Curator salary in Virginia
Curators in Virginia earn a median of $58,200 a year ($27.98 an hour), based on BLS data for 450 workers.
Pay ranges from $38,550 for the lowest-paid 10% to $107,910 for the top 10%. That is 8% lower than the national median of $63,420. Virginia ranks 33rd of 49 states for curators pay. There are 0.11 curators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.4× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $65,990, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for curators in Virginia
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $38,550 | $18.53 |
| 25th percentile | $44,410 | $21.35 |
| Median | $58,200 | $27.98 |
| 75th percentile | $79,500 | $38.22 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $107,910 | $51.88 |
| Average (mean) | $65,990 | $31.73 |
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 | $4,850 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,425 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,238.46 |
| Weekly | $1,119.23 |
| Hourly | $27.98 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Curator salary in cities in Virginia
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $87,400 | 270 |
| Richmond, VA | $66,650 | 80 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $58,200 | 150 |
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 Virginia
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Librarians and Media Collections Specialists | $77,430 | $37.23 |
| Library Technician | $45,560 | $21.90 |
| Museum Technicians and Conservators | $52,190 | $25.09 |
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $65,550 | — |
| Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary | $38,520 | — |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $72,170 | — |
| Substitute Teachers, Short-Term | $39,020 | $18.76 |
| Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $63,520 | — |
| Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education | $37,140 | $17.86 |
| Self-Enrichment Teacher | $49,160 | $23.64 |
| Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School | $67,740 | — |
| Special Education Teachers, Secondary School | $68,400 | — |
| Instructional Coordinator | $83,230 | $40.01 |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | $106,880 | — |
More: Educational Instruction and Library Occupations · all salaries in Virginia
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 Virginia?
The median salary for curators in Virginia is $58,200 a year, or $27.98 an hour. Pay ranges from $38,550 for the lowest-paid 10% to $107,910 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid curators make in Virginia?
The top 10% of curators in Virginia earn at least $107,910 a year. The top 25% earn $79,500 or more.
What is the starting pay for curators in Virginia?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $38,550 a year, and a quarter of curators earn $44,410 or less.
How many curators work in Virginia?
About 450 curators are employed in Virginia, not counting the self-employed.