What are the main factors that influence a Curator's salary?

The primary factors are: 1) Experience Level, 2) Geographic Location, 3) Education/Skills, 4) Company Size & Industry

How does experience change a Curator's salary?

A Curator's salary grows with experience: starting around $59,481 for beginners, reaching about $61,092 at mid-level, and approach $66,057 for experts.

What are the highest paying states for a Curator?

Curator salary varies significantly by state. The top 3 highest paying states for Curator roles are District of Columbia $70,057, California $69,792, Massachusetts $68,861. These tech hubs typically pay 10-15% above the national average.

How much do different types of Curator roles make?

Salaries for Curator level roles vary by specialization: Scientific Curator: $79,448; Associate Curator: $71,393; Content Curator: $69,769; Art Curator: $63,311; Chief Curator: $63,262.

How do different companies affect a Curator's salary?

Company size, industry, and compensation structure create significant salary variations for Curator roles. Large, established industry leaders like New York Police Department ($97,099) and State of New York - Metropolitan Transportation Authority ($95,962) offer base salaries 35-40% above the national average. In contrast, smaller firms or startups may offer closer to $75,106.

Curator Salary in the United States

How much does a Curator make in the United States?

As of January 01, 2026, the average salary for a Curator in the United States is $63,274 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $30.

However, a Curator's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

Top Earners (90th percentile): $81,351
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $55,021 to $72,736
Entry-Level (10th percentile): $47,506

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Curator Salaries by Percentile

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$72,736	$6,061	$1,399	$35
Average	$63,274	$5,273	$1,217	$30
25th Percentile	$55,021	$4,585	$1,058	$26

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Key Factors That Influence Curator Salaries

A Curator's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Curator Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Curator's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $59,481
Early Career (1-2 years): $59,853
Mid-Level (2-4 years): $61,092
Senior-Level (5-8 years): $64,944
Expert (over 8 years): $66,057

Levels	Salary
Entry Level Curator	$59,481
Intermediate Level Curator	$59,853
Senior Level Curator	$61,092
Specialist Level Curator	$64,944
Expert Level Curator	$66,057

View as Graph

What Am I Worth?

How Do Curator Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Curators. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

District of Columbia: $70,057.
California: $69,792.
Massachusetts: $68,861.

District of Columbia $70,057 California $69,792 Massachusetts $68,861 Washington $68,608 New Jersey $68,583 Alaska $68,494 Connecticut $67,621 New York $67,267

Hawaii $66,134 Rhode Island $65,603 Maryland $65,242 Minnesota $64,749 Colorado $64,559 Illinois $64,495 Oregon $64,255 Delaware $64,078

New Hampshire $63,967 Virginia $63,717 Pennsylvania $62,990 Nevada $62,623 North Dakota $62,502 Michigan $62,313 Wisconsin $62,243 Vermont $62,104

Texas $61,718 Maine $61,692 Arizona $61,654 Ohio $61,610 Georgia $61,028 Indiana $60,737 Wyoming $60,680 Utah $60,591

Iowa $60,554 Kansas $60,250 Louisiana $60,161 North Carolina $60,130 Missouri $60,117 Florida $59,870 Montana $59,737 Nebraska $59,611

Kentucky $59,541 South Carolina $59,288 Tennessee $59,130 Idaho $59,067 New Mexico $58,605 Oklahoma $58,503 Alabama $58,130 South Dakota $57,504

