Curator salary in Wisconsin
Curators in Wisconsin earn a median of $64,370 a year ($30.95 an hour), based on BLS data for 300 workers.
Pay ranges from $43,210 for the lowest-paid 10% to $91,220 for the top 10%. That is 1% higher than the national median of $63,420. Wisconsin ranks 13th of 49 states for curators pay. There are 0.10 curators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.3× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $70,980, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for curators in Wisconsin
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $43,210 | $20.78 |
| 25th percentile | $57,180 | $27.49 |
| Median | $64,370 | $30.95 |
| 75th percentile | $78,260 | $37.62 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $91,220 | $43.86 |
| Average (mean) | $70,980 | $34.12 |
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 | $5,364.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,682.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,475.77 |
| Weekly | $1,237.88 |
| Hourly | $30.95 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Curator salary in cities in Wisconsin
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $72,760 | 120 |
| Madison, WI | $68,060 | 80 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $66,310 | 80 |
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 Wisconsin
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Library Technician | $35,000 | $16.83 |
| Librarians and Media Collections Specialists | $66,870 | $32.15 |
| Archivist | $59,400 | $28.56 |
| Museum Technicians and Conservators | $38,840 | $18.68 |
| Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary | $37,800 | — |
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,210 | — |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $62,870 | — |
| Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $61,960 | — |
| Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education | $36,160 | $17.39 |
| Substitute Teachers, Short-Term | $43,950 | $21.13 |
| Self-Enrichment Teacher | $37,820 | $18.19 |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | $81,500 | — |
| Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School | $61,520 | — |
| Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary | $47,990 | — |
More: Educational Instruction and Library Occupations · all salaries in Wisconsin
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 Wisconsin?
The median salary for curators in Wisconsin is $64,370 a year, or $30.95 an hour. Pay ranges from $43,210 for the lowest-paid 10% to $91,220 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid curators make in Wisconsin?
The top 10% of curators in Wisconsin earn at least $91,220 a year. The top 25% earn $78,260 or more.
What is the starting pay for curators in Wisconsin?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $43,210 a year, and a quarter of curators earn $57,180 or less.
How many curators work in Wisconsin?
About 300 curators are employed in Wisconsin, not counting the self-employed.