Curator salary in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
Curators in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earn a median of $75,800 a year ($36.44 an hour), based on BLS data for 170 workers.
Pay ranges from $60,020 for the lowest-paid 10% to $125,300 for the top 10%. That is 20% higher than the national median of $63,420. Pay here is 4% lower than the California statewide median of $78,740. There are 0.11 curators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.4× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $88,290, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for curators in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $60,020 | $28.86 |
| 25th percentile | $73,930 | $35.55 |
| Median | $75,800 | $36.44 |
| 75th percentile | $104,630 | $50.30 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $125,300 | $60.24 |
| Average (mean) | $88,290 | $42.45 |
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 | $6,316.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,158.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,915.38 |
| Weekly | $1,457.69 |
| Hourly | $36.44 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $75,800 salary, see how much house you can afford in California at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Curator salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $90,800 | 240 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $78,420 | 50 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $77,160 | 390 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $74,950 | 60 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $71,380 | 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 |
See Curator pay in every state or the California statewide figures.
Related jobs in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Librarians and Media Collections Specialists | $84,810 | $40.78 |
| Library Technician | $54,920 | $26.40 |
| Museum Technicians and Conservators | $56,590 | $27.21 |
| Archivist | $62,050 | $29.83 |
| Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary | $46,440 | — |
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $97,000 | — |
| Substitute Teachers, Short-Term | $59,860 | $28.78 |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $102,810 | — |
| Self-Enrichment Teacher | $48,640 | $23.38 |
| Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education | $44,940 | $21.61 |
| Postsecondary Teachers, All Other | $101,820 | — |
| Tutor | $47,050 | $22.62 |
| Educational Instruction and Library Workers, All Other | $62,230 | $29.92 |
| Teachers and Instructors, All Other | $80,460 | — |
More: Educational Instruction and Library Occupations · all salaries in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
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 San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA?
The median salary for curators in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $75,800 a year, or $36.44 an hour. Pay ranges from $60,020 for the lowest-paid 10% to $125,300 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid curators make in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA?
The top 10% of curators in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earn at least $125,300 a year. The top 25% earn $104,630 or more.
What is the starting pay for curators in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $60,020 a year, and a quarter of curators earn $73,930 or less.
How many curators work in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA?
About 170 curators are employed in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.