, and plant taxonomy, often supported by a degree in plant sciences or a related field. Familiarity with plant collection management software, herbarium databases, and sometimes certifications such as those from botanical garden associations are highly beneficial. Strong organization, attention to detail, and excellent communication skills help curators effectively manage collections and engage with the public or research teams. These competencies ensure both the scientific integrity and public value of plant collections in botanical gardens, research institutions, or museums.

What is the highest paying botany job?

The highest paying botany-related job is typically a plant scientist or botanical researcher working in academia, government agencies, or private industry, often requiring advanced degrees and specialized skills. Executive roles such as plant biotech executives or senior research directors can also command high salaries, especially with experience and leadership responsibilities.

Is there a demand for horticulturists?

Horticulturists, including plant curators, are in steady demand in botanical gardens, research institutions, and landscape management. Skills in plant identification, cultivation, and environmental sustainability increase employability, with opportunities often requiring relevant certifications or degrees.

What are some typical daily responsibilities of a Plant Curator in a botanical garden or museum setting?

As a Plant Curator, your daily responsibilities often include cataloging and maintaining plant collections, coordinating with horticultural staff for plant care, and overseeing the labeling and documentation of specimens. You may also develop educational exhibits, contribute to scientific research, and lead tours or training sessions for visitors or volunteers. Collaboration with researchers, other curators, and conservation organizations is common, helping to further botanical knowledge and conservation efforts. These activities ensure the accuracy, health, and public engagement of valuable plant collections.

More about Plant Curator jobs
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What are the most commonly searched types of Plant Curator jobs? The most popular types of Plant Curator jobs are:
Who are the top companies hiring for Plant Curator jobs? The top employers for Plant Curator jobs are:
What states have the most Plant Curator jobs? States with the most job openings for Plant Curator jobs include:
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Plant Curator jobs near you
Infographic showing various Plant Curator job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $72,627 per year, or $34.9 per hour.

Technical Assistant III (Educ - Herbarium Collections Manager)

UMass Amherst

Amherst, MA • On-site

Other

Posted 28 days ago

Job description

Title: Technical Assistant III (Educ - Herbarium Collections Manager)

Executive Area: Academic Affairs

College/School/MBU: College of Natural Sciences

Department: Biology

Work Location: Amherst

Schedule:Full Time

Work Arrangement:Onsite

Job Summary

The Collections Manager (Technical Assistant III) of the University of Massachusetts Herbarium is responsible for managing and maintaining a herbarium of approximately 275,000 specimens and records, supervision of paid student and non-student curatorial assistants, and advising faculty, students, visiting researchers, and the general public using herbarium collections.

