A herbarium curator oversees a collection of preserved plant specimens and associated data used for scientific study. The specimens may be whole plants or plant parts; these will usually be in dried form mounted on a sheet of paper (called "exsiccatae") but, depending upon the material, may also be stored in boxes or kept in alcohol or other preservative. While many different companies and organizations may have a "library" of plant records, one of the most common collections is called a "herbarium." The same term is often used in mycology to describe an equivalent collection of preserved fungi, otherwise known as a fungarium. A xylarium is a herbarium specializing in specimens of wood.
TRAINING/EDUCATION NEEDED
The minimum education requirement is a Bachelor's degree. Additional degrees may be required for advanced positions.
WHERE TO STUDY
For 2- and 4-year college and university programs across the country, visit our Where to Study page.
SALARY EXPECTATIONS
In August 2020, the median yearly salary for a herbarium curator was $73,758, according to The Economic Research Institute. For more information, visit The Economic Research Institute's Herbarium Curator page.
PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS AND ASSOCIATIONS
VIDEOS AND TESTIMONIALS
For a peek into the world of herbarium curators, check out this video from the Botanical Research Institute of Texas.