Curator salary in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Curators in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median of $63,060 a year ($30.32 an hour), based on BLS data for 290 workers.
Pay ranges from $42,120 for the lowest-paid 10% to $109,720 for the top 10%. That is 1% lower than the national median of $63,420. Pay here is about the same as the Illinois statewide median of $63,060. There are 0.07 curators per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $72,030, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for curators in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $42,120 | $20.25 |
| 25th percentile | $54,950 | $26.42 |
| Median | $63,060 | $30.32 |
| 75th percentile | $80,410 | $38.66 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $109,720 | $52.75 |
| Average (mean) | $72,030 | $34.63 |
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 | $5,255 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,627.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,425.38 |
| Weekly | $1,212.69 |
| Hourly | $30.32 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Curator salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $70,740 | 80 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $62,890 | 90 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $61,500 | 150 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $58,510 | 40 |
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 |
See Curator pay in every state or the Illinois statewide figures.
Related jobs in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Librarians and Media Collections Specialists | $66,250 | $31.85 |
| Library Technician | $47,100 | $22.64 |
| Museum Technicians and Conservators | $58,840 | $28.29 |
| Archivist | $57,930 | $27.85 |
| Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary | $37,840 | — |
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $78,390 | — |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $98,970 | — |
| Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $78,000 | — |
| Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education | $43,050 | $20.70 |
| Self-Enrichment Teacher | $45,020 | $21.64 |
| Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School | $79,690 | — |
| Substitute Teachers, Short-Term | $43,460 | $20.90 |
| Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary | $35,760 | — |
| Instructional Coordinator | $77,900 | $37.45 |
More: Educational Instruction and Library Occupations · all salaries in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
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 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The median salary for curators in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $63,060 a year, or $30.32 an hour. Pay ranges from $42,120 for the lowest-paid 10% to $109,720 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid curators make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The top 10% of curators in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn at least $109,720 a year. The top 25% earn $80,410 or more.
What is the starting pay for curators in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $42,120 a year, and a quarter of curators earn $54,950 or less.
How many curators work in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
About 290 curators are employed in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, not counting the self-employed.