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Temporary Museum Curator Jobs (NOW HIRING)

The J. Paul Getty Trust

Curatorial Assistant

Malibu, CA · On-site

The Museum mounts numerous temporary exhibitions a year across its two sites; maintains an annual ... Reporting to the Anissa and Paul John Balson II Senior Curator of Antiquities, the ideal candidate ...

New

J. Paul Getty Trust, The

Curatorial Assistant

Malibu, CA · On-site

The Museum mounts numerous temporary exhibitions a year across its two sites; maintains an annual ... Reporting to the Anissa and Paul John Balson II Senior Curator of Antiquities, the ideal candidate ...

New

Artinfoland

$150 - $210/hr

The museum's founding brought these three historically separate disciplines under one roof, a ... Oversee the work of the Senior Curator of Art, Senior Curator of History, Curator of Natural ...

Posted today

Museum of the Bible

Collections Manager

Washington, DC

$65K - $70K/yr

... curatorial and exhibit staff in installation and de-installation of permanent, temporary, and ... Champion the Museum of the Bible's mission to invite all people to engage with the transformative ...

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How much do temporary museum curator jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 21, 2026, the average yearly pay for temporary museum curator in the United States is $76,262.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $59,500.00 and $84,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a temporary museum curator?

Temporary museum curators are professionals hired for a limited period to manage exhibitions, collections, or specific projects within a museum. They may be brought in to cover staff absences, assist with special events, or lend expertise to a new exhibit. Their responsibilities often include researching artifacts, designing displays, and coordinating with other museum staff. Temporary curators need strong organizational and communication skills to ensure the museum's standards are maintained during their tenure.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a temporary museum curator?

To thrive as a Temporary Museum Curator, you need a solid background in art history or museum studies, experience with collection management, and often a relevant degree. Familiarity with collection databases, exhibit design software, and digital archiving tools is typically required. Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and the ability to communicate effectively with diverse audiences are essential soft skills. These competencies ensure that exhibitions are curated professionally, collections are preserved accurately, and museum visitors have engaging and educational experiences.

What are some common challenges faced by a temporary museum curator, and how can I prepare for them?

As a Temporary Museum Curator, you may encounter challenges such as quickly adapting to new collections, learning institutional procedures, and building relationships with permanent staff in a short timeframe. To prepare, familiarize yourself with the museum's current exhibitions and cataloging systems ahead of your start date, and be proactive in communicating with your new team. Flexibility, strong organizational skills, and the ability to prioritize tasks will help you make a positive impact during your temporary tenure.

What cities are hiring for Temporary Museum Curator jobs?

Cities with the most Temporary Museum Curator job openings:

What are the most commonly searched types of Museum Curator jobs?

The most popular types of Museum Curator jobs are:

What states have the most Temporary Museum Curator jobs?

States with the most job openings for Temporary Museum Curator jobs include:

Temporary Museum Curator jobs near you
Infographic showing various Temporary Museum Curator job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 21% Locum Tenens, 10% As Needed, 45% Full Time, 22% Part Time, 1% Nights, and 1% Summer. Highlights an 98% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 1% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $76,262 per year, or $36.7 per hour.

Curatorial Assistant

The J. Paul Getty Trust

Malibu, CA • On-site

Other

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Posted yesterday

New

Job description

Job Title

Curatorial Assistant

Job Summary

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 sites, 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 numerous 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 department of Antiquities of the J. Paul Getty Museum located at the Getty Villa seeks a full-time 3-year limited term Curatorial Assistant to assist with and contribute to all aspects of the preparation and implementation of a major international loan exhibition addressing the Levant and the Classical World, scheduled to open in 2029. Reporting to the Anissa and Paul John Balson II Senior Curator of Antiquities, the ideal candidate will have an MA or PhD in Ancient Near Eastern Studies, Classics, Classical Archaeology, or a related field and be a highly organized, efficient multi-tasker.

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States for Getty, without the need for current or future visa sponsorship.

Major Job Responsibilities
  1. Assist with exhibition preparation, installation and deinstallation.
  2. Work collaboratively with curators, conservators, mount-makers, designers, editors, registrars, public programmers, lenders, catalogue contributors, and others both within and outside the museum.
  3. Coordinate with the Head of Exhibitions to manage curatorial task workflows, track project timelines, and ensure effective communication across teams to support the successful planning and execution of the exhibition.
  4. Prepare and track loan requests; maintain communication with lenders.
  5. Prepare, line-edit, and proofread catalogue copy and bibliographies; work with outside authors.
  6. Prepare, line-edit, and proofread in-gallery didactic materials, digital interactives, and on-line resources.
  7. Create and update photologs; prepare and track image requests and permissions.
  8. Assist with creation of exhibition website and PowerPoint presentations.
  9. Assist with Public Programming.
  10. Lead exhibition tours.
Qualifications
  • Bachelor's degree in art or art history required; Master's preferred
  • 0-2 years art historical or museum experience
  • Competent to work in basic curatorial functions
  • Reading fluency in at least one foreign language (modern or ancient) required
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
  • Prefer MA or PhD in Ancient Near Eastern Studies, Classics, Classical Archaeology, or a related field
  • Highly organized, efficient, able to work independently, multitask, and meet fixed deadlines
  • Excellent organizational, writing, editing, and communication skills; attention to detail
  • Ability to read one or more of the following languages: French, German, Italian or Arabic
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

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