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Collections curator salary
Average collections curator salary
$48,745
Average Collections Curator Salary
The salary of a collections curator is typically around $48,745 per year. This figure can vary based on experience, with entry-level positions earning less than their seasoned counterparts. Factors influencing salary include the institution's size, location, and funding. For example, curators in larger cities may earn more due to higher living costs.
Where Can Collections Curators Earn More?
Collections curators in states like California and New York often see higher salaries, reflecting the demand for professionals in these regions. Additionally, specialized roles within museums or galleries, such as those focused on conservation or education, may command higher pay.
Opportunities in Various Industries
Curators can work in a range of settings, including art museums, historical societies, and botanical gardens. Each environment offers unique challenges and rewards, contributing to job satisfaction. Exploring positions in high-paying industries, such as art institutions and universities, can enhance career prospects.
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Where can a Collections Curator earn more?
Average collections curator salary by state
The highest-paying states for collections curators are Alaska, Connecticut, and Delaware. The lowest average collections curator salary states are Arkansas, Florida, and South Carolina.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for collections curators
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | $66,620 | $32.03 |
| 2 | New Hampshire | $59,125 | $28.43 |
| 3 | Virginia | $57,903 | $27.84 |
| 4 | Maine | $51,775 | $24.89 |
| 5 | Nevada | $52,405 | $25.19 |
| 6 | Connecticut | $63,348 | $30.46 |
| 7 | Arizona | $50,636 | $24.34 |
| 8 | Alaska | $68,395 | $32.88 |
| 9 | Delaware | $62,601 | $30.10 |
| 10 | Pennsylvania | $50,919 | $24.48 |
| 11 | Rhode Island | $62,601 | $30.10 |
| 12 | Wisconsin | $49,413 | $23.76 |
| 13 | Ohio | $51,449 | $24.74 |
| 14 | Minnesota | $48,496 | $23.32 |
| 15 | California | $54,479 | $26.19 |
| 16 | West Virginia | $52,723 | $25.35 |
| 17 | Maryland | $49,708 | $23.90 |
| 18 | Texas | $46,425 | $22.32 |
| 19 | New York | $53,160 | $25.56 |
| 20 | Kentucky | $45,785 | $22.01 |
| 21 | Indiana | $47,117 | $22.65 |
| 22 | New Jersey | $48,188 | $23.17 |
| 23 | Massachusetts | $49,816 | $23.95 |
| 24 | Nebraska | $42,439 | $20.40 |
| 25 | Tennessee | $43,610 | $20.97 |
| 26 | Vermont | $48,934 | $23.53 |
| 27 | North Dakota | $46,688 | $22.45 |
| 28 | Utah | $40,038 | $19.25 |
| 29 | Georgia | $42,366 | $20.37 |
| 30 | Oklahoma | $42,795 | $20.57 |
| 31 | New Mexico | $42,253 | $20.31 |
| 32 | Illinois | $42,062 | $20.22 |
| 33 | Oregon | $45,250 | $21.75 |
| 34 | Mississippi | $42,079 | $20.23 |
| 35 | Kansas | $40,635 | $19.54 |
| 36 | Michigan | $42,126 | $20.25 |
| 37 | Iowa | $38,878 | $18.69 |
| 38 | Washington | $40,457 | $19.45 |
| 39 | Missouri | $37,261 | $17.91 |
| 40 | South Dakota | $36,719 | $17.65 |
| 41 | Florida | $36,485 | $17.54 |
| 42 | Louisiana | $37,030 | $17.80 |
| 43 | Alabama | $38,042 | $18.29 |
| 44 | Colorado | $39,607 | $19.04 |
| 45 | Hawaii | $34,424 | $16.55 |
| 46 | Arkansas | $36,628 | $17.61 |
| 47 | Idaho | $38,155 | $18.34 |
| 48 | South Carolina | $35,329 | $16.99 |
| 49 | North Carolina | $36,656 | $17.62 |
| 50 | Wyoming | $29,611 | $14.24 |
| 51 | Montana | $33,855 | $16.28 |
Highest paying cities for collections curators
The highest-paying cities for collections curators are Hampton, VA, Hanover, NH, and Charlottesville, VA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hampton, VA | $57,756 | $27.77 |
| 2 | Hanover, NH | $57,441 | $27.62 |
| 3 | Charlottesville, VA | $57,107 | $27.46 |
| 4 | Stanford, CA | $55,898 | $26.87 |
| 5 | New York, NY | $53,164 | $25.56 |
| 6 | Prescott, AZ | $50,164 | $24.12 |
| 7 | Boston, MA | $49,539 | $23.82 |
| 8 | Minneapolis, MN | $48,478 | $23.31 |
| 9 | Chicago, IL | $42,507 | $20.44 |
| 10 | Marquette, MI | $40,033 | $19.25 |
Collections curator salary details
A collections curator's salary ranges from $24,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $96,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a collections curator's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $96,000 | $8,000 | $46 |
| 75th Percentile | $69,000 | $5,750 | $33 |
| Average | $48,745 | $4,062 | $23 |
| 25th Percentile | $34,000 | $2,833 | $16 |
| 10th Percentile | $24,000 | $2,000 | $12 |
Highest paying collections curator jobs
The highest paying types of collections curators are museum director, director of exhibits, and ancient art curator.
