Museum curator

Also called Art gallery curator.

Museum and art gallery curators manage collections of objects of artistic, scientific, historical and general interest.

Potential salary: £25,000 starter to £43,000 experienced per year
Typical hours: 38 to 42 a week. Working pattern: weekends on a rota.
Career area: Creative and design
Where they might work: You could work in a museum or at an art gallery. Your working environment may be physically active.
A typical task: plan exhibitions and educational projects
Subjects that may help: 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree
Typical route: You can start by doing a degree in a subject like:
Interest area used here: Asking questions and research, Art, design and performance

Career actions

What you might do

More tasks (3)

Consider which of these skills and ways of working appeal to you.

More skills

You can start by doing a degree in a subject like:
fine art or art history
museum or heritage studies
archaeology or ancient history
classics
natural sciences
anthropology
education
You can also study for a postgraduate qualification in museum and gallery studies, or in a particular style or period of art or history. This may give you an advantage when applying for jobs.
Some universities will require a relevant first degree to apply for a postgraduate course. Others may accept most subjects but expect you to have a lot of work experience to back up your application.
You'll usually need:
2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree
a degree in any subject for a postgraduate course
equivalent entry requirements
student finance for fees and living costs
university courses and entry requirements

These are course families, not published offers. A link does not mean the degree is sufficient on its own.

Anthropology
Alternative route. Museum work often expects further specialist study or experience.
Archaeology
Alternative route. A possible background. Curatorial posts often expect a postgraduate museum qualification.
Heritage Management
Common route. Heritage or museum studies is a common academic route. Many curator posts also expect further study or substantial experience.
History
Alternative route. A possible first degree. Postgraduate museum studies is often expected.

You may be able to apply for a Curator Level 7 Apprenticeship with a cultural or heritage organisation.
This can take around 3 years to complete and combines on-the-job training with off-site learning.
Employers will set their own entry requirements.
equivalent entry requirements
guide to apprenticeships

Career progression

You can work in small independent museums and galleries, and regional or national institutions. You may need to relocate to take up new job opportunities.
There are lots of different opportunities in the sector from museum or gallery management to public engagement and education roles. You will need to plan your continuous professional development and take advantage of the training available to advance your career.