Essential Functions

Perform day to day collections activities according to "best practices" of herbarium and natural history collections associations and societies. Activities include mounting herbarium specimens, filing specimens according the system adopted by the University of Massachusetts Herbarium (MASS), repairing specimens using museum-quality techniques, shipping, receiving and accessioning specimens, maintenance and pest control.
Day to day supervision, training, and design of workflow procedures for herbarium assistants and volunteers. Supervise digitization (both data and imaging), and routine herbarium maintenance, including cleaning, specimen mounting and repair, pest control, foldering and filing specimens.
Develop workflows to improve efficiency, quality, and safe handling of archival materials for herbarium work and collections-based research grants. Includes specimen digitization and other special projects as needed.
Maintain the herbarium's Specify database, currently containing 130,000 herbarium records, with a goal of digitizing the remainder of the 250,000 vascular plants collection and the 5,000 non-vascular plants (bryophytes). Database maintenance includes implementing software updates, data entry, overseeing the quality of herbarium-assistant data entry, importing data from incoming collections, exporting data to publicly accessible data portals, and quality control of portal data.
Work with Specify Help, Symbiota Help, and UMass Biology Department IT staff to solve database problems or implement improvements.
Use rules developed by the International Code of Botanical Nomenclature (ICBN) to make curatorial decisions regarding the specimen filing system. Monitor botanical taxonomic and nomenclature literature to maintain knowledge of resources sufficient to inform decisions for updating plant names in the collection.
Act as a resource for faculty, graduate and undergraduate students, regional botanists and the public. This includes recommendations of methods and protocols for using herbarium collections, plant identification, and assistance with locating or occasionally collecting fresh plant material for research purposes.
Perform outreach by conducting occasional tours or workshops for UMass and other Five College botany, plant science and ecology classes, and conservation organizations as requested. Conduct lectures or demonstrations on working with specimens, including collecting, pressing, handling, mounting and filing specimens, and meeting current standards for vouchering and publishing.
Maintain other collections such as the Macro-Algae, Fruit and Seed, and Plant Pathology Collections.
Generate and maintain records of annual inventories, gifts and loans, correspondence, and inquiries.
Participate in University of Massachusetts Natural History Collections Committee to inform curators on collections updates, improvements, and contribute to the mission of the Natural History Collections.
Keep track of materials and order supplies. Maintain familiarity with archival materials and suppliers, perform quality control of archival supplies.
Keep up to date on herbarium best practices available through published literature, museum and botanical societies and organizations. Maintain policies and protocols for herbarium use and maintenance specific to University of Massachusetts Herbarium (MASS) and update as needed. Develop and maintain up-to-date knowledge of plant nomenclature and monitor research developments to keep MASS plant names updated.

Other Functions

Work collaboratively and effectively to promote teamwork, equality and inclusiveness.
Work in partnership with colleagues within the CNS community and across the campus to support the Dean's strategic priorities.
Attend trainings as needed.
Perform other duties as assigned in support of the mission and goals of the College of Natural Sciences.

Minimum Qualifications

High school diploma and five (5) years of herbarium or natural history collections experience or an Associate's degree or higher in a botany-related field such as plant taxonomy, biology, ecology or conservation, and three (3) year of herbarium or natural history collections experience.
Supervisory skills and experience.
Understanding of and experience with plant systematics, nomenclature, plant taxonomy, related literature and resources, and botanical terms.
Familiarity with herbarium collections "best practices" for handling, storing, filing and protecting historical and recently archived collections as established by natural history collections associations and societies.
Knowledge and experience with Northeastern flora or exhibit the ability to become proficient with the regional flora.
Natural history collections database experience.
Understanding of, and ability to work with, Symbiota DarwinCore and other biological data standards for compatibility with world-wide herbarium data.
Working knowledge of office-productivity software.
Written and oral communication skills.
Ability to prepare written reports and instructions.

Preferred Qualifications

Bachelor's degree or higher in a botany-related field (e.g., plant taxonomy, biology, ecology, conservation) and at least one (1) year of herbarium or natural history collections experience.
Prior experience with natural history collections.
Botanical field experience strongly preferred.

Additional Details

In addition to supervising students, this position may also supervise volunteers, host herbarium research associates, and supervise non-student employees.
At UMass Amherst and in CNS, we strive to be a community where every individual feels a sense of belonging, where every individual is included, and where every individual is valued. These values and goals are reflected in the College of Natural Sciences' Inclusive Excellence framework and in the UMass Amherst's For the Common Good: 2024-2034 Strategic Plan.

Working Conditions

Work is performed in indoor and/or outdoor environments, and requires frequent lifting, bending, tool use or equipment use. May involve work in confined spaces or at heights.

Work Schedule and Work Arrangement

M-F; 8:30am - 5:00pm

Salary Information

Pay Grade:USA/MTA Grade 15

Click here to view theClassified Step Scale

Special Instructions for Applicants

Along with the application, please submit a resume and cover letter. References will be checked at the finalist stage. Please be prepared to provide contact information for three (3) professional references.

This position will remain open for the time period required by any applicable collective bargaining agreement and will continue until a suitable candidate pool is identified. Interested applicants are strongly encouraged to apply early.

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