Illinois Median
$63,060
per year
Hourly Rate
$30.32
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
-1% vs US median
US median $63,420
State Rank
#20 of 49
410 employed here
How much does a Curator make in Illinois?
A Curator working in Illinois earns a median salary of $63,060 per year, or about $30.32 per hour. That is 1% below the national median of $63,420 for this occupation.
Within Illinois, entry-level pay starts around $36,490 while the top 10% make $107,990 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $48,320 and $80,410 a year.
Curator salary range in Illinois
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,490 | $17.54 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $48,320 | $23.23 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $63,060 | $30.32 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $80,410 | $38.66 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $107,990 | $51.92 |
|
How Illinois compares
Illinois ranks 20th 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 $79,120California $78,740Rhode 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 $63,190Oregon $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 Illinois
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 Illinois pay ($63,060) 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 Illinois?
The median Curator salary in Illinois is $63,060 per year, or about $30.32 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $36,490 at the entry level to $107,990 for the top 10% of earners.
How does Illinois pay compare to the national average?
Illinois pays Curators about 1% less than the national median of $63,420. Illinois ranks 20th out of 49 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is Illinois a good state for Curators?
Pay runs below the national median here, at $63,060 a year. About 410 Curators are employed in Illinois. A lower cost of living can offset the smaller paycheck, so compare take-home value, not just salary.
What are the highest-paying jobs in Illinois?
The highest-paying occupations in Illinois include Cardiologist ($517,850), Surgeon, All Other ($438,010), Dermatologist ($435,750), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Curator salary report
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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.