Arkansas $57,162 West Virginia $56,979 Mississippi $56,428

Top Paying Cities for Curators

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

San Jose: $79,808
San Francisco: $79,023
Oakland: $77,271

San Jose, CA $79,808

San Francisco, CA $79,023

Oakland, CA $77,271

New York, NY $73,329

Queens Village, NY $72,854

Paramus, NJ $72,348

Passaic, NJ $72,285

Bergenfield, NJ $72,221

Stamford, CT $72,126

Huntington, NY $72,063

Newark, NJ $71,652

Bridgeport, CT $71,525

New Brunswick, NJ $71,316

Vallejo, CA $71,184

Middlesex, NJ $71,146

Somerset, NJ $71,089

Petaluma, CA $70,943

Santa Cruz, CA $70,696

Boston, MA $70,570

Monterey, CA $70,253

Fairbanks, AK $70,209

Los Angeles, CA $70,089

Washington, DC $70,057

Seattle, WA $69,943

Santa Rosa, CA $69,931

Juneau, AK $69,747

Orange, CA $69,538

Anchorage, AK $69,425

Anaheim, CA $69,380

Santa Ana, CA $69,285

Nassau, NY $69,247

Long Beach, CA $69,222

Danbury, CT $69,203

Santa Maria, CA $68,988

Everett, WA $68,975

Bremerton, WA $68,665

Trenton, NJ $68,545

Sacramento, CA $68,520

San Diego, CA $68,488

Brockton, MA $68,463

Tacoma, WA $68,437

Santa Barbara, CA $68,349

Lowell, MA $68,096

New Suffolk, NY $68,070

Nashua, NH $67,995

Lompoc, CA $67,893

Ventura, CA $67,830

Stockton, CA $67,811

New Haven, CT $67,685

Atlantic City, NJ $67,520

Hartford, CT $67,381

Modesto, CA $67,349

Poughkeepsie, NY $67,210

New Britain, CT $67,178

Olympia, WA $67,090

Kennewick, WA $67,090

New London, CT $67,077

Norwich, CT $67,058

Lawrence, MA $67,026

Bakersfield, CA $66,849

Riverside, CA $66,761

New Bedford, MA $66,761

Richland, WA $66,697

Portsmouth, NH $66,647

Vineland, NJ $66,634

San Bernardino, CA $66,584

Boulder, CO $66,406

Worcester, MA $66,356

Portland, OR $66,299

Saint Paul, MN $66,223

Minneapolis, MN $66,223

Philadelphia, PA $66,134

Honolulu, HI $65,799

Springfield, MA $65,577

Providence, RI $65,571

Chicago, IL $65,388

Bellingham, WA $65,312

Baltimore, MD $65,242

Chico, CA $65,084

Wilmington, DE $64,976

Pittsfield, MA $64,913

Manchester, NH $64,793

Spokane, WA $64,514

Denver, CO $64,508

Albany, NY $64,211

Troy, NY $64,185

Schenectady, NY $64,053

Burlington, VT $63,913

Portland, ME $63,692

Salem, OR $63,641

Yakima, WA $63,629

Ann Arbor, MI $63,610

Rochester, MN $63,432

Fresno, CA $63,401

Reno, NV $63,401

Milwaukee, WI $63,344

Detroit, MI $63,281

Allentown, PA $63,262

Carson City, NV $63,255

Houston, TX $63,160

Colorado Springs, CO $63,154

Syracuse, NY $63,122

Eugene, OR $63,002

Bismarck, ND $62,926

Gary, IN $62,926

Galveston, TX $62,926

Springfield, OR $62,876

Medford, OR $62,724

Fort Collins, CO $62,699

Austin, TX $62,648

Mesa, AZ $62,515

Phoenix, AZ $62,502

Dallas, TX $62,483

Reading, PA $62,445

Saint Cloud, MN $62,420

Concord, NH $62,363

Madison, WI $62,338

Utica, NY $62,167

Raleigh, NC $62,116

Las Vegas, NV $62,110

Rochester, NY $62,066

Des Moines, IA $62,059

Atlanta, GA $61,958

Battle Creek, MI $61,939

Salt Lake City, UT $61,920

Lancaster, PA $61,825

Champaign, IL $61,813

Harrisburg, PA $61,737

Durham, NC $61,680

Kansas City, MO $61,673

Kansas City, KS $61,661

Fort Worth, TX $61,654

Boca Raton, FL $61,629

Cleveland, OH $61,623

Columbus, OH $61,610

Pittsburgh, PA $61,604

Richmond, VA $61,579

Indianapolis, IN $61,566

Cincinnati, OH $61,484

Petersburg, VA $61,389

Billings, MT $61,250

Lansing, MI $61,250

Huntsville, AL $61,250

Lebanon, PA $61,243

Dayton, OH $61,237

