North Carolina Median
$49,470
per year
Hourly Rate
$23.78
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
-22% vs US median
US median $63,420
State Rank
#47 of 49
600 employed here
How much does a Curator make in North Carolina?
Curators in North Carolina take home a median of $49,470 annually — roughly $23.78 an hour — which runs 22% below the national median of $63,420.
Within North Carolina, entry-level pay starts around $42,240 while the top 10% make $76,890 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $47,560 and $69,360 a year.
Curator salary range in North Carolina
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $42,240 | $20.31 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $47,560 | $22.87 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $49,470 | $23.78 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $69,360 | $33.35 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $76,890 | $36.97 |
|
How North Carolina compares
North Carolina ranks 47th 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 $63,190Illinois $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 $50,720South Carolina $47,200Mississippi $40,600
Working as a Curator in North Carolina
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 North Carolina pay ($49,470) 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 North Carolina?
The median Curator salary in North Carolina is $49,470 per year, or about $23.78 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $42,240 at the entry level to $76,890 for the top 10% of earners.
How does North Carolina pay compare to the national average?
North Carolina pays Curators about 22% less than the national median of $63,420. North Carolina ranks 47th out of 49 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is North Carolina a good state for Curators?
Pay runs below the national median here, at $49,470 a year. About 600 Curators are employed in North Carolina. 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 North Carolina?
The highest-paying occupations in North Carolina include Surgeon, All Other ($398,410), Dermatologist ($367,350), Emergency Medicine Physician ($339,350), 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.