| 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 collections curators now:
Which companies pay collections curators the most?
Collections curator salaries at Stanford University and University Of Minnesota Physicians are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average collections curator salary at companies like Thomas Jefferson Foundation and Dartmouth are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stanford University | $80,389 | $38.65 |
| 2 | University Of Minnesota Physicians | $66,726 | $32.08 |
| 3 | Thomas Jefferson Foundation | $65,306 | $31.40 |
| 4 | Dartmouth | $64,509 | $31.01 |
| 5 | Obama Foundation | $52,233 | $25.11 |
| 6 | State of Arizona | $37,745 | $18.15 |
| 7 | Northern Michigan University | $34,745 | $16.70 |
| 8 | Hampton University | $27,118 | $13.04 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Collections Curator salary by industry
The average collections curator salary varies across industries:
- The average collections curator salary in the non profits industry is $50,178, the highest of any industry.
- The average collections curator salary in the finance industry is $49,640.
- Collections curators in the manufacturing industry earn an average salary of $38,362, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for collections curators
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Non Profits | $50,178 | $24.12 |
| 2 | Media | $49,640 | $23.87 |
| 3 | Education | $49,477 | $23.79 |
| 4 | Retail | $39,217 | $18.85 |
| 5 | Manufacturing | $38,362 | $18.44 |
High paying collections curator jobs
Collections curator salary trends
The average collections curator salary has risen by $7,005 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average collections curator earned $41,740 annually, but today, they earn $48,745 a year. That works out to a 7% change in pay for collections curators over the last decade.
Compare collections curator salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average collections curator salary over time
Compare collections curator salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Collections curator salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $48,700 | $23.44 | +4.2% |
| 2024 | $46,700 | $22.44 | +1.4% |
| 2023 | $46,000 | $22.12 | +0.0% |
| 2022 | $46,000 | $22.11 | +0.8% |
| 2021 | $45,600 | $21.94 | +3.4% |
Recently added collections curator salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Texas at El Paso | Curator of Collections | El Paso, TX | 04/22/2025 | $43,234 |
| Aza | Curator of Animal Collections | Norristown, PA | 04/19/2025 | $70,000 |
| University of Buffalo | James Joyce Curator, Special Collections | Buffalo, NY | 03/16/2025 | $65,000 |
| University of Chicago | Digital Collections Curator | Chicago, IL | 03/14/2025 | $76,011 |
| New York Library Association | Curator of Exhibtions & Collections | Canajoharie, NY | 02/19/2025 | $41,740 |
| Midwestmuseums.org | Curator of Collections | Flint, MI | 02/19/2025 | $62,000 |
| Midwestmuseums.org | Collections Curator | Savannah, MO | 02/17/2025 | $40,000 |
| Pioneerjob | Curator of Collections, University of Denver Museum of Anthropology (Duma) | Denver, CO | 02/17/2025 | $62,000 |
| Certifiedarchivists | Curator for The Wilcox Collection of Contemporary Political Movements | Lawrence, KS | 02/17/2025 | $60,000 |
| Txstate | Literary Curator, Wittliff Collections | San Marcos, TX | 02/16/2025 | $80,000 |
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