Curator salary in Washington
Curators in Washington earn a median of $74,030 a year ($35.59 an hour), based on BLS data for 260 workers.
Pay ranges from $45,720 for the lowest-paid 10% to $119,220 for the top 10%. That is 17% higher than the national median of $63,420. Washington ranks 10th of 49 states for curators pay. There are 0.07 curators per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $77,370, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for curators in Washington
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $45,720 | $21.98 |
| 25th percentile | $58,740 | $28.24 |
| Median | $74,030 | $35.59 |
| 75th percentile | $93,090 | $44.76 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $119,220 | $57.32 |
| Average (mean) | $77,370 | $37.20 |
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 | $6,169.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,084.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,847.31 |
| Weekly | $1,423.65 |
| Hourly | $35.59 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Curator salary in cities in Washington
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $78,340 | 150 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $64,060 | 140 |
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 Washington
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Librarians and Media Collections Specialists | $100,030 | $48.09 |
| Library Technician | $62,570 | $30.08 |
| Archivist | $76,490 | $36.77 |
| Museum Technicians and Conservators | $59,610 | $28.66 |
| Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary | $49,120 | — |
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $102,350 | — |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $102,670 | — |
| Substitute Teachers, Short-Term | $55,740 | $26.80 |
| Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education | $45,660 | $21.95 |
| Self-Enrichment Teacher | $48,020 | $23.09 |
| Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $102,140 | — |
| Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education | $99,960 | — |
| Instructional Coordinator | $97,250 | $46.76 |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | $137,520 | — |
More: Educational Instruction and Library Occupations · all salaries in Washington
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 Washington?
The median salary for curators in Washington is $74,030 a year, or $35.59 an hour. Pay ranges from $45,720 for the lowest-paid 10% to $119,220 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid curators make in Washington?
The top 10% of curators in Washington earn at least $119,220 a year. The top 25% earn $93,090 or more.
What is the starting pay for curators in Washington?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $45,720 a year, and a quarter of curators earn $58,740 or less.
How many curators work in Washington?
About 260 curators are employed in Washington, not counting the self-employed.