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.

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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.

Market Intelligence Report

Cultural Heritage / Museum Collections Data & Taxonomy Specialist is part of the Data Governance category.Explore our market intelligence report to see how AI and hiring demand are shifting for these roles.

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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

Enroll in SAA DAS courses on metadata and authority control and complete Getty’s CCO training modules.

Create a portfolio: map a small collection to LIDO, load it into a CollectionSpace sandbox, and build SQL reports/dashboards.

Join MCN and AAM Registrars Committee; attend meetups and showcase a data-cleanup or migration pilot to hiring managers.