Description
Administer collections, such as artwork, collectibles, historic items, or scientific specimens of museums or other institutions. May conduct instructional, research, or public service activities of institution.
Interests
- Conventional
- Enterprising
Work Values
- Independence
- Achievement
- Working Conditions
Work Styles
- Attention to Detail
- Initiative
- Integrity
- Dependability
- Cooperation
Tasks
- Plan and organize the acquisition, storage, and exhibition of collections and related materials, including the selection of exhibition themes and designs, and develop or install exhibit materials.
- Develop and maintain an institution's registration, cataloging, and basic record-keeping systems, using computer databases.
- Plan and conduct special research projects in area of interest or expertise.
- Provide information from the institution's holdings to other curators and to the public.
- Negotiate and authorize purchase, sale, exchange, or loan of collections.
Work Activities
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
- Documenting/Recording Information
- Getting Information
- Thinking Creatively
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
Detailed Work Activities
- Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
- Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
- Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
- Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
- Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
- Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
- Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
- Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
- Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
- Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
Technology Skills
- Data base user interface and query software
- Presentation software
- Graphics or photo imaging software
- Object or component oriented development software
- Office suite software
Abilities
- Oral Comprehension
- Oral Expression
- Written Comprehension
- Deductive Reasoning
- Near Vision
Skills
- Reading Comprehension
- Speaking
- Active Listening
- Writing
- Critical Thinking
Knowledge
- English Language
- History and Archeology
- Fine Arts
- Administration and Management
- Sociology and Anthropology
Most Common Education Level
The “Most Common Education Level” refers to the level of education held by the majority of workers in a given occupation. For example, if the highest percentage of workers in a role have an Associate’s Degree, that suggests this is the typical educational requirement. Knowing this helps you plan how many years of education you may need to pursue that career.
Certificates
Certificate name
Certified Heritage InterpreterCertifying Organization
National Association for Interpretation
Type
Core
Certificate name
Certified Interpretive TrainerCertifying Organization
National Association for Interpretation
Type
Core
Certificate name
Certified Interpretive ManagerCertifying Organization
National Association for Interpretation
Type
Advanced
Certificate name
Certified Interpretive PlannerCertifying Organization
National Association for Interpretation
Type
Core
Income Percentile
The income percentiles show how earnings are distributed within a profession. The 10th percentile means that 10% of workers earned less than that amount. The median (50th percentile) indicates that half of workers earned more, and half earned less. The 90th percentile reflects what the top 10% of earners in the field make.
| Income Percentile | Annual Income |
|---|---|
| Low (10%) | $42,206 |
| Median (50%) | $59,949 |
| High (90%) | $82,878 |
Income by Experience
This table shows how income typically grows with experience—from entry level (0–2 years), to mid-level (3–5 years), to senior level (6–8 years), to expert level (8+ years).
| Experience | Income |
|---|---|
Entry Level  | $59,561 |
| Mid Level | $73,116 |
| Senior Level | $86,123 |
| Expert Level | N/A |
Employability
There are currently 14,200 jobs in this career path. Over the next 10 years, that number is expected to increase to 16,000 positions, reflecting a projected growth of 12%.
The Projected Job Growth figure refers to the expected increase or decrease in employment within a specific career field over a certain period of time.
Projected Job Growth of 12%
Related Careers
The career information and data on this site incorporates information from O*NET Web Services, Lightcast, CareerOneStop, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). For more details regarding the data sources and the specific information sourced, click here.
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