Curator salary in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO
Curators in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area earn a median of $77,700 a year ($37.36 an hour), based on BLS data for 180 workers.
Pay ranges from $55,450 for the lowest-paid 10% to $107,380 for the top 10%. That is 23% higher than the national median of $63,420. Pay here is 6% higher than the Colorado statewide median of $73,630. There are 0.11 curators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.4× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $80,070, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for curators in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $55,450 | $26.66 |
| 25th percentile | $63,090 | $30.33 |
| Median | $77,700 | $37.36 |
| 75th percentile | $96,600 | $46.44 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $107,380 | $51.63 |
| Average (mean) | $80,070 | $38.50 |
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 | $6,475 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,237.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,988.46 |
| Weekly | $1,494.23 |
| Hourly | $37.36 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
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 Colorado statewide figures.
Related jobs in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Librarians and Media Collections Specialists | $79,620 | $38.28 |
| Library Technician | $47,180 | $22.68 |
| Museum Technicians and Conservators | $60,110 | $28.90 |
| Archivist | $59,950 | $28.82 |
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $76,910 | — |
| Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary | $36,910 | — |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $79,230 | — |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | $168,720 | — |
| Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $77,340 | — |
| Self-Enrichment Teacher | $45,090 | $21.68 |
| Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education | $45,680 | $21.96 |
| Instructional Coordinator | $82,880 | $39.85 |
| Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School | $79,310 | — |
| Educational Instruction and Library Workers, All Other | $70,600 | $33.94 |
More: Educational Instruction and Library Occupations · all salaries in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO
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 Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO?
The median salary for curators in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area is $77,700 a year, or $37.36 an hour. Pay ranges from $55,450 for the lowest-paid 10% to $107,380 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid curators make in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO?
The top 10% of curators in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area earn at least $107,380 a year. The top 25% earn $96,600 or more.
What is the starting pay for curators in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $55,450 a year, and a quarter of curators earn $63,090 or less.
How many curators work in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO?
About 180 curators are employed in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area, not counting the self-employed.