Curator salary in California
Curators in California earn a median of $78,740 a year ($37.86 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,140 workers.
Pay ranges from $53,390 for the lowest-paid 10% to $125,670 for the top 10%. That is 24% higher than the national median of $63,420. California ranks 4th of 49 states for curators pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 0.06 curators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.80). The average (mean) salary is $86,330, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for curators in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $53,390 | $25.67 |
| 25th percentile | $66,480 | $31.96 |
| Median | $78,740 | $37.86 |
| 75th percentile | $99,430 | $47.80 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $125,670 | $60.42 |
| Average (mean) | $86,330 | $41.51 |
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 | $6,561.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,280.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,028.46 |
| Weekly | $1,514.23 |
| Hourly | $37.86 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Curator salary in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $90,800 | 240 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $78,420 | 50 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $77,160 | 390 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $75,800 | 170 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $74,950 | 60 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $71,380 | 30 |
Highest-paying states for curators
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $93,310 |
| New Hampshire | $82,490 |
| New York | $79,120 |
| California | $78,740 |
| Rhode Island | $77,930 |
| New Jersey | $77,800 |
| Massachusetts | $77,790 |
| Connecticut | $76,510 |
| South Dakota | $74,990 |
| Washington | $74,030 |
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Librarians and Media Collections Specialists | $89,790 | $43.17 |
| Library Technician | $53,260 | $25.61 |
| Museum Technicians and Conservators | $61,550 | $29.59 |
| Archivist | $70,530 | $33.91 |
| Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary | $46,490 | — |
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $99,650 | — |
| Substitute Teachers, Short-Term | $60,300 | $28.99 |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $101,370 | — |
| Self-Enrichment Teacher | $49,570 | $23.83 |
| Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education | $47,400 | $22.79 |
| Tutor | $45,100 | $21.69 |
| Educational Instruction and Library Workers, All Other | $64,100 | $30.82 |
| Postsecondary Teachers, All Other | $100,690 | — |
| Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $98,950 | — |
More: Educational Instruction and Library Occupations · all salaries in California
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 California?
The median salary for curators in California is $78,740 a year, or $37.86 an hour. Pay ranges from $53,390 for the lowest-paid 10% to $125,670 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid curators make in California?
The top 10% of curators in California earn at least $125,670 a year. The top 25% earn $99,430 or more.
What is the starting pay for curators in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $53,390 a year, and a quarter of curators earn $66,480 or less.
How many curators work in California?
About 1,140 curators are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.