Curator salary in Kentucky
Curators in Kentucky earn a median of $55,460 a year ($26.67 an hour), based on BLS data for 130 workers.
Pay ranges from $34,420 for the lowest-paid 10% to $82,400 for the top 10%. That is 13% lower than the national median of $63,420. Kentucky ranks 40th of 49 states for curators pay. There are 0.06 curators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.80). The average (mean) salary is $59,600, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for curators in Kentucky
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $34,420 | $16.55 |
| 25th percentile | $42,710 | $20.54 |
| Median | $55,460 | $26.67 |
| 75th percentile | $76,710 | $36.88 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $82,400 | $39.61 |
| Average (mean) | $59,600 | $28.65 |
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 | $4,621.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,310.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,133.08 |
| Weekly | $1,066.54 |
| Hourly | $26.67 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Curator salary in cities in Kentucky
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $70,740 | 80 |
| 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 |
Related jobs in Kentucky
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Librarians and Media Collections Specialists | $65,200 | $31.35 |
| Library Technician | $35,700 | $17.16 |
| Museum Technicians and Conservators | $49,940 | $24.01 |
| Archivist | $48,810 | $23.47 |
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $60,610 | — |
| Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary | $30,160 | — |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $61,560 | — |
| Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education | $29,780 | $14.32 |
| Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $61,120 | — |
| Postsecondary Teachers, All Other | $67,690 | — |
| Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School | $60,060 | — |
| Instructional Coordinator | $63,640 | $30.59 |
| Special Education Teachers, Secondary School | $60,730 | — |
| Teachers and Instructors, All Other | $58,200 | — |
More: Educational Instruction and Library Occupations · all salaries in Kentucky
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 Kentucky?
The median salary for curators in Kentucky is $55,460 a year, or $26.67 an hour. Pay ranges from $34,420 for the lowest-paid 10% to $82,400 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid curators make in Kentucky?
The top 10% of curators in Kentucky earn at least $82,400 a year. The top 25% earn $76,710 or more.
What is the starting pay for curators in Kentucky?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $34,420 a year, and a quarter of curators earn $42,710 or less.
How many curators work in Kentucky?
About 130 curators are employed in Kentucky, not counting the self-employed.