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Ancient art curator salary
Average ancient art curator salary
$54,961
Understanding the Salary of an Ancient Art Curator
The average salary for an Ancient Art Curator in the United States is approximately $54,961 per year, equating to around $26 per hour. Salaries can vary widely based on factors such as geographical location, years of experience, and the type of institution. For instance, curators in major metropolitan areas often earn more due to the higher cost of living and increased funding for cultural institutions.
Salary Breakdown by Location
States with the highest salaries for ancient art curators include California, New York, and Texas, where cultural institutions are more prevalent and funding is robust. Cities like New York City and San Francisco frequently offer the most competitive salaries.
Job Opportunities
Curators often find opportunities in museums, galleries, and educational institutions. As the field of art curation expands, so do the roles available, including positions that focus on specific periods or styles of art, such as ancient or medieval collections.
Conclusion
With a growing emphasis on cultural preservation, careers in art curation are becoming increasingly vital. Those interested in this field should consider pursuing relevant education and experience to enhance their job prospects.
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Where can an Ancient Art Curator earn more?
Average ancient art curator salary by state
The highest-paying states for ancient art curators are Alaska, Rhode Island, and Connecticut. The lowest average ancient art curator salary states are Arkansas, Louisiana, and South Carolina.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for ancient art curators
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Connecticut | $73,776 | $35.47 |
| 2 | District of Columbia | $78,790 | $37.88 |
| 3 | New Hampshire | $72,397 | $34.81 |
| 4 | Rhode Island | $73,789 | $35.48 |
| 5 | Virginia | $69,173 | $33.26 |
| 6 | Nevada | $62,272 | $29.94 |
| 7 | Alaska | $83,116 | $39.96 |
| 8 | Vermont | $61,495 | $29.56 |
| 9 | Oregon | $63,336 | $30.45 |
| 10 | North Dakota | $63,582 | $30.57 |
| 11 | Delaware | $72,669 | $34.94 |
| 12 | Maine | $65,831 | $31.65 |
| 13 | Minnesota | $64,027 | $30.78 |
| 14 | Ohio | $63,276 | $30.42 |
| 15 | California | $62,527 | $30.06 |
| 16 | New York | $59,381 | $28.55 |
| 17 | Pennsylvania | $59,336 | $28.53 |
| 18 | West Virginia | $64,558 | $31.04 |
| 19 | Massachusetts | $59,838 | $28.77 |
| 20 | Washington | $58,311 | $28.03 |
| 21 | Wisconsin | $62,972 | $30.27 |
| 22 | Arizona | $56,970 | $27.39 |
| 23 | Nebraska | $55,884 | $26.87 |
| 24 | Maryland | $58,663 | $28.20 |
| 25 | Kentucky | $56,686 | $27.25 |
| 26 | Utah | $53,667 | $25.80 |
| 27 | New Jersey | $55,559 | $26.71 |
| 28 | Indiana | $58,628 | $28.19 |
| 29 | Illinois | $53,036 | $25.50 |
| 30 | Tennessee | $53,740 | $25.84 |
| 31 | Idaho | $54,356 | $26.13 |
| 32 | Kansas | $51,594 | $24.80 |
| 33 | Texas | $53,167 | $25.56 |
| 34 | Michigan | $51,636 | $24.82 |
| 35 | Colorado | $51,672 | $24.84 |
| 36 | Oklahoma | $52,041 | $25.02 |
| 37 | New Mexico | $48,679 | $23.40 |
| 38 | Georgia | $51,042 | $24.54 |
| 39 | Iowa | $49,855 | $23.97 |
| 40 | Mississippi | $49,947 | $24.01 |
| 41 | South Dakota | $49,198 | $23.65 |
| 42 | Montana | $49,170 | $23.64 |
| 43 | Hawaii | $34,278 | $16.48 |
| 44 | North Carolina | $44,964 | $21.62 |
| 45 | Missouri | $47,314 | $22.75 |
| 46 | Wyoming | $41,023 | $19.72 |
| 47 | South Carolina | $42,811 | $20.58 |
| 48 | Florida | $40,963 | $19.69 |
| 49 | Arkansas | $44,758 | $21.52 |
| 50 | Alabama | $45,618 | $21.93 |
| 51 | Louisiana | $42,884 | $20.62 |
Highest paying cities for ancient art curators
The highest-paying cities for ancient art curators are New Haven, CT, Richmond, VA, and Cleveland, OH.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Haven, CT | $73,779 | $35.47 |
| 2 | Richmond, VA | $69,082 | $33.21 |
| 3 | Cleveland, OH | $66,635 | $32.04 |
| 4 | Minneapolis, MN | $63,887 | $30.71 |
| 5 | West Hollywood, CA | $61,208 | $29.43 |
| 6 | Amherst, MA | $60,159 | $28.92 |
| 7 | New York, NY | $59,436 | $28.57 |
| 8 | Chicago, IL | $53,524 | $25.73 |
| 9 | Houston, TX | $53,490 | $25.72 |
| 10 | Santa Fe, NM | $46,863 | $22.53 |
| 11 | Raleigh, NC | $46,403 | $22.31 |
| 12 | Saint Petersburg, FL | $41,950 | $20.17 |
Ancient art curator salary details
An ancient art curator's salary ranges from $31,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $97,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is an ancient art curator's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $97,000 | $8,083 | $47 |
| 75th Percentile | $74,000 | $6,167 | $36 |
| Average | $54,961 | $4,580 | $26 |
| 25th Percentile | $40,000 | $3,333 | $19 |
| 10th Percentile | $31,000 | $2,583 | $15 |
Highest paying ancient art curator jobs
The highest paying types of ancient art curators are museum director, director of exhibits, and collections and archives director.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Curator | $47,923 | $3,994 | $23.04 | 432 |
| Museum Curator | $44,309 | $3,692 | $21.30 | 413 |
Top companies hiring ancient art curators now:
Which companies pay ancient art curators the most?
