Median Salary
$63,420
per year, national
Hourly Rate
$30.49
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
Top 10% Earn
$107,140
entry level starts ~$40,470
Pay Grade
B
solid pay · 12,000 employed
How much does a Curator make?
The median pay for a Curator in the United States is $63,420 per year — about $30.49 per hour. Entry-level positions start near $40,470, while the most experienced Curators in the top 10% earn $107,140.
That is $2,030 more than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).
Curator salary range by percentile
Half of all Curators earn between $48,870 and $83,080 a year.
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $40,470 | $19.46 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $48,870 | $23.50 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $63,420 | $30.49 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $83,080 | $39.94 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $107,140 | $51.51 |
|
Highest-paying states for Curator
Where you work matters more than almost anything else. District of Columbia leads the country for Curator pay at $93,310 a year, followed by New Hampshire ($82,490) and New York ($79,120). At the other end, Mississippi posts the lowest median at $40,600 — a gap of $52,710 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.
Curator salary in every state
Official BLS state-level figures across 49 states and territories. Click a state for the full local breakdown.
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 $50,720North Carolina $49,470South Carolina $47,200Mississippi $40,600
Workforce and education
About 12,000 people work as Curators in the United States. The mean (average) wage is $71,560 — above the median, which means high earners pull the average up. On qualifications: a bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement, per O*NET occupation data.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Curator make in the United States?
The median Curator salary in the United States is $63,420 per year, or about $30.49 per hour, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates. Entry-level pay (10th percentile) starts around $40,470, while the top 10% of earners make $107,140 or more.
How does Curator pay compare to other jobs?
With a pay grade of B (solid pay), the Curator median of $63,420 is above the national median across all occupations tracked in BLS data ($61,390).
Which state pays Curators the most?
District of Columbia is the highest-paying state for Curators, with a median salary of $93,310 per year, based on official state-level BLS wage estimates.
How long does it take to become a Curator?
Becoming a Curator typically requires about 4 years of college. A bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement.
How many Curators work in the United States?
About 12,000 people were employed as Curators in the United States in the latest BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics estimates.
Related salaries
Other education roles with similar pay.
$75,870
median pay · 3,000 employed
$74,260
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$84,620
median pay · 50,000 employed
$62,680
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$66,140
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$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). Percentiles, employment, and state figures are official BLS estimates; hourly figures assume 2,080 hours/year. Individual pay varies by employer, experience, and location.