Pueblo, CO $61,237

Appleton, WI $61,218

Buffalo, NY $61,193

Racine, WI $61,161

Charlotte, NC $61,155

Saint Louis, MO $61,136

Springfield, IL $61,110

Elkhart, IN $61,098

York, PA $61,098

Gastonia, NC $61,091

Benton Harbor, MI $61,091

Beaumont, TX $61,053

Lorain, OH $61,041

Toledo, OH $61,015

Binghamton, NY $60,984

Rock Hill, SC $60,977

Rockford, IL $60,946

Fargo, ND $60,914

Elyria, OH $60,914

Flagstaff, AZ $60,870

Fort Lauderdale, FL $60,832

Miami, FL $60,794

Duluth, MN $60,693

Bangor, ME $60,610

Cedar Rapids, IA $60,541

Louisville, KY $60,509

Grand Rapids, MI $60,497

Hialeah, FL $60,490

Casper, WY $60,402

Scranton, PA $60,326

New Orleans, LA $60,307

Virginia Beach, VA $60,300

Akron, OH $60,269

Peoria, IL $60,187

Sarasota, FL $60,174

Green Bay, WI $60,130

Baton Rouge, LA $60,098

Charleston, SC $60,085

Nashville, TN $60,066

Jamestown, NY $60,054

Davenport, IA $60,054

Tucson, AZ $60,022

Cheyenne, WY $60,003

Saint Petersburg, FL $59,984

Tampa, FL $59,971

Omaha, NE $59,959

Port Arthur, TX $59,933

Evansville, IN $59,933

Bradenton, FL $59,908

Santa Fe, NM $59,794

Orlando, FL $59,731

Clearwater, FL $59,661

Canton, OH $59,528

La Crosse, WI $59,528

Grand Forks, ND $59,509

Albuquerque, NM $59,490

Tulsa, OK $59,490

Newport News, VA $59,484

High Point, NC $59,465

Ogden, UT $59,440

Corpus Christi, TX $59,389

Laramie, WY $59,351

Norfolk, VA $59,351

Rock Island, IL $59,313

Saginaw, MI $59,301

Jacksonville, FL $59,294

Salisbury, NC $59,282

Memphis, TN $59,269

Moline, IL $59,237

Fort Myers, FL $59,218

Waterloo, IA $59,136

Spartanburg, SC $59,073

Lincoln, NE $59,041

Fort Wayne, IN $59,029

Birmingham, AL $58,959

Cedar Falls, IA $58,946

Provo, UT $58,940

Springfield, OH $58,934

San Antonio, TX $58,921

Greensboro, NC $58,896

South Bend, IN $58,889

Winston Salem, NC $58,883

Boise, ID $58,864

Savannah, GA $58,820

Muskegon, MI $58,706

Lima, OH $58,630

Lake Charles, LA $58,605

Anderson, IN $58,592

Lexington, KY $58,573

Augusta, GA $58,554

Greenville, SC $58,554

Wichita, KS $58,497

Tuscaloosa, AL $58,497

Columbia, SC $58,440

Bloomington, IN $58,282

Roanoke, VA $58,244

Asheville, NC $58,162

Knoxville, TN $58,054

Shreveport, LA $58,048

Wilmington, NC $57,966

Frankfort, KY $57,845

Oklahoma City, OK $57,801

Chillicothe, OH $57,776

Longview, TX $57,769

Topeka, KS $57,750

Mobile, AL $57,656

Terre Haute, IN $57,630

Erie, PA $57,624

Altoona, PA $57,592

Melbourne, FL $57,573

Amarillo, TX $57,548

Killeen, TX $57,529

Fayetteville, AR $57,478

Sioux Falls, SD $57,434

Chattanooga, TN $57,396

Idaho Falls, ID $57,390

Gainesville, FL $57,257

Portsmouth, OH $57,225

Little Rock, AR $57,213

Lynchburg, VA $57,213

Lafayette, LA $57,187

Youngstown, OH $57,187

Temple, TX $57,162

Daytona Beach, FL $57,149

Clarksville, TN $57,143

Pensacola, FL $57,137

Hopkinsville, KY $56,947

Charleston, WV $56,941

Florence, SC $56,909

Sioux City, IA $56,871

Macon, GA $56,687

Tallahassee, FL $56,681

Fayetteville, NC $56,668

Waco, TX $56,656

Wichita Falls, TX $56,656

Pine Bluff, AR $56,630

Vincennes, IN $56,510

Lubbock, TX $56,485

Great Falls, MT $56,447

Alamogordo, NM $56,441

Abilene, TX $56,390

Rapid City, SD $56,308

Monroe, LA $56,308

Albany, GA $56,270

Huntington, WV $56,264

Jackson, MS $56,257

Greenville, MS $56,251

Parkersburg, WV $56,188

Montgomery, AL $56,175

Johnstown, PA $56,162

Springfield, MO $56,112

Biloxi, MS $56,080

Sumter, SC $55,947