Ancient art curator salaries at The Art Institute of Chicago and Yale University are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average ancient art curator salary at companies like Princeton University and The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Art Institute of Chicago | $113,450 | $54.54 |
| 2 | Yale University | $81,262 | $39.07 |
| 3 | Princeton University | $77,556 | $37.29 |
| 4 | The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston | $70,190 | $33.75 |
| 5 | Walker Art Center | $68,887 | $33.12 |
| 6 | University of Virginia | $62,039 | $29.83 |
| 7 | Dartmouth | $60,403 | $29.04 |
| 8 | Obama Foundation | $57,719 | $27.75 |
| 9 | Texas Christian University | $54,895 | $26.39 |
| 10 | Brooklyn Museum | $53,520 | $25.73 |
| 11 | Amherst College | $53,498 | $25.72 |
| 12 | Cleveland Museum Of Art | $52,929 | $25.45 |
| 13 | State of West Virginia | $44,411 | $21.35 |
| 14 | YouNow | $43,713 | $21.02 |
| 15 | College of Lake County | $39,118 | $18.81 |
| 16 | North Carolina Department of Commerce | $38,684 | $18.60 |
| 17 | allgoods | $31,422 | $15.11 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Ancient art curator salary trends
The average ancient art curator salary has risen by $7,899 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average ancient art curator earned $47,062 annually, but today, they earn $54,961 a year. That works out to a 7% change in pay for ancient art curators over the last decade.
Compare ancient art curator salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average ancient art curator salary over time
Compare ancient art curator salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Ancient art curator salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $55,000 | $26.42 | +4.2% |
| 2024 | $52,600 | $25.30 | +1.4% |
| 2023 | $51,900 | $24.94 | +0.0% |
| 2022 | $51,900 | $24.93 | +0.8% |
| 2021 | $51,500 | $24.74 | +3.4% |
Recently added ancient art curator salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mass Museum of Contemporary Art | Visual Art Curator Onsite) | North Adams, MA | 06/24/2025 | $65,000 |
| City and County of San Francisco | Curator III-Curator of Photography and Student Art (3544)-SFO-Museum (List ID #156481) | San Francisco, CA | 05/24/2025 | $101,140 |
| State of Virginia | Jack and Mary ANN Frable Curator of Ancient Art | Richmond, VA | 04/28/2025 | $100,000 |
| Purchase College, State University of New York | Curator of The Arts of Global Africa (Staff Associate, SL | Harrison, NY | 03/13/2025 | $75,000 |
| Walker Art Center | Curator, Visual Arts | Minneapolis, MN | 03/05/2025 | $90,605 |
| DHRM | Jack and Mary ANN Frable Curator of Ancient Art | Richmond, VA | 03/02/2025 | $100,000 |
| Aamd | Curator of Modern & Contemporary Art | Manchester, NH | 02/18/2025 | $90,000 |
| Penn State | Curator of American Art | Philadelphia, PA | 02/16/2025 | $61,800 |
| Aamg Us | Curator, Drawings & Archives-Columbia University, Avery Architectural & Fine Arts Library | Rowe, MA | 02/16/2025 | $80,950 |
| Purchase College, State University of New York | Curator of The Arts of Global Africa (Staff Associate, SL | Harrison, NY | 02/14/2025 | $75,000 |
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