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Museum educator vs curatorial specialist

The differences between museum educators and curatorial specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a museum educator and a curatorial specialist. Additionally, a curatorial specialist has an average salary of $43,840, which is higher than the $40,399 average annual salary of a museum educator.

The top three skills for a museum educator include educational programs, art history and K-12. The most important skills for a curatorial specialist are cataloging, , and .

Museum educator vs curatorial specialist overview

Museum EducatorCuratorial Specialist
Yearly salary$40,399$43,840
Hourly rate$19.42$21.08
Growth rate12%12%
Number of jobs18,48123,992
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 71%Bachelor's Degree, 75%
Average age4444
Years of experience44

Museum educator vs curatorial specialist salary

Museum educators and curatorial specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.

Museum EducatorCuratorial Specialist
Average salary$40,399$43,840
Salary rangeBetween $26,000 And $61,000Between $28,000 And $68,000
Highest paying City--
Highest paying state--
Best paying company--
Best paying industry--

Differences between museum educator and curatorial specialist education

There are a few differences between a museum educator and a curatorial specialist in terms of educational background:

Museum EducatorCuratorial Specialist
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 71%Bachelor's Degree, 75%
Most common majorFine ArtsAnthropology
Most common collegeHarvard UniversityUniversity of Maryland - College Park

Museum educator vs curatorial specialist demographics

Here are the differences between museum educators' and curatorial specialists' demographics:

Museum EducatorCuratorial Specialist
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 30.6% Female, 69.4%Male, 30.0% Female, 70.0%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 5.3% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 7.5% Asian, 5.2% White, 76.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2%Black or African American, 4.2% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 5.2% Asian, 3.5% White, 81.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2%
LGBT Percentage13%13%

Differences between museum educator and curatorial specialist duties and responsibilities

Museum educator example responsibilities.

  • Manage revolving caseload of students with IEP team including initials, transfer placements, manifestation determinations.
  • Train and supervise employees and volunteers in collections protocols, cataloging, preparation, housekeeping, lab and field work.
  • Analyze prehistoric and historic cultural artifacts, including data entry for cataloging.
  • Develop digital materials, documents, PowerPoint presentations, lectures, and laboratory activities daily.
  • Design PowerPoint presentations enhancing educational environment.
  • Design PowerPoint presentations enhancing educational environment.

Curatorial specialist example responsibilities.

  • Manage user securities, roles, database backups, restore, fail-over management for SQL cluster.
  • Assist in cataloging incoming items for the collection.
  • Supervise student employees responsible for processing and cataloging collections.
  • Conduct research using online federal regulations, review Medicare and Medicaid policy and guidelines to complete an accurate and well-support decision.
  • Facilitate multi-year project digitizing and cataloguing decoration in manuscripts (approx.

Museum educator vs curatorial specialist skills

Common museum educator skills
  • Educational Programs, 15%
  • Art History, 11%
  • K-12, 9%
  • Public Programs, 8%
  • Outreach Program, 6%
  • Public Speaking, 6%
Common curatorial specialist skills
  • Cataloging, 100%

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