Curatorial Assistant Salaries in California
How Much Does a Curatorial Assistant Make in California?
Updated April 01, 2025
As of April 01, 2025,
the average annual pay of Curatorial Assistant in California is $73,174.
While Salary.com is seeing that Curatorial Assistant salary in CA can go up to $99,235
or down to $50,889, but most earn between $61,510 and $86,815.
Salary ranges can vary widely depending on many important factors,
including education, certifications, additional skills, and your experience levels.
With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine your exact pay target.
Related Job Titles to Curatorial Assistant
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Similar Job Salaries to Curatorial Assistant by Company
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| Company | average base salary in (usd) | range |
|---|---|---|
|
Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art.
Curatorial Assistant, Curatorial Affairs
|
$53,589/yr
|
RANGE: $46,702 - $60,476
|
|
Amherst College
Curatorial Assistant (casual position)
|
$94,591/yr
|
RANGE: $81,594 - $107,588
|
|
State Museum
MUSEUM CURATORIAL ASSISTANT - 04012025- 66615
|
$56,971/yr
|
RANGE: $48,996 - $64,946
|
|
State of Tennessee
MUSEUM CURATORIAL ASSISTANT - 04012025- 66615
|
$56,083/yr
|
RANGE: $48,232 - $63,934
|
|
Minneapolis Institute of Art
Curatorial Department Assistant - Asian Art
|
$56,695/yr
|
RANGE: $50,345 - $63,045
|
|
Oberlin
Curatorial Assistant in Office of Academic Programs, 2025-2026
|
$57,775/yr
|
RANGE: $49,688 - $65,863
|
|
Association of Academic Museums & Galleries.
Associate Director of Curatorial Affairs
|
$115,179/yr
|
RANGE: $99,008 - $131,349
|
|
Association of Academic Museums & Galleries.
Associate Director for Curatorial Affairs
|
$119,752/yr
|
RANGE: $102,955 - $136,549
|
|
National Association of latino Arts and Cultures
Associate Director for Curatorial Affairs
|
$131,263/yr
|
RANGE: $117,438 - $145,088
|
|
Columbus Museum Of Art
Deputy Director for Curatorial Affairs
|
$114,073/yr
|
RANGE: $100,694 - $127,452
|
Top 10 Highest Paying Cities For Curatorial Assistant Jobs in California
It is important to understand how location impacts your career prospects in the United States.
There are some cities where a Curatorial Assistant can find a job easily with a greater salary paid then achieve a higher standard of living.
Below is the top cities list for Curatorial Assistant job salaries in California.
Some cities can pay higher salaries for Curatorial Assistant jobs, which can indicate that there is a large demand for Curatorial Assistant positions in this city.
The following table shows top 10 cities where the Curatorial Assistant salary is higher than other cities in California.
San Jose takes first place in this list, followed by Santa Clara, Fremont.
The Curatorial Assistant salary is $83,676 in San Jose,
which is higher than the national average. There are 76 cities' Curatorial Assistant salary higher than national average in California.
The average salary for a Curatorial Assistant in California is $73,174,
but we found that the city with the highest salary for Curatorial Assistant jobs is San Jose, CA, and it is higher than Santa Clara.
Curatorial Assistant jobs in San Jose can have the opportunity to earn higher salaries than in other cities in California.
| CITY | ANNUAL SALARY | MONTHLY PAY | WEEKLY PAY | HOURLY WAGE |
| San Jose | $83,676 | $6,973 | $1,609 | $40 |
| Santa Clara | $83,676 | $6,973 | $1,609 | $40 |
| Fremont | $83,517 | $6,960 | $1,606 | $40 |
| San Francisco | $82,853 | $6,904 | $1,593 | $40 |
| Daly City | $82,853 | $6,904 | $1,593 | $40 |
| Berkeley | $81,016 | $6,751 | $1,558 | $39 |
| Oakland | $81,016 | $6,751 | $1,558 | $39 |
| Hayward | $80,883 | $6,740 | $1,555 | $39 |
| Antioch | $76,438 | $6,370 | $1,470 | $37 |
| Vallejo | $74,634 | $6,219 | $1,435 | $36 |
What Does a Curatorial Assistant Do?
A curatorial assistant works full-time in an art museum's curatorial department, assisting the chief or.
Updated November 17, 2021
Curatorial assistants may spend some of their time working at a desk and some time on their feet working with the public.
Updated November 15, 2021
For touring exhibitions, a curatorial assistant maintains the database, tracks responses, and consults with registrars, curators, and exhibition coordinators at each venue, helping to record all aspects of the exhibition while it is touring.
Updated October 08, 2021
Miguel Monzón, an artist who’d been serving as the gallery director, decided to focus on his MFA program at ASU, and Alaka went from being a curatorial assistant to heading the creative space.
Updated December 16, 2021
Organized by Erin Christovale, associate curator, with Vanessa Arizmendi, curatorial assistant, “No Humans Involved” features sculptures, performances, installations, and multimedia works — most newly created for this exhibition.
Updated December 12, 2021
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Explore JobArchitectFrequently Asked Questions About a Curatorial Assistant Salaries
What is the average of a Curatorial Assistant in California?
The Curatorial Assistant salary range is from $61,510 to $86,815, and the average Curatorial Assistant salary is $73,174/year in California.
The Curatorial Assistant's salary will change in different locations.
Which location pays the highest Curatorial Assistant salary in the United States?
The Curatorial Assistant salary in San Jose, CA is $83,676
which is the highest in the US.
What kinds of reasons will influence the Curatorial Assistant's salary?
Besides the location, employees' education degree, related skills, and work experience also will influence the salary.
Try to improve your skills and experience to get a higher salary for the position of Curatorial Assistant.
What is the growth rate of the Curatorial Assistant's salary?
If you are thinking of becoming a Curatorial Assistant or planning the next step in your career, find the detailed salary report of a Curatorial Assistant.
