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Curator salary
Average curator salary
$47,923
Understanding Curator Salaries
Curators are responsible for the stewardship of cultural and historical artifacts, making their role essential in preserving heritage. The average annual salary for a curator is around $47,923, with variations influenced by factors such as location, years of experience, and the type of institution.
Factors Influencing Salary
Experience plays a significant role in salary determination. Entry-level curators may earn less, while those with extensive experience often see salaries rise significantly. Geographic location also impacts earnings, with curators in metropolitan areas typically earning more due to higher demand and cost of living. For example, states like California and New York offer some of the highest salaries for curators.
Job Opportunities
Curators can find job opportunities across various sectors, including museums, galleries, and educational institutions. Positions may also exist in corporate collections or historical societies. With a solid understanding of the job market and salary trends, aspiring curators can better navigate their career paths and aim for the positions that offer the best compensation.
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Where can a Curator earn more?
Curator salary estimates from across the web
Average curator salary by state
The average curator salary in Alaska, Delaware, and Rhode Island are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average curator salary states are Louisiana, North Carolina, and Florida.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for curators
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Hampshire | $58,077 | $27.92 |
| 2 | Virginia | $57,702 | $27.74 |
| 3 | District of Columbia | $60,036 | $28.86 |
| 4 | Connecticut | $57,446 | $27.62 |
| 5 | Rhode Island | $61,499 | $29.57 |
| 6 | Alaska | $65,211 | $31.35 |
| 7 | California | $60,249 | $28.97 |
| 8 | Delaware | $62,251 | $29.93 |
| 9 | Pennsylvania | $56,866 | $27.34 |
| 10 | Missouri | $53,810 | $25.87 |
| 11 | Ohio | $52,241 | $25.12 |
| 12 | Texas | $52,273 | $25.13 |
| 13 | West Virginia | $53,316 | $25.63 |
| 14 | Maine | $51,085 | $24.56 |
| 15 | Nevada | $55,434 | $26.65 |
| 16 | Oregon | $52,969 | $25.47 |
| 17 | North Dakota | $54,298 | $26.10 |
| 18 | Wisconsin | $52,322 | $25.15 |
| 19 | New York | $52,738 | $25.35 |
| 20 | Nebraska | $47,100 | $22.64 |
| 21 | Arizona | $50,540 | $24.30 |
| 22 | Kentucky | $47,358 | $22.77 |
| 23 | Maryland | $49,636 | $23.86 |
| 24 | Massachusetts | $48,956 | $23.54 |
| 25 | Indiana | $48,664 | $23.40 |
| 26 | Illinois | $48,949 | $23.53 |
| 27 | Washington | $48,465 | $23.30 |
| 28 | Minnesota | $49,869 | $23.98 |
| 29 | Oklahoma | $45,268 | $21.76 |
| 30 | Vermont | $48,458 | $23.30 |
| 31 | Tennessee | $45,435 | $21.84 |
| 32 | New Mexico | $43,865 | $21.09 |
| 33 | Utah | $45,879 | $22.06 |
| 34 | Colorado | $44,380 | $21.34 |
| 35 | New Jersey | $47,516 | $22.84 |
| 36 | Mississippi | $44,140 | $21.22 |
| 37 | Kansas | $43,679 | $21.00 |
| 38 | Alabama | $39,843 | $19.16 |
| 39 | Idaho | $44,845 | $21.56 |
| 40 | Michigan | $43,070 | $20.71 |
| 41 | Georgia | $44,002 | $21.15 |
| 42 | South Dakota | $41,471 | $19.94 |
| 43 | Iowa | $41,975 | $20.18 |
| 44 | Wyoming | $34,037 | $16.36 |
| 45 | Arkansas | $38,591 | $18.55 |
| 46 | Montana | $40,207 | $19.33 |
| 47 | Florida | $37,541 | $18.05 |
| 48 | North Carolina | $37,675 | $18.11 |
| 49 | Louisiana | $38,485 | $18.50 |
| 50 | South Carolina | $36,331 | $17.47 |
| 51 | Hawaii | $34,044 | $16.37 |
Highest paying cities for curators
The highest-paying cities for curators are San Francisco, CA, New Haven, CT, and Philadelphia, PA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $63,752 | $30.65 |
| 2 | New Haven, CT | $57,577 | $27.68 |
| 3 | Philadelphia, PA | $57,236 | $27.52 |
| 4 | Cleveland, OH | $55,560 | $26.71 |
| 5 | Saint Louis, MO | $54,546 | $26.22 |
| 6 | Austin, TX | $53,171 | $25.56 |
| 7 | New York, NY | $52,741 | $25.36 |
| 8 | Phoenix, AZ | $50,649 | $24.35 |
