Curator salary in New York
Curators in New York earn a median of $79,120 a year ($38.04 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,330 workers.
Pay ranges from $46,060 for the lowest-paid 10% to $148,580 for the top 10%. That is 25% higher than the national median of $63,420. New York ranks 3rd of 49 states for curators pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 0.14 curators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.8× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $90,630, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for curators in New York
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $46,060 | $22.14 |
| 25th percentile | $58,340 | $28.05 |
| Median | $79,120 | $38.04 |
| 75th percentile | $103,240 | $49.63 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $148,580 | $71.43 |
| Average (mean) | $90,630 | $43.57 |
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 | $6,593.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,296.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,043.08 |
| Weekly | $1,521.54 |
| Hourly | $38.04 |
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 York
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $83,110 | 970 |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $82,640 | 80 |
| Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | $73,680 | 40 |
| Rochester, NY | $59,120 | 70 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $55,290 | 60 |
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 York
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Librarians and Media Collections Specialists | $78,590 | $37.79 |
| Library Technician | $50,060 | $24.07 |
| Museum Technicians and Conservators | $74,550 | $35.84 |
| Archivist | $73,860 | $35.51 |
| Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary | $38,240 | — |
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $85,760 | — |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $97,070 | — |
| Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $94,840 | — |
| Substitute Teachers, Short-Term | $43,490 | $20.91 |
| Self-Enrichment Teacher | $57,790 | $27.78 |
| Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education | $46,520 | $22.37 |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | $131,220 | — |
| Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School | $81,260 | — |
| Instructional Coordinator | $80,560 | $38.73 |
More: Educational Instruction and Library Occupations · all salaries in New York
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 York?
The median salary for curators in New York is $79,120 a year, or $38.04 an hour. Pay ranges from $46,060 for the lowest-paid 10% to $148,580 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid curators make in New York?
The top 10% of curators in New York earn at least $148,580 a year. The top 25% earn $103,240 or more.
What is the starting pay for curators in New York?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $46,060 a year, and a quarter of curators earn $58,340 or less.
How many curators work in New York?
About 1,330 curators are employed in New York, not counting the self-employed.