Curator salary in Illinois
Curators in Illinois earn a median of $63,060 a year ($30.32 an hour), based on BLS data for 410 workers.
Pay ranges from $36,490 for the lowest-paid 10% to $107,990 for the top 10%. That is 1% lower than the national median of $63,420. Illinois ranks 20th of 49 states for curators pay. There are 0.07 curators per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $68,940, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for curators in Illinois
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,490 | $17.54 |
| 25th percentile | $48,320 | $23.23 |
| Median | $63,060 | $30.32 |
| 75th percentile | $80,410 | $38.66 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $107,990 | $51.92 |
| Average (mean) | $68,940 | $33.15 |
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 cities in Illinois
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $63,060 | 290 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $61,500 | 150 |
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 Illinois
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Librarians and Media Collections Specialists | $62,700 | $30.14 |
| Library Technician | $47,120 | $22.66 |
| Museum Technicians and Conservators | $56,720 | $27.27 |
| Archivist | $59,340 | $28.53 |
| Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary | $36,990 | — |
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $75,320 | — |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $79,990 | — |
| Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $76,110 | — |
| Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education | $40,910 | $19.67 |
| Substitute Teachers, Short-Term | $39,410 | $18.95 |
| Self-Enrichment Teacher | $44,230 | $21.26 |
| Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School | $77,960 | — |
| Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary | $36,040 | — |
| Instructional Coordinator | $76,050 | $36.56 |
More: Educational Instruction and Library Occupations · all salaries in Illinois
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 Illinois?
The median salary for curators in Illinois is $63,060 a year, or $30.32 an hour. Pay ranges from $36,490 for the lowest-paid 10% to $107,990 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid curators make in Illinois?
The top 10% of curators in Illinois earn at least $107,990 a year. The top 25% earn $80,410 or more.
What is the starting pay for curators in Illinois?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $36,490 a year, and a quarter of curators earn $48,320 or less.
How many curators work in Illinois?
About 410 curators are employed in Illinois, not counting the self-employed.