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Exhibits curator salary
Average exhibits curator salary
$48,658
Exhibits Curator Salary Overview
The role of an exhibits curator involves managing collections and designing exhibitions in museums or galleries. As of October 2025, the average salary for this position is $48,658 annually. However, salaries can differ significantly based on various factors.
Factors Affecting Salary
- Location: States like New York and California often offer higher salaries due to the cost of living and demand for cultural professionals.
- Experience: Curators with several years of experience or advanced degrees may command higher salaries.
- Institution: Larger museums and institutions typically provide better compensation compared to smaller galleries.
In addition to base salary, many curators receive benefits such as health insurance, retirement plans, and opportunities for professional development. For those looking to advance in their careers, specializing in a particular field, such as contemporary art or historical exhibitions, can also enhance job prospects and earning potential.
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Where can an Exhibits Curator earn more?
Average exhibits curator salary by state
The highest-paying states for exhibits curators are Alaska, Connecticut, and Delaware. The lowest average exhibits curator salary states are North Carolina, Arkansas, and South Carolina.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for exhibits curators
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Hampshire | $59,406 | $28.56 |
| 2 | District of Columbia | $61,857 | $29.74 |
| 3 | Virginia | $58,241 | $28.00 |
| 4 | Connecticut | $63,587 | $30.57 |
| 5 | Alaska | $68,945 | $33.15 |
| 6 | Rhode Island | $62,851 | $30.22 |
| 7 | Delaware | $62,897 | $30.24 |
| 8 | Maine | $52,078 | $25.04 |
| 9 | California | $56,968 | $27.39 |
| 10 | West Virginia | $53,167 | $25.56 |
| 11 | Pennsylvania | $51,218 | $24.62 |
| 12 | Ohio | $52,031 | $25.01 |
| 13 | Nevada | $52,943 | $25.45 |
| 14 | Texas | $51,928 | $24.97 |
| 15 | New York | $54,643 | $26.27 |
| 16 | Wisconsin | $50,191 | $24.13 |
| 17 | Massachusetts | $50,044 | $24.06 |
| 18 | Kentucky | $46,294 | $22.26 |
| 19 | Arizona | $50,718 | $24.38 |
| 20 | North Dakota | $48,075 | $23.11 |
| 21 | Maryland | $50,055 | $24.06 |
| 22 | Indiana | $47,783 | $22.97 |
| 23 | Vermont | $49,246 | $23.68 |
| 24 | Oregon | $46,467 | $22.34 |
| 25 | Nebraska | $43,660 | $20.99 |
| 26 | New Mexico | $42,644 | $20.50 |
| 27 | Minnesota | $45,950 | $22.09 |
| 28 | Tennessee | $44,119 | $21.21 |
| 29 | New Jersey | $48,286 | $23.21 |
| 30 | Oklahoma | $43,325 | $20.83 |
| 31 | Washington | $41,825 | $20.11 |
| 32 | Michigan | $42,543 | $20.45 |
| 33 | Illinois | $42,661 | $20.51 |
| 34 | Georgia | $42,750 | $20.55 |
| 35 | Mississippi | $42,472 | $20.42 |
| 36 | Kansas | $41,340 | $19.88 |
| 37 | Iowa | $39,830 | $19.15 |
| 38 | Alabama | $38,363 | $18.44 |
| 39 | Utah | $40,838 | $19.63 |
| 40 | Colorado | $40,301 | $19.38 |
| 41 | Florida | $41,463 | $19.93 |
| 42 | North Carolina | $37,312 | $17.94 |
| 43 | South Dakota | $37,903 | $18.22 |
| 44 | Missouri | $37,962 | $18.25 |
| 45 | Idaho | $39,257 | $18.87 |
| 46 | Wyoming | $30,421 | $14.63 |
| 47 | Arkansas | $37,025 | $17.80 |
| 48 | Louisiana | $37,395 | $17.98 |
| 49 | Hawaii | $33,802 | $16.25 |
| 50 | Montana | $35,123 | $16.89 |
| 51 | South Carolina | $35,630 | $17.13 |
Highest paying cities for exhibits curators