| 9 | Minneapolis, MN | $49,855 | $23.97 |
| 10 | Chicago, IL | $49,306 | $23.70 |
| 11 | Bethesda, MD | $49,110 | $23.61 |
| 12 | Seattle, WA | $48,899 | $23.51 |
| 13 | Boston, MA | $48,700 | $23.41 |
| 14 | Hackensack, NJ | $47,583 | $22.88 |
| 15 | Gallatin, TN | $46,001 | $22.12 |
| 16 | Eagle Mountain, UT | $45,813 | $22.03 |
| 17 | Loveland, CO | $44,277 | $21.29 |
| 18 | Atlanta, GA | $44,147 | $21.22 |
| 19 | Albuquerque, NM | $43,861 | $21.09 |
| 20 | Ann Arbor, MI | $42,611 | $20.49 |
Curator salary details
A curator's salary ranges from $26,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $85,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a curator's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $85,000 | $7,083 | $41 |
| 75th Percentile | $65,000 | $5,417 | $31 |
| Average | $47,923 | $3,994 | $23 |
| 25th Percentile | $35,000 | $2,917 | $17 |
| 10th Percentile | $26,000 | $2,167 | $13 |
Highest paying curator jobs
The highest paying types of curators are museum director, director of exhibits, and ancient art curator.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Museum Curator | $44,309 | $3,692 | $21.30 | 413 |
Which companies pay curators the most?
Curator salaries at Apple and Meta are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average curator salary at companies like Natera and Avid are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Apple | $140,339 | $67.47 |
| 2 | Meta | $129,671 | $62.34 |
| 3 | Natera | $122,195 | $58.75 |
| 4 | Avid | $112,696 | $54.18 |
| 5 | Adobe | $109,479 | $52.63 |
| 6 | The Art Institute of Chicago | $102,930 | $49.49 |
| 7 | Corning Museum of Glass | $99,907 | $48.03 |
| 8 | Intel | $97,949 | $47.09 |
| 9 | The Metropolitan Museum of Art | $87,999 | $42.31 |
| 10 | California College of the Arts | $87,747 | $42.19 |
| 11 | Harvard University | $82,755 | $39.79 |
| 12 | Buchanan & Edwards | $82,683 | $39.75 |
| 13 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | $81,985 | $39.42 |
| 14 | New York University | $79,662 | $38.30 |
| 15 | The University of Chicago | $79,123 | $38.04 |
| 16 | Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute | $78,616 | $37.80 |
| 17 | Yale University | $78,528 | $37.75 |
| 18 | World Economic Forum | $78,259 | $37.62 |
| 19 | Likewise Software | $76,802 | $36.92 |
| 20 | The Museum of Modern Art | $76,737 | $36.89 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Curator salary trends
The average curator salary has risen by $6,887 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average curator earned $41,036 annually, but today, they earn $47,923 a year. That works out to a 7% change in pay for curators over the last decade.
Compare curator salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average curator salary over time
Compare curator salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Curator salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $47,900 | $23.04 | +4.2% |
| 2025 | $45,900 | $22.06 | +1.4% |
| 2024 | $45,200 | $21.74 | +0.0% |
| 2023 | $45,200 | $21.74 | +0.8% |
| 2022 | $44,900 | $21.57 | +3.4% |
Recently added curator salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The University of Chicago | Curator | Chicago, IL | 06/30/2025 | $80,000 |
| Gateway Services Inc. | Grounds Curator | Napa, CA | 06/28/2025 | $52,175 |
| Warner Bros | Game Curator, Bleacher Report (Temporary) | New York, NY | 06/25/2025 | $43,680 |
| Team Architects | Dream Experience Curator | Austin, TX | 06/25/2025 | $100,000 |
| Warner Bros Discovery Inc. | Game Curator, Bleacher Report (Temporary) | San Francisco, CA | 06/21/2025 | $43,680 |
| Mystical Elysium Travels | Global Adventure Curator | League City, TX | 06/21/2025 | $52,175 |
| Planting Fields Arboretum | Greenhouse Curator | Oyster Bay, NY | 06/10/2025 | $39,590 |
| Sea Life | Curator | Tempe, AZ | 06/09/2025 | $70,000 |
| Palm Beach Beauty & Tan | Beauty and Confidence Curator | Minneapolis, MN | 06/07/2025 | $22,957 |
| Palm Beach Beauty & Tan | Beauty and Confidence Curator | Grand Forks, ND | 06/07/2025 | $22,957 |
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