Curator salary in the U.S.
Curators in the U.S. earn a median of $63,420 a year ($30.49 an hour), based on BLS data for 12,150 workers.
Pay ranges from $40,470 for the lowest-paid 10% to $107,140 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $71,560, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for curators in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $40,470 | $19.46 |
| 25th percentile | $48,870 | $23.49 |
| Median | $63,420 | $30.49 |
| 75th percentile | $83,080 | $39.94 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $107,140 | $51.51 |
| Average (mean) | $71,560 | $34.40 |
Half of curators earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $5,285 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,642.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,439.23 |
| Weekly | $1,219.62 |
| Hourly | $30.49 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Curator salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $93,310 | 140 |
| New Hampshire | $82,490 | 60 |
| New York | $79,120 | 1,330 |
| California | $78,740 | 1,140 |
| Rhode Island | $77,930 | 70 |
| New Jersey | $77,800 | 120 |
| Massachusetts | $77,790 | 370 |
| Connecticut | $76,510 | 190 |
| South Dakota | $74,990 | 50 |
| Washington | $74,030 | 260 |
| Colorado | $73,630 | 300 |
| Nevada | $69,900 | 100 |
| Wisconsin | $64,370 | 300 |
| Alaska | $63,880 | 90 |
| Maryland | $63,750 | 170 |
| New Mexico | $63,690 | 140 |
| Ohio | $63,640 | 370 |
| Arizona | $63,510 | 150 |
| Michigan | $63,190 | 360 |
| Illinois | $63,060 | 410 |
| Oregon | $62,790 | 260 |
| Idaho | $62,190 | 50 |
| Pennsylvania | $62,100 | 520 |
| Wyoming | $61,910 | 90 |
| Alabama | $61,120 | 150 |
| Oklahoma | $60,560 | 150 |
| Louisiana | $60,080 | 160 |
| Texas | $59,990 | 690 |
| Missouri | $59,960 | 260 |
| Utah | $59,910 | 50 |
| Florida | $59,500 | 420 |
| Nebraska | $58,600 | 120 |
| Virginia | $58,200 | 450 |
| Georgia | $57,810 | 230 |
| Tennessee | $57,580 | 190 |
| Delaware | $56,800 | 60 |
| Kansas | $56,630 | 120 |
| Vermont | $56,520 | 60 |
| Maine | $56,470 | 110 |
| Kentucky | $55,460 | 130 |
| Montana | $54,460 | 100 |
| Minnesota | $53,920 | 220 |
| Indiana | $53,910 | 220 |
| Arkansas | $53,870 | 80 |
| Iowa | $53,830 | 230 |
| Hawaii | $50,720 | 140 |
| North Carolina | $49,470 | 600 |
| South Carolina | $47,200 | 120 |
| Mississippi | $40,600 | 30 |
Best-paying metro areas for curators
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| New Haven, CT | $102,110 | 70 |
| Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | $94,740 | 40 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $90,800 | 240 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $87,400 | 270 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $84,150 | 70 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $83,110 | 970 |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $82,640 | 80 |
| Ann Arbor, MI | $82,150 | 60 |
| Amherst Town-Northampton, MA | $79,380 | n/a |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $78,720 | 220 |
| Worcester, MA | $78,450 | 30 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $78,420 | 50 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $78,340 | 150 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $77,700 | 180 |
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $77,670 | 90 |
Metro areas with the most curators
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 970 | $83,110 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 390 | $77,160 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 290 | $63,060 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 290 | $63,860 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 270 | $87,400 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 240 | $90,800 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 220 | $78,720 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 180 | $77,700 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 170 | $75,800 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | 160 | $65,670 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 150 | $61,060 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 150 | $75,260 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 150 | $57,290 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | 150 | $61,500 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 150 | $78,340 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Librarians and Media Collections Specialists | $68,270 | $32.82 |
| Library Technician | $44,580 | $21.43 |
| Museum Technicians and Conservators | $51,440 | $24.73 |
| Archivist | $64,550 | $31.03 |
| Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary | $36,780 | — |
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $63,970 | — |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $72,040 | — |
| Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $64,370 | — |
| Substitute Teachers, Short-Term | $41,670 | $20.03 |
| Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education | $38,140 | $18.34 |
| Self-Enrichment Teacher | $46,800 | $22.50 |
| Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School | $65,120 | — |
| Instructional Coordinator | $77,440 | $37.23 |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | $107,310 | — |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 25-4012. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a curator make in the U.S.?
The median salary for curators in the U.S. is $63,420 a year, or $30.49 an hour. Pay ranges from $40,470 for the lowest-paid 10% to $107,140 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid curators make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of curators in the U.S. earn at least $107,140 a year. The top 25% earn $83,080 or more.
What is the starting pay for curators in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $40,470 a year, and a quarter of curators earn $48,870 or less.
How many curators work in the U.S.?
About 12,150 curators are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.