Curator salary in Raleigh-Cary, NC
Curators in the Raleigh-Cary, NC metro area earn a median of $65,670 a year ($31.57 an hour), based on BLS data for 160 workers.
Pay ranges from $47,850 for the lowest-paid 10% to $76,890 for the top 10%. That is 4% higher than the national median of $63,420. Pay here is 33% higher than the North Carolina statewide median of $49,470. There are 0.22 curators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 2.8× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $63,090, close to the median.
Pay range for curators in Raleigh-Cary, NC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $47,850 | $23.01 |
| 25th percentile | $47,850 | $23.01 |
| Median | $65,670 | $31.57 |
| 75th percentile | $76,890 | $36.97 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $76,890 | $36.97 |
| Average (mean) | $63,090 | $30.33 |
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 | $5,472.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,736.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,525.77 |
| Weekly | $1,262.88 |
| Hourly | $31.57 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $58,200 | 150 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $55,170 | 60 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $53,100 | 50 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $49,240 | 80 |
| Wilmington, NC | $48,230 | 40 |
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 North Carolina statewide figures.
Related jobs in Raleigh-Cary, NC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Librarians and Media Collections Specialists | $65,550 | $31.51 |
| Library Technician | $52,020 | $25.01 |
| Museum Technicians and Conservators | $45,820 | $22.03 |
| Archivist | $52,090 | $25.04 |
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $60,170 | — |
| Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary | $35,300 | — |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $60,380 | — |
| Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education | $36,030 | $17.32 |
| Self-Enrichment Teacher | $41,670 | $20.04 |
| Substitute Teachers, Short-Term | $35,510 | $17.07 |
| Instructional Coordinator | $71,460 | $34.36 |
| Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School | $60,860 | — |
| Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $57,330 | — |
| Tutor | $36,260 | $17.44 |
More: Educational Instruction and Library Occupations · all salaries in Raleigh-Cary, NC
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 Raleigh-Cary, NC?
The median salary for curators in the Raleigh-Cary, NC metro area is $65,670 a year, or $31.57 an hour. Pay ranges from $47,850 for the lowest-paid 10% to $76,890 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid curators make in Raleigh-Cary, NC?
The top 10% of curators in the Raleigh-Cary, NC metro area earn at least $76,890 a year. The top 25% earn $76,890 or more.
What is the starting pay for curators in Raleigh-Cary, NC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $47,850 a year, and a quarter of curators earn $47,850 or less.
How many curators work in Raleigh-Cary, NC?
About 160 curators are employed in the Raleigh-Cary, NC metro area, not counting the self-employed.