Home / Federal careers / GS-1015
Museum Curator
Performs professional museum curator work including collection management, research, and exhibition development.
What GS-1015 pays
2025 base rates, before locality. Most federal employees add a locality adjustment on top.
| Grade | Step 1 | Step 2 | Step 3 | Step 4 | Step 5 | Step 6 | Step 7 | Step 8 | Step 9 | Step 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 | $52,205 | $53,945 | $55,685 | $57,425 | $59,165 | $60,905 | $62,645 | $64,385 | $66,125 | $67,865 |
| GS-11 | $63,163 | $65,268 | $67,373 | $69,478 | $71,583 | $73,688 | $75,793 | $77,898 | $80,003 | $82,108 |
| GS-12 | $75,706 | $78,229 | $80,752 | $83,275 | $85,798 | $88,321 | $90,844 | $93,367 | $95,890 | $98,422 |
| GS-13 | $90,025 | $93,026 | $96,027 | $99,028 | $102,029 | $105,030 | $108,031 | $111,032 | $114,033 | $117,034 |
| GS-14 | $106,382 | $109,928 | $113,474 | $117,020 | $120,566 | $124,112 | $127,658 | $131,204 | $134,750 | $138,296 |
Base pay only. Locality pay adds 15 to 40 percent or more depending on where the job sits. Source: OPM 2025 General Schedule.
Qualification requirements
OPM's standard for GS-1015, as written.
Degree: museum work; or in an applicable subject-matter field.
OR
Combination of education and experience -- courses equivalent to a major, as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.
OR
• Four years of experience that provided knowledge comparable to that normally acquired through the successful completion of the 4-year course of study as shown in A above.
What this means if you served
- Write the duties, not the billet. OPM credits military experience on the work performed, and does not use rank or pay to judge specialized experience.
- Put the training and certifications you earned in service on the page. They count here.
- Claim your veterans preference on the application. It is not applied for you.
- No positive education requirement here, so qualifying experience can stand in for the education.
How to qualify for GS-1015
1Review Qualification Requirements
Read the OPM qualification standards above to understand the education and experience requirements for your target grade level.
2Find Your Grade Level
Grade follows the scope and complexity of the work you can document against the announcement, not the rank you held. OPM does not use military rank or pay when it evaluates specialized experience. Roughly: GS-5 entry, GS-7/9 junior, GS-11/12 journey, GS-13 and up senior.
3Gather Documentation
Collect your DD-214, SF-50 (if applicable), transcripts, certifications, and any training records that demonstrate your qualifications.
4Build Your Federal Resume
Two pages. USAJOBS has enforced that limit since 27 September 2025 and will not accept a longer resume from a Title 5 agency posting, so the space has to answer every qualification requirement. Include hours worked per week, supervisor contact details, and the accomplishments with numbers on them.
5Apply on USAJOBS
Search for open positions, carefully answer all assessment questions, and submit your application before the closing date.
Military jobs that map to this series
Combat Correspondent
Marine Corps Combat Correspondents document and preserve historical events, which can be applicable to museum curation.
Skills that carry over: Research, Exhibition Development, Preservation.
Usually opens at: GS-7, GS-9.
Public Affairs Specialist
Army Public Affairs Specialists manage information dissemination and may have experience with historical documentation and exhibitions.
Skills that carry over: Research, Exhibition Development, Collections Management.
Usually opens at: GS-7, GS-9.
Mass Communication Specialist
Navy Mass Communication Specialists often handle historical content and media, which can translate to museum curation tasks.
Skills that carry over: Research, Exhibition Development, Preservation.
Usually opens at: GS-7, GS-9.
Your record can qualify you even when your code is not on this list. The crosswalk is a starting point, not the gate.
Typical duties
- Manage museum collections
- Conduct research
- Develop exhibitions
- Acquire artifacts
- Preserve collections
- Interpret collections for public
Key competencies
Collections Management
Ability to manage, document, and care for museum collections.
Research
Skill in conducting scholarly research on collection items.
Exhibition Development
Ability to develop engaging exhibitions and programs.
Preservation
Knowledge of artifact conservation and preservation methods.
Acquisition
Skill in evaluating and acquiring items for collections.
Interpretation
Ability to communicate collection significance to diverse audiences.
Grant Writing
Skill in securing funding for collections and programs.
Collaboration
Ability to work with staff, donors, and community partners.
Words the announcement will use
Use the ones your record actually supports. A rater is matching your experience against the specialized experience statement, and a keyword with nothing behind it does not survive that.
Questions about GS-1015
What is a federal Museum Curator?
GS-1015 Museum Curators manage collections, conduct scholarly research, develop exhibitions, acquire artifacts, and interpret collections for the public. They work at Smithsonian museums, National Park Service sites, military museums, and federal cultural institutions.
How much does a federal Museum Curator make?
GS-1015 positions range from GS-9 ($52,205) at entry to GS-14 ($106,382-$138,296) for senior curators and division chiefs. Most journeyman positions are GS-11/12 ($63,163-$98,422). Supervisory curators reach GS-13/14. Add locality pay.
What are the requirements for GS-1015 positions?
Typically requires a master's degree (often PhD preferred) in museum studies, history, art history, anthropology, or relevant subject area. Extensive experience in collections management, exhibition development, and scholarly research. Publication record often expected for senior positions.
Can military experience substitute for education in GS-1015?
Partially. Graduate education is typically expected, but military museum experience is valuable. If you worked at unit museums, heritage centers, or managed historical collections, that experience complements required education. Your collections care and public programs experience is relevant.
What is the career progression for Museum Curators?
Entry at GS-9/11 with master's, advancement to GS-11/12 as associate curators. Senior curators reach GS-12/13. Department heads and supervisory curators reach GS-13/14. Smithsonian offers the most curator positions with strong career ladders.
How do I apply for GS-1015 jobs on USAJOBS?
Search USAJOBS for 'Museum Curator' or specific disciplines ('History Curator,' 'Art Curator'). Smithsonian and NPS are major employers. Military museums also hire. Highlight your advanced degree, publications, and collections experience. Veterans with museum backgrounds have advantages at military history museums.
Ready to apply for GS-1015?
A rater matches your record against the announcement's specialized experience statement, inside two pages. BMR writes that shape from your own experience: competency headers, real scope, hours per week, and the supervisor detail the rater checks.