Curator vs docent

The differences between curators and docents can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become a curator, becoming a docent takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a curator has an average salary of $47,923, which is higher than the $40,771 average annual salary of a docent.

The top three skills for a curator include facebook, historical research and exhibit design. The most important skills for a docent are natural history, public speaking, and front desk.

Curator vs docent overview

	Curator	Docent
Yearly salary	$47,923	$40,771
Hourly rate	$23.04	$19.60
Growth rate	12%	12%
Number of jobs	432	253
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 70%	Bachelor's Degree, 72%
Average age	44	34
Years of experience	6	2

Curator vs docent salary

Curators and docents have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Curator	Docent
Average salary	$47,923	$40,771
Salary range	Between $26,000 And $85,000	Between $22,000 And $74,000
Highest paying City	San Francisco, CA	-
Highest paying state	Alaska	-
Best paying company	Apple	-
Best paying industry	-	-

Differences between curator and docent education

There are a few differences between a curator and a docent in terms of educational background:

	Curator	Docent
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 70%	Bachelor's Degree, 72%
Most common major	Fine Arts	Fine Arts
Most common college	Harvard University	Stanford University

Curator vs docent demographics

Here are the differences between curators' and docents' demographics:

	Curator	Docent
Average age	44	34
Gender ratio	Male, 40.4% Female, 59.6%	Male, 33.0% Female, 67.0%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 5.3% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 7.3% Asian, 5.1% White, 77.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2%	Black or African American, 6.5% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 10.4% Asian, 9.9% White, 67.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage	13%	9%

Differences between curator and docent duties and responsibilities

Curator example responsibilities.

Manage visual resource center, including acquisition, cataloging, budget management and other relevant issues.
Aid instructors in sorting through student works to curate gallery.
Produce written materials including wall labels and artists' biographies.
Participate in SEO research and compile a summary for the rest of the team.
Create and upload content daily, using a web-base administration tool, and HTML.
Assist with inquiries regarding scanning Photoshop, PowerPoint and other vr-relate software and equipment.

Docent example responsibilities.

Lead VIP guests on guide tours of the property and facilitate their involvement in special events, productions, and conventions.
Inform visitors throughout the aquarium on specific exhibits, animals, and marine wildlife conservation.
Educate aquarium guests on the importance of oceanic conservation, and answer questions concerning the species on display
Control exhibits that require oversight in the financial department.
Train customers in operating Segway personal transport devices and hold entertaining tours.
Conduct tours of the anthropology and paleontology museums * Write/edit exhibit- and art show-relate materials

Curator vs docent skills

Common curator skills

Facebook, 10%
Historical Research, 8%
Exhibit Design, 8%
Photography, 7%
Collections Management, 5%
Art History, 5%

Common docent skills

Natural History, 40%
Public Speaking, 10%
Front Desk, 7%
Educational Programs, 6%
Aquarium, 6%
Museum Visitors, 5%

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Curator vs Docent

Updated January 8, 2025

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