Top Skills for This Career
BLS identifies these as the three highest-rated skills for this detailed occupation. TrustInEd adds the plain-language explanations so visitors understand what each skill means.
Paying close attention to accuracy, quality, instructions, and small but important details.
Developing original ideas, approaches, designs, or solutions.
Adjusting effectively when priorities, conditions, tools, or expectations change.
How Do You Prepare for This Career?
BLS describes the typical preparation for this occupation. Requirements can vary by employer, state, licensing rules and individual circumstances.
How to Become One
Archivists, curators, and conservators typically need a master’s degree in a field related to their position. Museum technicians typically need a bachelor’s degree. Experience gained through an internship or by volunteering in archives or museums is helpful. PayThe median annual wage for archivists, curators, and museum workers was $60,330 in May 2025. Job Outlook Overall employment of archivists, curators, and museum workers is projected to grow 4 percent from 2025 to 2035, about as fast as the average for all occupations. About 4,300 openings for archivists, curators, and museum workers are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire. State & Area Data Explore resources for employment and wages by state and area for archivists, curators, and museum workers. Similar Occupations Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of archivists, curators, and museum workers with similar occupations. More Information, Including Links to O*NET Learn more about archivists, curators, and museum workers by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.
Your Next Step
Compare colleges and education options that can support the typical entry-level education for this career.
Pay
The median annual wage for archivists, curators, and museum workers was $60,330 in May 2025. Job Outlook Overall employment of archivists, curators, and museum workers is projected to grow 4 percent from 2025 to 2035, about as fast as the average for all occupations. About 4,300 openings for archivists, curators, and museum workers are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire. State & Area Data Explore resources for employment and wages by state and area for archivists, curators, and museum workers. Similar Occupations Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of archivists, curators, and museum workers with similar occupations. More Information, Including Links to O*NET Learn more about archivists, curators, and museum workers by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.
Job Outlook
Overall employment of archivists, curators, and museum workers is projected to grow 4 percent from 2025 to 2035, about as fast as the average for all occupations. About 4,300 openings for archivists, curators, and museum workers are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire. State & Area Data Explore resources for employment and wages by state and area for archivists, curators, and museum workers. Similar Occupations Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of archivists, curators, and museum workers with similar occupations. More Information, Including Links to O*NET Learn more about archivists, curators, and museum workers by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.
What They Do
Archivists and curators oversee institutions’ collections, such as of historical items or of artwork. Museum technicians and conservators prepare and restore items in those collections.
Work Environment
Archivists, curators, museum technicians, and conservators work in museums, historical sites, governments, colleges and universities, corporations, and other institutions. Most work full time.
How to Become an Archivist, Curator, or Museum Worker
Archivists, curators, and conservators typically need a master’s degree in a field related to their position. Museum technicians typically need a bachelor’s degree. Experience gained through an internship or by volunteering in archives or museums is helpful.
Pay
The median annual wage for archivists, curators, and museum workers was $60,330 in May 2025.
Job Outlook
Overall employment of archivists, curators, and museum workers is projected to grow 4 percent from 2025 to 2035, about as fast as the average for all occupations.
About 4,300 openings for archivists, curators, and museum workers are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
State & Area Data
Explore resources for employment and wages by state and area for archivists, curators, and museum workers.
Similar Occupations
Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of archivists, curators, and museum workers with similar occupations.
More Information, Including Links to O*NET
Learn more about archivists, curators, and museum workers by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.
Work Environment
Archivists, curators, museum technicians, and conservators work in museums, historical sites, governments, colleges and universities, corporations, and other institutions. Most work full time.
How to Become an Archivist, Curator, or Museum Worker
Archivists, curators, and conservators typically need a master’s degree in a field related to their position. Museum technicians typically need a bachelor’s degree. Experience gained through an internship or by volunteering in archives or museums is helpful.
Pay
The median annual wage for archivists, curators, and museum workers was $60,330 in May 2025.
Job Outlook
Overall employment of archivists, curators, and museum workers is projected to grow 4 percent from 2025 to 2035, about as fast as the average for all occupations.
About 4,300 openings for archivists, curators, and museum workers are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
State & Area Data
Explore resources for employment and wages by state and area for archivists, curators, and museum workers.
Similar Occupations
Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of archivists, curators, and museum workers with similar occupations.
More Information, Including Links to O*NET
Learn more about archivists, curators, and museum workers by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.
State & Area Data
Explore resources for employment and wages by state and area for archivists, curators, and museum workers.
Similar Occupations
Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of archivists, curators, and museum workers with similar occupations.
More Information, Including Links to O*NET
Learn more about archivists, curators, and museum workers by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.
More Information
Learn more about archivists, curators, and museum workers by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.
Take the Next Step
Find Education Programs
Compare colleges and education options that can support the typical entry-level education for this career.
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Start with ED →Career data and occupational profile text are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook and Employment Projections program. Education requirements are typical entry-level requirements and may vary by employer, state, occupation or individual circumstance. View the official BLS profile.