Curator salary in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
Curators in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area earn a median of $77,160 a year ($37.09 an hour), based on BLS data for 390 workers.
Pay ranges from $51,900 for the lowest-paid 10% to $127,100 for the top 10%. That is 22% higher than the national median of $63,420. Pay here is 2% lower than the California statewide median of $78,740. There are 0.06 curators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.79). The average (mean) salary is $85,350, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for curators in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $51,900 | $24.95 |
| 25th percentile | $68,600 | $32.98 |
| Median | $77,160 | $37.09 |
| 75th percentile | $99,430 | $47.80 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $127,100 | $61.11 |
| Average (mean) | $85,350 | $41.03 |
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 | $6,430 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,215 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,967.69 |
| Weekly | $1,483.85 |
| Hourly | $37.09 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $90,800 | 240 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $78,420 | 50 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $75,800 | 170 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $74,950 | 60 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $71,380 | 30 |
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 California statewide figures.
Related jobs in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Librarians and Media Collections Specialists | $97,510 | $46.88 |
| Library Technician | $49,980 | $24.03 |
| Archivist | $70,630 | $33.96 |
| Museum Technicians and Conservators | $60,510 | $29.09 |
| Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary | $46,240 | — |
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $101,860 | — |
| Substitute Teachers, Short-Term | $57,210 | $27.51 |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $100,960 | — |
| Self-Enrichment Teacher | $49,070 | $23.59 |
| Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education | $46,600 | $22.41 |
| Tutor | $45,400 | $21.83 |
| Educational Instruction and Library Workers, All Other | $63,020 | $30.30 |
| Postsecondary Teachers, All Other | $105,640 | — |
| Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $98,370 | — |
More: Educational Instruction and Library Occupations · all salaries in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
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 Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA?
The median salary for curators in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area is $77,160 a year, or $37.09 an hour. Pay ranges from $51,900 for the lowest-paid 10% to $127,100 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid curators make in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA?
The top 10% of curators in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area earn at least $127,100 a year. The top 25% earn $99,430 or more.
What is the starting pay for curators in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $51,900 a year, and a quarter of curators earn $68,600 or less.
How many curators work in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA?
About 390 curators are employed in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.