Cultural Heritage / Museum Collections Data & Taxonomy Specialist

Career Guide
Organizes and improves museum collections data so objects can be found, shared, and preserved. Manages collection databases and standardized terms, fixes data quality issues, documents practices, and leads migrations and staff training to ensure consistent cataloging and online access.

Key Responsibilities

  • Administer and configure collections databases (e.g., TMS, EMu, CollectionSpace)
  • Develop and maintain taxonomies and standardized terms for objects, creators, and places
  • Map and standardize metadata to established schemas for collections records
  • Perform authority control and data cleanup using Getty and Library of Congress sources
  • Plan and execute data migrations and integrations between CIS, DAMS, and the web
  • Write cataloging guidelines and train staff, interns, and volunteers
  • Build queries, reports, and dashboards to support discovery and operations

Career Progression

Can Lead To
Collections Information Manager
Digital Collections Manager
Head of Collections Information and Access
Taxonomy Manager
Transition Opportunities
Digital Asset Manager
Cataloging and Metadata Librarian
Museum Registrar
Digital Archivist

Common Skill Gaps

Often Missing Skills
Authority control with Getty AAT/ULAN/TGN and Library of Congress authoritiesHands-on configuration of TMS or EMuMetadata mapping to CCO/CDWA/LIDO for publishing and interoperabilitySQL reporting and data cleanup at scalePlanning and executing data migrations/ETL pipelines
Development SuggestionsTake CCO/metadata and authority control courses (Getty, SAA DAS); volunteer or contract on a museum data-cleanup or migration using CollectionSpace or TMS and publish SQL-based before/after reports.

Salary & Demand

Median Salary Range
Entry Level$50,000-$65,000
Mid Level$65,000-$85,000
Senior Level$85,000-$110,000
Growth Trend
growing - Digitization and open-access initiatives are expanding museum data roles.

Companies Hiring

Major Employers
Smithsonian InstitutionThe Metropolitan Museum of ArtJ. Paul Getty Trust
Industry Sectors
Museums & Cultural InstitutionsLibraries & ArchivesHigher Education

Recommended Next Steps

1
Enroll in SAA DAS courses on metadata and authority control and complete Getty’s CCO training modules.
2
Create a portfolio: map a small collection to LIDO, load it into a CollectionSpace sandbox, and build SQL reports/dashboards.
3
Join MCN and AAM Registrars Committee; attend meetups and showcase a data-cleanup or migration pilot to hiring managers.