Columbus, GA $55,941

Twin Falls, ID $55,903

Pascagoula, MS $55,821

Kingsport, TN $55,656

Gulfport, MS $55,637

Alexandria, LA $55,428

Fort Smith, AR $55,270

El Paso, TX $55,099

Helena, MT $55,017

Las Cruces, NM $54,815

Harlingen, TX $54,637

Pocatello, ID $54,580

Florence, AL $54,561

Brownsville, TX $54,549

Dothan, AL $54,448

Mcallen, TX $54,416

Columbus, MS $53,948

Altus, OK $53,657

Lawton, OK $53,536

Pierre, SD $53,309

What Skills Can Increase a Curator's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

Initiative (Mentioned in 9.09% Job Postings): Taking decisive action and initiating plans independently to address problems, improve professional life, and achieve goals.
Microsoft Office (Mentioned in 3.03% Job Postings): Microsoft Office is a suite of desktop productivity applications that is designed by Microsoft for business use. You can create documents containing text and images, work with data in spreadsheets and databases, create presentations and posters.
Public Service (Mentioned in 2.02% Job Postings): A public service is any service intended to address specific needs pertaining to the aggregate members of a community. Improving the health of a population as opposed to the private sector.

See More Skills

Skills	Demand Percentage
Initiative	9.09%
Microsoft Office	3.03%
Public Service	2.02%

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Curator's salary.

Questioning: Can increase your salary by up to 33%.
Digital Media: Can increase your salary by up to 18%.
Leadership: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.

Skill	Salary	Salary % Increase
Questioning	$84,155	33%
Digital Media	$74,664	18%
Leadership	$68,969	9%
Personnel Management	$68,969	9%
Program Management	$68,969	9%
Photography	$68,336	8%

Get Latest Data

How Education impacts a Curator's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Curators enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Curator with a Bachelor's Degree is between $62,455 and $68,363).

Curator Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Curator

No Diploma 0.6%

High School 0.6%

Associates 0.6%

Bachelors 25.3%

Masters 53.8%

Doctorate 19.6%

view as table

Degree Level	% of user with this level of education
No Diploma	0.6%
High School	0.6%
Associates	0.6%
Bachelors	25.3%
Masters	53.8%
Doctorate	19.6%

view as graph

Curator Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Curator's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on January 01, 2026

$55,021

Average $63,274/year

$72,736

$4,585

Average $5,273/month

$6,061

$1,058

Average $1,217/week

$1,399

$26

Average $30/hour

$35

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$72,736	$6,061	$1,399	$35
Average	$63,274	$5,273	$1,217	$30
25th Percentile	$55,021	$4,585	$1,058	$26

Salaries of jobs related to Curator

Salary Trends for Curator

Salaries for a Curator can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $70,352 in 2023 to around $69,220 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Curator salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Curator Over Time

2022

$???

2023

$70,352

2024

$69,937

2025

$69,220

2026

$???

2027

$???

Year	Average Annual Salary
2022	View More
2023	$70,352
2024	$69,937
2025	$69,220
2026	View More
2027	View More

Most common benefits for Curator

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Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

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