Curator salary in Pennsylvania
Curators in Pennsylvania earn a median of $62,100 a year ($29.86 an hour), based on BLS data for 520 workers.
Pay ranges from $44,930 for the lowest-paid 10% to $101,490 for the top 10%. That is 2% lower than the national median of $63,420. Pennsylvania ranks 23rd of 49 states for curators pay. There are 0.09 curators per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $69,310, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for curators in Pennsylvania
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $44,930 | $21.60 |
| 25th percentile | $48,590 | $23.36 |
| Median | $62,100 | $29.86 |
| 75th percentile | $85,490 | $41.10 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $101,490 | $48.79 |
| Average (mean) | $69,310 | $33.32 |
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 | $5,175 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,587.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,388.46 |
| Weekly | $1,194.23 |
| Hourly | $29.86 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Curator salary in cities in Pennsylvania
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Pittsburgh, PA | $73,330 | 110 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $63,860 | 290 |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | $63,150 | 50 |
| Lancaster, PA | $49,740 | 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 |
Related jobs in Pennsylvania
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Librarians and Media Collections Specialists | $62,880 | $30.23 |
| Library Technician | $46,100 | $22.16 |
| Archivist | $60,690 | $29.18 |
| Museum Technicians and Conservators | $47,150 | $22.67 |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $78,800 | — |
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $77,060 | — |
| Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary | $34,740 | — |
| Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education | $36,050 | $17.33 |
| Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $77,930 | — |
| Substitute Teachers, Short-Term | $44,870 | $21.57 |
| Self-Enrichment Teacher | $41,740 | $20.07 |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | $107,920 | — |
| Postsecondary Teachers, All Other | $65,400 | — |
| Special Education Teachers, Secondary School | $77,000 | — |
More: Educational Instruction and Library Occupations · all salaries in Pennsylvania
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 Pennsylvania?
The median salary for curators in Pennsylvania is $62,100 a year, or $29.86 an hour. Pay ranges from $44,930 for the lowest-paid 10% to $101,490 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid curators make in Pennsylvania?
The top 10% of curators in Pennsylvania earn at least $101,490 a year. The top 25% earn $85,490 or more.
What is the starting pay for curators in Pennsylvania?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $44,930 a year, and a quarter of curators earn $48,590 or less.
How many curators work in Pennsylvania?
About 520 curators are employed in Pennsylvania, not counting the self-employed.