Curator Salary
Curators earn a median $63,420 a year nationally. Educational Instruction and Library Occupations
U.S. median
$63,420
$30.49 per hour
Range
$40,470 – $107,140
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
12,150
across the U.S.
▲2.7%
Pay trend: The median for curators in the U.S. rose from $61,770 (May 2024) to $63,420 (May 2025). That roughly kept pace with inflation (2.4%).
What curators do
Administer collections, such as artwork, collectibles, historic items, or scientific specimens of museums or other institutions. May conduct instructional, research, or public service activities of institution.
- Typical education
- Master's degree
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +4.9% (about average)
- Openings per year
- 1,600
- Self-employed
- 9%
Employment of curators is projected to grow 4.9% from 2025 to 2035, about the same as the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 1,600 openings are expected each year, on average, including jobs left by workers who retire or switch careers.
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Curator take-home pay calculator
Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.
Your take-home pay
$53,138
per year · effective tax rate 16.2%
$4,428Monthly
$2,214Twice a month
$2,044Every 2 weeks
$25.55Hourly
- Federal income tax$5,430
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,932
- Medicare (1.45%)$920
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$53,138
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Pay by experience
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home (no state tax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $40,470 | $19.46 | $34,698 |
| 25th percentile | $48,870 | $23.50 | $41,447 |
| Median (50th) | $63,420 | $30.49 | $53,138 |
| 75th percentile | $83,080 | $39.94 | $67,277 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $107,140 | $51.51 | $84,203 |
Curator salary by state
| State | Median | 1-yr change | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $93,310 | +13.8% | $69,511 | $62,530 – $161,380 | 140 |
| New Hampshire | $82,490 | +55.2% | $66,862 | $44,620 – $121,030 | 60 |
| New York | $79,120 | +0.5% | $60,815 | $46,060 – $148,580 | 1,330 |
| California | $78,740 | +0.0% | $60,107 | $53,390 – $125,670 | 1,140 |
| Rhode Island | $77,930 | +4.3% | $61,348 | $46,740 – $108,900 | 70 |
| New Jersey | $77,800 | +18.0% | $60,796 | $48,870 – $114,880 | 120 |
| Massachusetts | $77,790 | +2.4% | $59,886 | $41,310 – $130,480 | 370 |
| Connecticut | $76,510 | +4.3% | $60,022 | $46,980 – $127,510 | 190 |
| South Dakota | $74,990 | +17.5% | $61,585 | $49,740 – $98,490 | 50 |
| Washington | $74,030 | +11.9% | $60,910 | $45,720 – $119,220 | 260 |
| Colorado | $73,630 | +5.0% | $58,097 | $51,940 – $104,530 | 300 |
| Nevada | $69,900 | +3.8% | $58,005 | $43,010 – $96,850 | 100 |
| Wisconsin | $64,370 | +4.6% | $51,850 | $43,210 – $91,220 | 300 |
| Alaska | $63,880 | −1.9% | $53,508 | $53,920 – $105,870 | 90 |
| Maryland | $63,750 | +3.9% | $50,739 | $51,860 – $102,260 | 170 |
| New Mexico | $63,690 | +5.0% | $51,527 | $50,350 – $74,960 | 140 |
| Ohio | $63,640 | +8.1% | $52,347 | $33,280 – $102,610 | 370 |
| Arizona | $63,510 | −0.6% | $51,831 | $36,490 – $102,800 | 150 |
| Michigan | $63,190 | −1.3% | $50,518 | $36,440 – $105,970 | 360 |
