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How much do temporary museum curator jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 8, 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 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 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 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.

Graphic Designer (Visual Information Specialist), IS-1084-09

Smithsonian Institution

New York, NY

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement

Posted 19 days ago

Smithsonian Institution rating

8.6

Company rating: 8.6 out of 10

Based on 25 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

2nd of 29 rated museums

Job description

OPEN DATE: July 20, 2026                    
CLOSING DATE: August 10, 2026               
POSITION TYPE: Trust Fund
APPOINTMENT TYPE: Temporary - Not to Exceed One (1) year
SCHEDULE: Full Time
DUTY LOCATION: New York, NY

Position sensitivity and risk:
Non-Sensitive, Low Risk
Who May Apply:
Open to all qualified applicants

What are Trust Fund Positions?
Trust Fund positions are unique to the Smithsonian. They are paid for from a variety of sources, including the Smithsonian endowment, revenue from our business activities, donations, grants and contracts. Trust employees are not part of the civil service, nor does trust fund employment lead to Federal status. The salary ranges for trust positions are generally the same as for federal positions and in many cases trust and federal employees work side by side. Trust employees have their own benefit program, which may include Health, Dental & Vision Insurance, Life Insurance, Transit/Commuter Benefits, Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance, Annual and Sick Leave, Family Friendly Leave, 403b Retirement Plan, Discounts for Smithsonian Memberships, Museum Stores and Restaurants, Credit Union, Smithsonian Early Enrichment Center (Child Care), Flexible Spending Account (Health & Dependent Care). 
 
Conditions of Employment
  • Pass Pre-employment Background Check and Subsequent Background Investigation for position designated.
  • Complete a Probationary Period.
  • Maintain a Bank Account for Direct Deposit/Electronic Transfer.
  • The position is open to all candidates eligible to work in the United States.  Proof of eligibility to work in U.S. is not required to apply.
  • Applicants must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement. 
This position is located in the Communications and Marketing Department, Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum (CHSDM). CHSDM is the only museum in the United States devoted exclusively to historical and contemporary design and is the steward of one of the most diverse and comprehensive design collections in existence - more than 215,000 design objects spanning 30 centuries. From ancient textiles and works on paper to icons of modern design and cutting-edge technologies, CHSDM's collection serves as inspiration for creative work of all kinds and tells the story of design's paramount importance in improving our world. CHSDM's mission is to educate, inspire, and empower people through design.
The Museum's graphic designer will be responsible for overall graphic design at CHSDM ensuring consistency of the Museum's identity and brand on all digital and print pieces and will ensure compliance with brand guidelines and the Smithsonian brand. The graphic designer will implement design systems and guidelines for visual communications that extend and complement the Museum's brand identity. 
The graphic designer shall work in conjunction with his/her colleagues and the Museum's director to maintain a consistent identity across the entire Museum's communications, both digital and printed. The graphic designer plans and executes production of all graphic elements for all visual communications, handling schedules, printing and production. The graphic design material must promote CHSDM as a contemporary local, national and international design resource for its target audiences. The designer collaborates with many different teams, including but not limited to Museum staff, editors, guest curators, exhibition designers, web and media developers, students, project teams and external organizations. 
Graphic Design (65%)
  • Designs and creates materials of a high and consistent quality, with responsibility for selection and oversight of production. Design pieces will support many different Museum departments from Communications to Curatorial to the Shop, Advancement, Operations, and more across the Museum.
  • Prepares graphic assets, layouts and templates for web and interactive media for online and in-gallery display.
  • Designs direct marketing over digital channels. Designs and produces temporary museum signage, interior and exterior.
  • Designs and produces exhibition signage, interior and exterior, using templates or creating new exhibition graphic identity. Ensures that exhibition signage meets SD410 regulations and ADA regulations.
  • Designs banners and templates for website and social media platforms as needed.Designs advertising for museum programming - print, outdoor and online - including execution of resizing, matches prints, etc.

Production (35%)
  • Acts as project lead for all graphics projects including but not limited to staying on calendar, hiring external vendors and managing contracting processes.
  • Conducts press checks when necessary and ensure that all direct mail pieces meet postal requirements. 

  • Knowledge of a variety of methods, techniques and materials used in design of graphic materials such as printing, photography, and other reproduction processes and typography. 
  • Basic knowledge of electronic design, layout, and production software and processes. Skill in using all industry-standard graphic design and multimedia tools (e.g. InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, Bridge, After Effects, etc.) and production techniques. Familiar with web platforms and current digital options.
  • Knowledge of computer software/programs including Adobe Creative Suite and MS Office. 
  • Knowledge of project coordination principles and practices sufficient to lead graphic design and publication projects, including project scheduling, vendor procurement and contracting processes, commercial printing and production workflows, deadline management, project monitoring, and collaborative stakeholder engagement to ensure timely and successful completion of deliverables. 
  • Knowledge of basic print and electronic media cost estimation and staying with prescribed project budgetary allotments. 
  • Knowledge of procurement services and writing statements of work, purchase orders, and contracts.
  •  Skill to implement front-end web design using latest CSS, JS, HTML techniques. Understanding of WordPress and email marketing theming/templating environments.
  • Knowledge of guidelines and principles of universal design. 
  • Skill in working effectively in a collaborative, team-oriented environment sufficient to build productive working relationships, coordinate with stakeholders, and achieve shared organizational objectives. 
  • Skill in planning, prioritizing, and coordinating multiple concurrent projects sufficient to manage competing demands, meet established deadlines, and ensure timely completion of deliverables.
Education completed outside the United States must be deemed equivalent to higher education programs of U.S. Institutions by an organization that specializes in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials. This documentation is the responsibility of the applicant and should be included as part of your application package.
 
Any false statement in your application may result in rejection of your application and may also result in termination after employment begins.
  
Join us in "Inspiring Generations through Knowledge and Discovery."
 
Resumes should include a description of your paid and non-paid work experience that is related to this job; starting and ending dates of job (month and year); and average number of hours worked per week.  
What To Expect Next: Once the vacancy announcement closes, a review of your resume will be compared against the qualification and experience requirements related to this job. After review of applicant resumes is complete, qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring manager.
 
Relocation expenses are not paid.
The Smithsonian Institution provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation should contact Devin Murillo (MurilloDR@si.edu). Determinations on requests or reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.  To learn more, please review the Smithsonian's Accommodation Procedures (https://www.si.edu/OEO/IndividualswithDisabilities). 
 
The Smithsonian Institution is an Equal Opportunity Employer. To review The Smithsonian's EEO program information, please click the following: https://www.si.edu/oeo   

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