How to hire an associate curator

How to hire an associate curator, step by step

Here's a step-by-step associate curator hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write an associate curator job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new associate curator
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your associate curator job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find an associate curator for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   An associate curator's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, associate curators from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   Here's a comparison of associate curator salaries for various roles:

   Type of Associate Curator	Description	Hourly rate
   Associate Curator	Archivists appraise, process, catalog, and preserve permanent records and historically valuable documents. Curators oversee collections of artwork and historic items, and may conduct public service activities for an institution... Show more	$11-45
   Curator	A curator is primarily in charge of spearheading and overseeing exhibits and collections in art museums and similar establishments. Their responsibilities include handling acquisition procedures, conceptualizing plans, designing exhibits and presentations, liaising with internal and external parties, setting goals and timelines, managing the budgets and fundraisers, and developing strategies to market the museum's events... Show more	$12-40
   Museum Curator	A museum curator looks after and manages exhibitions within a museum. Responsibilities of this position include building collections, developing interpretations for the museum contents, organizing events and exhibitions, designing and arranging installations, and carrying out administrative tasks in the museum... Show more	$12-37

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Curate
   • Collections Management
   • Original Research
   • Public Lectures
   • Condition Reports

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage visual resource center, including acquisition, cataloging, budget management and other relevant issues.
   • Implement written procedures for digitizing specimens, print photos, negatives, and notes).
   • Handle all acquisitions and surplus placement with other AZA accredit institutions.
   • Review and edit listing photography and source photographers in various markets to capture unique accommodations and cover special assignments worldwide.
   • Fashion and coordinate historical costumes for first person interpretation

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your associate curator job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. An associate curator salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, associate curators' average salary in wyoming is 56% less than in alaska.
   • Seniority. Entry-level associate curators earn 74% less than senior-level associate curators.
   • Certifications. An associate curator with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in an associate curator's salary.

   Average associate curator salary

   $48,480yearly

   $23.31 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level associate curator salary

   $24,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 21, 2025

   Average associate curator salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Connecticut	$63,620	$31
   2	New York	$61,467	$30
   3	California	$60,852	$29
   4	Pennsylvania	$57,295	$28
   5	Ohio	$55,043	$26
   6	Massachusetts	$49,496	$24
   7	Michigan	$49,030	$24
   8	Texas	$48,081	$23
   9	New Jersey	$46,063	$22
   10	Illinois	$43,552	$21
   11	Tennessee	$42,691	$21
   12	Georgia	$42,501	$20
   13	Utah	$40,108	$19
   14	Florida	$39,804	$19
   15	Missouri	$38,415	$18
   16	Puerto Rico	$23,092	$11

   Average associate curator salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	The Art Institute of Chicago	$108,223	$52.03
   2	Harvard University	$93,421	$44.91
   3	The Metropolitan Museum of Art	$89,788	$43.17	2
   4	Yale University	$79,337	$38.14
   5	The Museum of Modern Art	$77,013	$37.03
   6	Princeton University	$75,742	$36.41
   7	Los Angeles County Museum of Art	$70,200	$33.75
   8	Public Art Fund	$68,866	$33.11
   9	Rutgers University	$68,586	$32.97	1
   10	Florida State University	$67,090	$32.25	2
   11	Museum of Contemporary Art Cleveland MOCA	$65,018	$31.26
   12	Dartmouth	$64,232	$30.88
   13	Carnegie Museum of Art	$51,076	$24.56
   14	Detroit Institute of Arts	$49,264	$23.68
   15	University of Michigan	$46,805	$22.50
   16	Philadelphia Museum of Art	$46,136	$22.18
   17	MacLean-Fogg	$44,073	$21.19
   18	Ahmad, Zavitsanos, Anaipakos, Alavi & Mensing P.c. Or Aza	$43,969	$21.14	8
   19	WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA	$38,848	$18.68	2
   20	City of Sacramento	$38,544	$18.53

4. Writing an associate curator job description

   An associate curator job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of an associate curator job description:

   Associate curator job description example

   RH at its core is about taste, and we believe the idea of scaling taste is large and far reaching.
   
   The RH brand attracts the best designers, artisans, manufacturers and talent in our industry, scaling and rendering their work more valuable across our integrated platform, enabling us to curate the most compelling collection of luxury home furnishings in the world. We are moving the brand beyond curating and selling products to conceptualizing and selling spaces by building an ecosystem of products, places, services and spaces that elevates and establishes the RH brand as a global thought leader, taste and place maker.
   
   At RH we believe deeply that the \"right\" people are our greatest asset. We value people with high energy, who possess the ability to energize others. People who are smart, creative and have a point of view. People who see the answer in every problem, versus those who see the problem in every answer. People who are driven, determined and won't take \"no\" for an answer. We value team players, people who are more concerned with what's right, rather than who's right.
   
   RH is seeking a Curating Associate with a passion for design and home furnishings. This role is ideal for those with a sense of personal style, polished appearance, refined taste and a discerning eye for luxury.
   
   YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES
   

   • Live Our Vision, Values and Beliefs every day
   • Represent the RH brand through polished communication, personal appearance and professionalism through the lens of refined taste
   • Work with the Gallery Leadership Team, Curators and corporate partners to execute creative vision, elevate the client experience, and drive sales
   • Continuously drive results through team engagement, empowerment and accountability
   • Coordinate and execute merchandise floor sets while upholding visual integrity of the Gallery
   • Train and mentor the Gallery team on floor sets, quality and visual standards, signage and graphics updates, gallery maintenance, recovery and cleanliness
   • Assist in maintaining inventory integrity
   • Read and audit planograms, visual maps and offer creative point of view on company directives
   • Learn and communicate the RH design ethos, product assortment and product care

   
   OUR REQUIREMENTS
   

   • 2+ years of visual merchandising experience in luxury retail or related field
   • Excellent technical ability to leverage multiple platforms to track inventory and request replacements
   • Strategic, highly organized and results-oriented
   • Commitment to quality with meticulous attention to detail
   • Excellent verbal and written communication skills
   • Ability to multitask, be flexible, prioritize and overcome obstacles with creative problem solving and cross-functional partnerships
   • Experience embracing change to deliver top results with a positive attitude no matter what the obstacle
   • Background creating positive and healthy work environments in which people strive to do their best
   • Proficiency with Mac Operating System, IOS devices, Microsoft Office and Google Applications

   
   OUR PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
   

   • Ability to lift and mobilize small to medium items up to 30 lbs. while utilizing appropriate equipment and techniques
   • Ability to maneuver effectively around gallery floor, stock room and office
   • Basic knowledge of operating power tools
   • Position entails prolonged standing, twisting, stooping, kneeling, squatting, bending and climbing

   ABOUT US
   RH is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against any applicant on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, marital status, age, disability, sexual orientation, military/veteran status, or any other status protected by federal or state law or local ordinance.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right associate curator for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with associate curators they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit associate curators who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your associate curator job on Zippia to find and recruit associate curator candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with associate curator candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new associate curator

   Once you have selected a candidate for the associate curator position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   To prepare for the new associate curator first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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