Curator salary in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
Curators in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area earn a median of $49,240 a year ($23.68 an hour), based on BLS data for 80 workers.
Pay ranges from $36,390 for the lowest-paid 10% to $77,730 for the top 10%. That is 22% lower than the national median of $63,420. Pay here is about the same as the North Carolina statewide median of $49,470. There are 0.24 curators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 3.1× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $57,390, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for curators in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,390 | $17.49 |
| 25th percentile | $44,060 | $21.18 |
| Median | $49,240 | $23.68 |
| 75th percentile | $71,840 | $34.54 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $77,730 | $37.37 |
| Average (mean) | $57,390 | $27.59 |
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 | $4,103.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,051.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,893.85 |
| Weekly | $946.92 |
| Hourly | $23.68 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $65,670 | 160 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $58,200 | 150 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $55,170 | 60 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $53,100 | 50 |
| Wilmington, NC | $48,230 | 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 North Carolina statewide figures.
Related jobs in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Librarians and Media Collections Specialists | $74,980 | $36.05 |
| Museum Technicians and Conservators | $41,560 | $19.98 |
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $51,400 | — |
| Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary | $29,090 | — |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $57,870 | — |
| Instructional Coordinator | $61,480 | $29.56 |
| Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education | $36,600 | $17.60 |
| Substitute Teachers, Short-Term | $35,190 | $16.92 |
| Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $51,340 | — |
| Self-Enrichment Teacher | $46,730 | $22.47 |
| Tutor | $45,350 | $21.81 |
| Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School | $58,260 | — |
| Business Teachers, Postsecondary | $79,390 | — |
| Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors | $58,540 | $28.14 |
More: Educational Instruction and Library Occupations · all salaries in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
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 Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
The median salary for curators in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area is $49,240 a year, or $23.68 an hour. Pay ranges from $36,390 for the lowest-paid 10% to $77,730 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid curators make in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
The top 10% of curators in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area earn at least $77,730 a year. The top 25% earn $71,840 or more.
What is the starting pay for curators in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $36,390 a year, and a quarter of curators earn $44,060 or less.
How many curators work in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
About 80 curators are employed in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area, not counting the self-employed.