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Archivists, Conservators and Curators

Archivists, conservators and curators collect, appraise and preserve collections of recorded and other material of historical interest.

Wages

New workers
AVERAGE
Experienced
£16,987
£30,819
£56,897

New workers start around £16,987. Normal pay is £30,819 per year.
Highly experienced workers can earn up to £56,897.

Available jobs

In the past year there were 14,606 vacancies for this type of job

6.23%

Projected job growth over the next 8 years

Related courses

People work towards these careers by taking these courses at college and uni.

What they do most days?

  • Answers verbal or written enquiries and gives advice on exhibits or other material.

  • Liaises with school and other groups or individuals, publicises exhibits and arranges special displays for general, specialised or educational interest.

  • Negotiates loans of material for specialist displays.

  • Develops and promotes ideas for exhibitions and displays.

  • Allows access to original material or material not on display for researchers.

  • Makes sure that storage and display conditions protect objects from deterioration and damage.

  • Examines objects to identify any damage and carries out necessary restoration whilst preserving original characteristics.

  • Maintains indexes, bibliographies and descriptive details of archive material and arranges for reproductions of items where necessary.

  • Classifies material and arranges for its safe keeping and preservation.

  • Examines, appraises and advises on the acquisition of exhibits, historic records, government papers and other material.

Hard Skills

Hard skills are specific, learnable, measurable, often industry or occupation-specific abilities related to a position.

Skills are ranked based on the number of job adverts that list them as required skills.

  • Archives

  • Curation

  • Exhibitions

  • Loans

  • Cataloguing

  • Project Management

  • Library

  • Museum Collections Management

  • Marketing

  • Fundraising

Soft Skills

Soft skills can be self-taught and usually do not necessitate a certain completed level of education.

Skills are ranked based on the number of job adverts that list them as required skills.

  • Collections

  • Communication

  • Research

  • Management

  • Detail Oriented

  • Customer Service

  • Planning

  • Organizational Skills

  • Operations

  • Leadership

How do I get a job like this?

People in these types of job started their career paths after studying courses like the ones below.

Routes to this career

See all

  • Fashion and Design History

    University of Brighton

    BA (Hons) · 3 Years · Full-time · Brighton · 23/09/2024

    Tariff points: 104/120

  • Art History

    University of Aberdeen

    MA (Hons) · 4 Years · Full-time · Aberdeen · 16/09/2024

    Tariff points: 120/152

  • Art and Design: Fine Art

    Gloucestershire College

    HNC · 1 Year · Full-time · Gloucester · 16/09/2024

    Tariff points: 48/48

  • Media

    UCL (University College London)

    BA (Hons) · 3 Years · Full-time · London · 23/09/2024

    Tariff points: N/A

  • Fine Art

    University of East London

    BA (Hons) · 3 Years · Full-time · London · 23/09/2024

    Tariff points: 112/112

  • Fine Art

    University of Wolverhampton

    BA (Hons) · 3 Years · Full-time · Wolverhampton · 16/09/2024

    Tariff points: 96/96

  • Fine Art

    University of Plymouth

    BA (Hons) · 3 Years · Full-time · Plymouth · 16/09/2024

    Tariff points: 96/144

  • Ancient and Medieval History

    University of Birmingham

    BA (Hons) · 3 Years · Full-time · Birmingham · 30/09/2024

    Tariff points: N/A

  • Asia Pacific Studies - Japanese

    University of Central Lancashire

    BA (Hons) · 4 Years · Full-time with time abroad · Preston · 23/09/2024

    Tariff points: 104/112

  • Fine Art (Extended Degree)

    Arts University Plymouth

    BA (Hons) · 4 Years · Full-time · Plymouth · 09/2024

    Tariff points: 104/120

  • History

    Brunel University of London

    BA (Hons) · 3 Years · Full-time · Uxbridge · 23/09/2024

    Tariff points: N/A

  • Fine Art

    University of Cumbria

    BA (Hons) · 3 Years · Full-time · Carlisle · 16/09/2024

    Tariff points: 104/112

  • Media

    University of Kent

    BA (Hons) · 3 Years · Full-time · Canterbury · 14/09/2024

    Tariff points: 104/120

  • Fine Art

    Leeds Beckett University

    BA (Hons) · 3 Years · Full-time · Leeds · 16/09/2024

    Tariff points: 72/72

  • History of Art

    Courtauld Institute of Art, University of London

    BA (Hons) · 3 Years · Full-time · London · 16/09/2024

    Tariff points: 128/144