What it pays
Government survey numbers — not estimates, not ads.
Half of all Curators in the U.S. earn more than $63,420 a year — the middle 80% land between $40,470 and $107,140. About 12,150 people in the U.S. do this work. Figures are for the U.S. occupation group “Curators”. (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics survey, published 2025.) In India, Professionals earn about ₹38,298 a month on average — around ₹4.6 lakh a year (government PLFS survey via ILOSTAT, occupation-family figure).
$63,420typical pay / year
12,150people in this work
$107,140+top 10% earn
₹4.6 lakha year in India (family avg)
Think you get this job?Six quick questions on how it really works — with a hint and the reason behind every answer.
Test yourself →The work, task by task
These are the real jobs-to-be-done, not a wish list. Each task shows where we found it, and the prompt underneath is written for that exact task.
Make2
Develop and organize exhibitions
+Plan the summer pollinator exhibition: draft the exhibition concept, list required living specimens and…
Develop and organize exhibitions
+Plan the summer pollinator exhibition: draft the exhibition concept, list required living specimens and interpretive panels, schedule propagation and display-ready dates, and assign prep tasks to Horticulture, Education, and Facilities so labels and irrigation are ready by June 10.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft ExcelAdobe InDesignjob descriptionsO*NET
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Select artworks for exhibitions
+Choose works for the native-plant art show by reviewing condition reports and cultural notes, shortlist ten…
Select artworks for exhibitions
+Choose works for the native-plant art show by reviewing condition reports and cultural notes, shortlist ten pieces that survive outdoor display, confirm artist loans and shipping availability, and email the final selection and installation constraints to the exhibition team by next Tuesday.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Exceljob descriptionsWikipedia
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Analysing1
Research artworks and provenance
+Verify provenance for the sculpture collection: pull accession records, check acquisition correspondence for…
Research artworks and provenance
+Verify provenance for the sculpture collection: pull accession records, check acquisition correspondence for gaps, document sources and any contested ownership, and prepare a one-page provenance summary for each object to circulate to the collections committee on Friday.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Accessjob descriptionsO*NET
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Keeping the record3
Write grant proposals and manage budgets
+Write the foundation grant for the sensory garden: outline objectives, itemise plant palette and capital…
Write grant proposals and manage budgets
+Write the foundation grant for the sensory garden: outline objectives, itemise plant palette and capital costs, attach a phased budget and maintenance forecast, and produce a submission-ready file to send to the funder three weeks before their deadline.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft ExcelAdobe Acrobatjob descriptionsO*NET
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Maintain collection records and digital databases
+Update the living collection database: reconcile this season's accession and deaccession records, record…
Maintain collection records and digital databases
+Update the living collection database: reconcile this season's accession and deaccession records, record condition assessments and cultural sensitivities, export a refreshed inventory with GPS locations and curator notes, and back up the database by end of day Friday.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft AccessExtensible markup language XMLjob descriptionsO*NET
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Catalog and document collections
+Create a verified catalogue of the living succulent collection: assign accession numbers, photograph each…
Catalog and document collections
+Create a verified catalogue of the living succulent collection: assign accession numbers, photograph each specimen with scale, record provenance and condition, update the public inventory and circulate the export-quality report to Collections Manager Amina by next Tuesday.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft ExcelAdobe PhotoshopESCOjob descriptionsWikipedia
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The daily work14
Interpret heritage material including artifacts
+Write clear condition reports and cultural histories for the pressed plant mounts, wooden labeling stakes,…
Interpret heritage material including artifacts
+Write clear condition reports and cultural histories for the pressed plant mounts, wooden labeling stakes, and stone tools from the 1920s expedition, link each note to its accession number, flag any repatriation sensitivities, and prepare a short text for the visitors’ cabinet label by Friday.
The tools that do the workAdobe AcrobatMicrosoft ExcelWikipedia
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Collection management software
+Audit the living and preserved collections database entries for taxonomy, provenance, and condition, correct…
Collection management software
+Audit the living and preserved collections database entries for taxonomy, provenance, and condition, correct five misattributed accessions, add high-resolution photos and conservation notes where missing, and export an updated inventory for the director by Wednesday.
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Plan and conduct special research projects in area of interest or expertise.
+Plan and begin the greenhouse epiphyte study: finalise research questions, list required specimens and…
Plan and conduct special research projects in area of interest or expertise.
+Plan and begin the greenhouse epiphyte study: finalise research questions, list required specimens and permits, schedule two-week field collections in Costa Rica for September, assign Sara and Miguel as leads, and prepare the lab intake protocol before departure.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft ExcelO*NET
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Negotiate and authorize purchase, sale, exchange, or loan of collections.
+Negotiate the longleaf pine seed exchange with University of Georgia: draft the exchange terms, agree…
Negotiate and authorize purchase, sale, exchange, or loan of collections.
+Negotiate the longleaf pine seed exchange with University of Georgia: draft the exchange terms, agree valuation and transport responsibility, obtain legal sign-off, and authorise transfer once the seed viability test results arrive next Tuesday.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft ExcelO*NET
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Inspect premises to assess the need for repairs and to ensure that climate and pest control issues are addressed.
