Curator salary in St. Louis, MO-IL
Curators in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area earn a median of $61,500 a year ($29.57 an hour), based on BLS data for 150 workers.
Pay ranges from $38,900 for the lowest-paid 10% to $109,090 for the top 10%. That is 3% lower than the national median of $63,420. Pay here is 3% higher than the Missouri statewide median of $59,960. There are 0.11 curators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.4× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $70,150, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for curators in St. Louis, MO-IL
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $38,900 | $18.70 |
| 25th percentile | $46,900 | $22.55 |
| Median | $61,500 | $29.57 |
| 75th percentile | $81,010 | $38.95 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $109,090 | $52.45 |
| Average (mean) | $70,150 | $33.72 |
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 | $5,125 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,562.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,365.38 |
| Weekly | $1,182.69 |
| Hourly | $29.57 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $63,060 | 290 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | $60,260 | 70 |
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 Missouri statewide figures.
Related jobs in St. Louis, MO-IL
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Librarians and Media Collections Specialists | $64,350 | $30.94 |
| Library Technician | $39,780 | $19.12 |
| Museum Technicians and Conservators | $50,690 | $24.37 |
| Archivist | $63,630 | $30.59 |
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $60,650 | — |
| Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary | $36,410 | — |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $62,130 | — |
| Substitute Teachers, Short-Term | $35,900 | $17.26 |
| Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $62,180 | — |
| Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education | $37,020 | $17.80 |
| Self-Enrichment Teacher | $39,740 | $19.11 |
| Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School | $63,190 | — |
| Instructional Coordinator | $76,340 | $36.70 |
| Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education | $62,150 | — |
More: Educational Instruction and Library Occupations · all salaries in St. Louis, MO-IL
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 St. Louis, MO-IL?
The median salary for curators in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area is $61,500 a year, or $29.57 an hour. Pay ranges from $38,900 for the lowest-paid 10% to $109,090 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid curators make in St. Louis, MO-IL?
The top 10% of curators in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area earn at least $109,090 a year. The top 25% earn $81,010 or more.
What is the starting pay for curators in St. Louis, MO-IL?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $38,900 a year, and a quarter of curators earn $46,900 or less.
How many curators work in St. Louis, MO-IL?
About 150 curators are employed in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area, not counting the self-employed.