The highest-paying cities for exhibits curators are Virginia Beach, VA, New York, NY, and Rochester, NY.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Virginia Beach, VA | $57,785 | $27.78 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $54,646 | $26.27 |
| 3 | Rochester, NY | $52,739 | $25.36 |
| 4 | Chicago, IL | $43,149 | $20.74 |
| 5 | Manteo, NC | $42,736 | $20.55 |
| 6 | Denver, CO | $40,247 | $19.35 |
| 7 | Pierre, SD | $37,422 | $17.99 |
| 8 | Asheboro, NC | $37,256 | $17.91 |
Exhibits curator salary details
An exhibits curator's salary ranges from $25,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $94,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is an exhibits curator's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $94,000 | $7,833 | $45 |
| 75th Percentile | $69,000 | $5,750 | $33 |
| Average | $48,658 | $4,055 | $23 |
| 25th Percentile | $34,000 | $2,833 | $16 |
| 10th Percentile | $25,000 | $2,083 | $12 |
Highest paying exhibits curator jobs
The highest paying types of exhibits 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 |
| Curator | $47,923 | $3,994 | $23.04 | 432 |
Top companies hiring exhibits curators now:
Which companies pay exhibits curators the most?
Exhibits curator salaries at The University of Chicago and George Eastman Museum are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average exhibits curator salary at companies like Ahmad, Zavitsanos, Anaipakos, Alavi & Mensing P.c. Or Aza and State Of South Dakota are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The University of Chicago | $79,574 | $38.26 |
| 2 | George Eastman Museum | $78,241 | $37.62 |
| 3 | Ahmad, Zavitsanos, Anaipakos, Alavi & Mensing P.c. Or Aza | $44,003 | $21.16 |
| 4 | State Of South Dakota | $40,808 | $19.62 |
| 5 | NC.gov | $38,620 | $18.57 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Exhibits curator salary trends
The average exhibits curator salary has risen by $6,993 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average exhibits curator earned $41,665 annually, but today, they earn $48,658 a year. That works out to a 7% change in pay for exhibits curators over the last decade.
Compare exhibits curator salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average exhibits curator salary over time
Compare exhibits curator salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Exhibits curator salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $48,700 | $23.39 | +4.2% |
| 2024 | $46,600 | $22.40 | +1.4% |
| 2023 | $45,900 | $22.08 | +0.0% |
| 2022 | $45,900 | $22.07 | +0.8% |
| 2021 | $45,600 | $21.90 | +3.4% |
Recently added exhibits curator salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aza | Exhibit Curator | Pine Knoll Shores, NC | 06/24/2025 | $39,671 |
| The University of North Carolina | 019155-Exhibits Curator | Asheville, NC | 06/19/2025 | $33,500 |
| A2Mend | Curator of Exhibitions, Vincent Price Art Museum | Los Angeles, CA | 02/18/2025 | $82,240 |
| New York Foundation for The Arts | Exhibitions Curator, Usga Golf Museum & World Golf Hall of Fame | Boone, NC | 02/17/2025 | $50,000 |
| Midwestmuseums.org | Curator of Exhibits | Jefferson City, MO | 02/17/2025 | $42,964 |
| Goucher College | Exhibitions Director and Curator | Baltimore, MD | 02/11/2025 | $53,958 |
| City of Greensboro, Nc | Curator of Exhibits 266 | Greensboro, NC | 12/12/2024 | $45,017 |
| Association of Art Museum Directors | Curator of Exhibitions-Wexner Center for The Arts | Columbus, OH | 10/24/2024 | $69,400 |
| Gallery 44 | Curator of Exhibitions | Rowe, MA | 10/09/2024 | $45,000 |
| Iowamuseums | Curator of Exhibitions | Elk Horn, IA | 10/04/2024 | $40,000 |
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