Curator salary in District of Columbia
Curators in District of Columbia earn a median of $93,310 a year ($44.86 an hour), based on BLS data for 140 workers.
Pay ranges from $62,530 for the lowest-paid 10% to $161,380 for the top 10%. That is 47% higher than the national median of $63,420. District of Columbia ranks 1st of 49 states for curators pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 0.20 curators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 2.6× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $100,420, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for curators in District of Columbia
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $62,530 | $30.06 |
| 25th percentile | $74,030 | $35.59 |
| Median | $93,310 | $44.86 |
| 75th percentile | $111,530 | $53.62 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $161,380 | $77.59 |
| Average (mean) | $100,420 | $48.28 |
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 | $7,775.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,887.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,588.85 |
| Weekly | $1,794.42 |
| Hourly | $44.86 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Curator salary in cities in District of Columbia
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $87,400 | 270 |
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 District of Columbia
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Librarians and Media Collections Specialists | $96,550 | $46.42 |
| Museum Technicians and Conservators | $76,110 | $36.59 |
| Library Technician | $61,040 | $29.35 |
| Archivist | $93,040 | $44.73 |
| Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary | $46,920 | — |
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $96,580 | — |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $82,750 | — |
| Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education | $62,150 | $29.88 |
| Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $79,900 | — |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | $167,520 | — |
| Instructional Coordinator | $105,990 | $50.96 |
| Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary | $102,310 | — |
| Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School | $97,910 | — |
| Teachers and Instructors, All Other | $93,040 | — |
More: Educational Instruction and Library Occupations · all salaries in District of Columbia
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 District of Columbia?
The median salary for curators in District of Columbia is $93,310 a year, or $44.86 an hour. Pay ranges from $62,530 for the lowest-paid 10% to $161,380 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid curators make in District of Columbia?
The top 10% of curators in District of Columbia earn at least $161,380 a year. The top 25% earn $111,530 or more.
What is the starting pay for curators in District of Columbia?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $62,530 a year, and a quarter of curators earn $74,030 or less.
How many curators work in District of Columbia?
About 140 curators are employed in District of Columbia, not counting the self-employed.