Curator salary in Madison, WI
Curators in the Madison, WI metro area earn a median of $68,060 a year ($32.72 an hour), based on BLS data for 80 workers.
Pay ranges from $51,770 for the lowest-paid 10% to $97,470 for the top 10%. That is 7% higher than the national median of $63,420. Pay here is 6% higher than the Wisconsin statewide median of $64,370. There are 0.19 curators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 2.4× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $76,060, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for curators in Madison, WI
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $51,770 | $24.89 |
| 25th percentile | $60,860 | $29.26 |
| Median | $68,060 | $32.72 |
| 75th percentile | $82,410 | $39.62 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $97,470 | $46.86 |
| Average (mean) | $76,060 | $36.57 |
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 | $5,671.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,835.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,617.69 |
| Weekly | $1,308.85 |
| Hourly | $32.72 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $72,760 | 120 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $66,310 | 80 |
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 Wisconsin statewide figures.
Related jobs in Madison, WI
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Library Technician | $35,800 | $17.21 |
| Librarians and Media Collections Specialists | $78,050 | $37.53 |
| Archivist | $63,040 | $30.31 |
| Museum Technicians and Conservators | $33,280 | $16.00 |
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $63,690 | — |
| Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary | $39,640 | — |
| Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary | $47,990 | — |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | $85,510 | — |
| Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education | $38,090 | $18.31 |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $64,080 | — |
| Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $63,320 | — |
| Substitute Teachers, Short-Term | $43,960 | $21.14 |
| Self-Enrichment Teacher | $42,930 | $20.64 |
| Farm and Home Management Educators | $60,920 | $29.29 |
More: Educational Instruction and Library Occupations · all salaries in Madison, WI
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 Madison, WI?
The median salary for curators in the Madison, WI metro area is $68,060 a year, or $32.72 an hour. Pay ranges from $51,770 for the lowest-paid 10% to $97,470 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid curators make in Madison, WI?
The top 10% of curators in the Madison, WI metro area earn at least $97,470 a year. The top 25% earn $82,410 or more.
What is the starting pay for curators in Madison, WI?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $51,770 a year, and a quarter of curators earn $60,860 or less.
How many curators work in Madison, WI?
About 80 curators are employed in the Madison, WI metro area, not counting the self-employed.