Curators in Illinois
Want to work as a Curators in Illinois? Here’s what the data says. 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.
What do Curators Make in Illinois?
For a curators working in Illinois, the typical annual salary is $60,850 per year (or about $29.25/hour).Pay can range from $38,490 at the 10th percentile to $103,950 at the 90th percentile.
| Wage Statistic | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $38,490 | $18.50 |
| 25th percentile | $51,050 | $24.54 |
| Median (50th) | $60,850 | $29.25 |
| 75th percentile | $77,840 | $37.42 |
| 90th percentile | $103,950 | $49.98 |
The location quotient — a measure of how concentrated this occupation is in Illinois nationwide is 1.17, meaning that curators are more concentrated here than the national average.
National Wage Comparison
Nationally, curators earn a median of $79,764 per year ($38.35/hour), lower than the Illinois median.
Employment Outlook
Nationally, total employment in this occupation is 1,493,993 curators in the U.S.. In Illinois alone, approximately 570 people work in this role. That puts the state above the typical state, which employs around 170 curators.
Top Illinois Metros for Curators
The largest metro-area employers of curators in Illinois.
| Metro Area | Number Employed | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 420 | $61,140 |
Top States for Curators Employment
These states have the highest employment of curators work.
| State | Number Employed |
|---|---|
| New York | 1,270 |
| California | 1,180 |
| Texas | 610 |
| Pennsylvania | 590 |
| Illinois | 570 |
| North Carolina | 570 |
| Florida | 510 |
| Massachusetts | 440 |
| Virginia | 440 |
| Michigan | 360 |
| Colorado | 340 |
| Ohio | 320 |
| Washington | 260 |
| Wisconsin | 250 |
| Georgia | 240 |
| Missouri | 230 |
| Oklahoma | 220 |
| Maryland | 200 |
| Connecticut | 200 |
| Tennessee | 200 |
Highest-Paying States for Curators
The highest-paying states for curators.
| State | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $81,990 |
| New York | $78,760 |
| California | $78,710 |
| Massachusetts | $75,980 |
| Rhode Island | $74,690 |
| Connecticut | $73,350 |
| Colorado | $70,100 |
| Nevada | $67,310 |
| Washington | $66,160 |
| New Jersey | $65,930 |
Skills
Key curators skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Core knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Abilities
The abilities that matter most for curators, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Daily Tasks
Common tasks include:
- 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.
- Study, examine, and test acquisitions to authenticate their origin, composition, history, and to assess their current value.
- Inspect premises to assess the need for repairs and to ensure that climate and pest control issues are addressed.
- Write and review grant proposals, journal articles, institutional reports, and publicity materials.
- Design, organize, or conduct tours, workshops, and instructional or educational sessions to acquaint individuals with an institution's facilities and materials.
- Attend meetings, conventions, and civic events to promote use of institution's services, to seek financing, and to maintain community alliances.
- Train and supervise curatorial, fiscal, technical, research, and clerical staff, as well as volunteers or interns.
- Confer with the board of directors to formulate and interpret policies, to determine budget requirements, and to plan overall operations.
Work Activities
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
- Documenting/Recording Information
- Getting Information
- Thinking Creatively
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
- Communicating with People Outside the Organization
- Working with Computers
- Processing Information
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
Tools & Technology
Technologies frequently used: Hot technologies: Adobe Acrobat, Adobe Creative Cloud software, Adobe Illustrator In-demand technologies: Microsoft Excel
What Major Will Prepare You For This Career?
Several college majors map to this occupation:
- Fine & Studio Arts
- Museum Studies
- Digital Humanities and Textual Studies
- History
Featured schools near , edit
Related Careers
Related occupations to curators include:
- Anthropologists and Archeologists
- Historians
- Social Science Research Assistants
- Architecture Teachers, Postsecondary
- Anthropology and Archeology Teachers, Postsecondary
- Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary
Also Known As
Art Curator, Art Handler, Coin Collector, Collections Curator, Collections Manager, Content Curator, Curator, Data Curator, Digital Curator, Education Curator, Educational Institution Curator, Educational Resource Coordinator, Exhibitions Curator, Exhibits Curator, Field Collector.
References
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — https://www.bls.gov/oes/
- O*NET Online — https://www.onetonline.org/
- BLS Employment Projections — https://www.bls.gov/emp/
- O*NET-SOC code: 25-4012.00