California Median
$78,740
per year
Hourly Rate
$37.86
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
+24% vs US median
US median $63,420
State Rank
#4 of 49
1,140 employed here
How much does a Curator make in California?
Curators in California take home a median of $78,740 annually — roughly $37.86 an hour — which runs 24% above the national median of $63,420.
Within California, entry-level pay starts around $53,390 while the top 10% make $125,670 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $66,480 and $99,430 a year.
Curator salary range in California
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $53,390 | $25.67 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $66,480 | $31.96 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $78,740 | $37.86 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $99,430 | $47.80 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $125,670 | $60.42 |
|
How California compares
California ranks 4th out of 49 states and territories for Curator pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Curator salary in other states
District of Columbia $93,310New Hampshire $82,490New York $79,120Rhode Island $77,930New Jersey $77,800Massachusetts $77,790Connecticut $76,510South Dakota $74,990Washington $74,030Colorado $73,630Nevada $69,900Wisconsin $64,370Alaska $63,880Maryland $63,750New Mexico $63,690Ohio $63,640Arizona $63,510Michigan $63,190Illinois $63,060Oregon $62,790Idaho $62,190Pennsylvania $62,100Wyoming $61,910Alabama $61,120Oklahoma $60,560Louisiana $60,080Texas $59,990Missouri $59,960Utah $59,910Florida $59,500Nebraska $58,600Virginia $58,200Georgia $57,810Tennessee $57,580Delaware $56,800Kansas $56,630Vermont $56,520Maine $56,470Kentucky $55,460Montana $54,460Minnesota $53,920Indiana $53,910Arkansas $53,870Iowa $53,830Hawaii $50,720North Carolina $49,470South Carolina $47,200Mississippi $40,600
Working as a Curator in California
Nationally, about 12,000 people work as Curators in the United States. A bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement.
Considering a move? Compare California pay ($78,740) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Curator make in California?
The median Curator salary in California is $78,740 per year, or about $37.86 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $53,390 at the entry level to $125,670 for the top 10% of earners.
How does California pay compare to the national average?
California pays Curators about 24% more than the national median of $63,420. California ranks 4th out of 49 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is California a good state for Curators?
Yes on pay — California pays above the national median for this occupation, at $78,740 a year. About 1,140 Curators are employed in California. Weigh that against local housing and living costs before moving.
What are the highest-paying jobs in California?
The highest-paying occupations in California include Ophthalmologist, Except Pediatric ($400,150), Neurologist ($357,080), Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ($353,900), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Curator salary report
Related salaries
$75,870
median pay · 3,000 employed
$74,260
median pay · 164,000 employed
$84,620
median pay · 50,000 employed
$62,680
median pay · 109,000 employed
$66,140
median pay · 114,000 employed
$80,260
median pay · 20,000 employed
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.