Curator salary in New Jersey
Curators in New Jersey earn a median of $77,800 a year ($37.40 an hour), based on BLS data for 120 workers.
Pay ranges from $48,870 for the lowest-paid 10% to $114,880 for the top 10%. That is 23% higher than the national median of $63,420. New Jersey ranks 6th of 49 states for curators pay. There are 0.03 curators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.36). The average (mean) salary is $77,880, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for curators in New Jersey
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $48,870 | $23.49 |
| 25th percentile | $58,280 | $28.02 |
| Median | $77,800 | $37.40 |
| 75th percentile | $93,240 | $44.83 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $114,880 | $55.23 |
| Average (mean) | $77,880 | $37.44 |
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 | $6,483.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,241.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,992.31 |
| Weekly | $1,496.15 |
| Hourly | $37.40 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Curator salary in cities in New Jersey
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $83,110 | 970 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $63,860 | 290 |
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 New Jersey
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Librarians and Media Collections Specialists | $78,380 | $37.69 |
| Library Technician | $48,840 | $23.48 |
| Museum Technicians and Conservators | $43,780 | $21.05 |
| Archivist | $67,900 | $32.64 |
| Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary | $37,290 | — |
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $78,200 | — |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $82,200 | — |
| Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $78,770 | — |
| Substitute Teachers, Short-Term | $43,780 | $21.05 |
| Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education | $48,220 | $23.19 |
| Self-Enrichment Teacher | $53,780 | $25.85 |
| Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School | $76,660 | — |
| Special Education Teachers, Secondary School | $83,770 | — |
| Special Education Teachers, Middle School | $79,110 | — |
More: Educational Instruction and Library Occupations · all salaries in New Jersey
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 New Jersey?
The median salary for curators in New Jersey is $77,800 a year, or $37.40 an hour. Pay ranges from $48,870 for the lowest-paid 10% to $114,880 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid curators make in New Jersey?
The top 10% of curators in New Jersey earn at least $114,880 a year. The top 25% earn $93,240 or more.
What is the starting pay for curators in New Jersey?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $48,870 a year, and a quarter of curators earn $58,280 or less.
How many curators work in New Jersey?
About 120 curators are employed in New Jersey, not counting the self-employed.