+Inspect the Rosehouse and Herbarium for urgent repairs: walk both buildings, document humidity and pest…
Inspect premises to assess the need for repairs and to ensure that climate and pest control issues are addressed.
+Inspect the Rosehouse and Herbarium for urgent repairs: walk both buildings, document humidity and pest indicators, photograph leaks and evidence, rank issues by risk, and send the prioritized repair and mitigation report to Facilities by Friday.
The tools that do the workAutodesk AutoCADMicrosoft ExcelO*NET
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Attend meetings, conventions, and civic events to promote use of institution's services, to seek financing, and to maintain community alliances.
+Represent the garden at the City Green Expo on Thursday: prepare a ten-minute talk on our education…
Attend meetings, conventions, and civic events to promote use of institution's services, to seek financing, and to maintain community alliances.
+Represent the garden at the City Green Expo on Thursday: prepare a ten-minute talk on our education programmes, collect sponsorship leads from at least three local nurseries, hand out printed membership forms, and follow up with personalised emails within three days.
The tools that do the workFacebookO*NET
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Confer with the board of directors to formulate and interpret policies, to determine budget requirements, and to plan overall operations.
+Confer with the board next Monday to set the next fiscal year budget: present the conservation project…
Confer with the board of directors to formulate and interpret policies, to determine budget requirements, and to plan overall operations.
+Confer with the board next Monday to set the next fiscal year budget: present the conservation project proposals, outline staffing needs, show projected nursery revenues and grant gaps, and propose three cost-saving options for discussion.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft ExcelO*NET
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Schedule events and organize details, including refreshment, entertainment, decorations, and the collection of any fees.
+Schedule the Spring Plant Fair and handle logistics: pick Saturday May 14, book the plaza and caterer, assign…
Schedule events and organize details, including refreshment, entertainment, decorations, and the collection of any fees.
+Schedule the Spring Plant Fair and handle logistics: pick Saturday May 14, book the plaza and caterer, assign volunteer leads for setup and admissions, arrange plant display locations, and set a ten-dollar admission fee with online payments enabled.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft ExcelO*NET
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Establish specifications for reproductions and oversee their manufacture or select items from commercially available replica sources.
+Set specifications for ten reproduction plant plaques and three life-size replica seedpods for the tropical…
Establish specifications for reproductions and oversee their manufacture or select items from commercially available replica sources.
+Set specifications for ten reproduction plant plaques and three life-size replica seedpods for the tropical glasshouse, include material, UV-stable finish, exact dimensions tied to the specimen accession numbers, and oversee manufacture or select ready-made replicas from the commercial catalogue by June 1st, checking color fidelity and attachment fittings first.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft ExcelO*NET
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Write catalog essays and wall texts
+Draft two 250–350 word catalog essays and five short wall texts for the new seasonal display explaining…
Write catalog essays and wall texts
+Draft two 250–350 word catalog essays and five short wall texts for the new seasonal display explaining provenance, ecological role, cultural uses, and accessibility notes, send drafts to Zoe in interpretation and to the head gardener for factual checks by next Wednesday.
The tools that do the workAdobe InDesignjob descriptions
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Negotiate loans and acquisitions
+Negotiate a two-year loan of the rare cycads from Dr. Morales at the university: propose insurance terms,…
Negotiate loans and acquisitions
+Negotiate a two-year loan of the rare cycads from Dr. Morales at the university: propose insurance terms, transport crate specs, condition report template, and a modest stipend for maintenance, request signature by the end of the month and copy our registrar on all correspondence.
The tools that do the workAdobe Acrobatjob descriptions
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Collaborate with curatorial and educational teams
+Coordinate a planning meeting with curatorial, education and propagation teams for Monday to align the summer…
Collaborate with curatorial and educational teams
+Coordinate a planning meeting with curatorial, education and propagation teams for Monday to align the summer syllabus: bring the specimen list, proposed workshop learning outcomes, access requirements for school groups, and a timeline for label updates so everyone signs off on responsibilities.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Exceljob descriptions
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Make decisions regarding what objects to select
+Decide which donated ethnobotany objects enter the display: review condition reports, cultural sensitivity…
Make decisions regarding what objects to select
+Decide which donated ethnobotany objects enter the display: review condition reports, cultural sensitivity notes, accession histories and storage constraints, then select three for immediate display, two for research, and recommend repatriation discussion for one, documenting reasons in the collection record today.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft AccessWikipedia
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Conduct research based on the collection
+Carry out research on the historical olive collection: compile accession records, prior condition…
Conduct research based on the collection
+Carry out research on the historical olive collection: compile accession records, prior condition assessments, photos, propagation logs and relevant literature, produce a one-page annotated bibliography and a research brief for the publications team by Friday.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft ExcelWikipedia
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Built on public evidence: O*NET®, ESCO, Wikipedia, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, ILOSTAT. All sources & licenses