| Illinois | $63,060 | +3.6% | $49,872 | $36,490 – $107,990 | 410 |
| Oregon | $62,790 | +13.6% | $47,967 | $43,100 – $103,880 | 260 |
| Idaho | $62,190 | +4.3% | $49,962 | $40,170 – $76,400 | 50 |
| Pennsylvania | $62,100 | −2.4% | $50,171 | $44,930 – $101,490 | 520 |
| Wyoming | $61,910 | +21.3% | $51,925 | $36,690 – $82,430 | 90 |
| Alabama | $61,120 | +4.7% | $48,499 | $40,800 – $98,470 | 150 |
| Oklahoma | $60,560 | +24.9% | $48,660 | $39,040 – $101,970 | 150 |
| Louisiana | $60,080 | +7.9% | $49,038 | $36,030 – $101,700 | 160 |
| Texas | $59,990 | +1.6% | $50,382 | $43,040 – $93,860 | 690 |
| Missouri | $59,960 | +3.8% | $48,477 | $36,790 – $102,850 | 260 |
| Utah | $59,910 | +19.7% | $48,588 | $39,870 – $80,790 | 50 |
| Florida | $59,500 | +7.1% | $49,988 | $37,880 – $107,000 | 420 |
| Nebraska | $58,600 | +10.8% | $47,478 | $37,320 – $86,880 | 120 |
| Virginia | $58,200 | −3.0% | $46,411 | $38,550 – $107,910 | 450 |
| Georgia | $57,810 | +13.6% | $46,253 | $38,590 – $96,820 | 230 |
| Tennessee | $57,580 | +3.8% | $48,446 | $32,960 – $89,130 | 190 |
| Delaware | $56,800 | +11.4% | $45,343 | $41,880 – $89,440 | 60 |
| Kansas | $56,630 | −8.3% | $45,322 | $30,160 – $88,880 | 120 |
| Vermont | $56,520 | +2.1% | $46,134 | $36,810 – $78,210 | 60 |
| Maine | $56,470 | +11.4% | $44,924 | $40,100 – $80,110 | 110 |
| Kentucky | $55,460 | +8.9% | $44,919 | $34,420 – $82,400 | 130 |
| Montana | $54,460 | +11.8% | $44,136 | $37,760 – $88,910 | 100 |
| Minnesota | $53,920 | −12.0% | $43,362 | $33,280 – $90,670 | 220 |
| Indiana | $53,910 | +0.1% | $43,936 | $41,510 – $84,450 | 220 |
| Arkansas | $53,870 | −2.1% | $43,576 | $42,550 – $98,120 | 80 |
| Iowa | $53,830 | +3.1% | $44,039 | $31,910 – $89,780 | 230 |
| Hawaii | $50,720 | −18.7% | $40,598 | $40,640 – $100,300 | 140 |
| North Carolina | $49,470 | −1.5% | $40,464 | $42,240 – $76,890 | 600 |
| South Carolina | $47,200 | −18.3% | $38,430 | $35,800 – $78,430 | 120 |
| Mississippi | $40,600 | — | $33,910 | $27,680 – $63,130 | 30 |
Related jobs
| Job | Median salary | Education | Growth 2025–35 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Archivist | $64,550 | Master's degree | +3.4% |
| Museum Technician and Conservator | $51,440 | Bachelor's degree | +3.6% |
| Librarian and Media Collections Specialist | $68,270 | Master's degree | +2.6% |
| Library Technician | $44,580 | Postsecondary nondegree award | -6.4% |
| Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary | $63,820 | Bachelor's degree | -0.3% |
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $63,970 | Bachelor's degree | -0.4% |
| Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education | $62,680 | Bachelor's degree | -0.3% |
| Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $64,370 | Bachelor's degree | -0.4% |
| Special Education Teachers, Preschool | $64,830 | Bachelor's degree | +2.4% |
| Career/Technical Education Teachers, Middle School | $65,030 | Bachelor's degree | -0.5% |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a curator make?
The national median salary for curators is $63,420 a year ($30.49 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $40,470 and the top 10% earn over $107,140. Source: BLS, May 2025.
Which state pays curators the most?
District of Columbia has the highest median pay at $93,310.
How many curators are there in the U.S.?
About 12,150 people work as curators nationwide.