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Curators Salary
Curators earn a median $63,420 a year in the U.S., with 12,150 jobs (May 2025).
- Median wage
- $63,420 a year
- Employment
- 12,150
- Excludes self-employed
- Projected growth
- +4.9%
- 2025 to 2035
- Openings per year
- 1,600
- Average, including replacements
Pay range nationally
The middle half of workers earn between the 25th and 75th percentile (shaded)
- Median (50%)
- $63,420 · $30.49 an hour
- Mean (average)
- $71,560 · $34.40 an hour (estimate error ±0.7%)
- 10th percentile
- $40,470 · $19.46 an hour
- 25th percentile
- $48,870 · $23.49 an hour
- 75th percentile
- $83,080 · $39.94 an hour
- 90th percentile
- $107,140 · $51.51 an hour
- Employment
- 12,150 (estimate error ±2.4%)
What they do
Standard Occupational Classification definition
Administer collections, such as artwork, collectibles, historic items, or scientific specimens of museums or other institutions. May conduct instructional, research, or public service activities of institution.
Job outlook
BLS Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035
- Jobs in 2025
- 14,200
- Projected for 2035
- 14,900
- Change
- +700 (+4.9%)
- Openings each year
- 1,600
- Typical education
- Master's degree
- Work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- None
- Self-employed
- 8.8%
Occupational Outlook Handbook (duties, how to become one, work environment)
Highest paying states
Median wage for this occupation
Swipe the table sideways to see more columns.
| # | State | Median wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | $93,310 | 140 |
| 2 | New Hampshire | $82,490 | 60 |
| 3 | New York | $79,120 | 1,330 |
| 4 | California | $78,740 | 1,140 |
| 5 | Rhode Island | $77,930 | 70 |
| 6 | New Jersey | $77,800 | 120 |
| 7 | Massachusetts | $77,790 | 370 |
| 8 | Connecticut | $76,510 | 190 |
| 9 | South Dakota | $74,990 | 50 |
| 10 | Washington | $74,030 | 260 |
States with the most jobs
Swipe the table sideways to see more columns.
| State | Employment | Median wage |
|---|---|---|
| New York | 1,330 | $79,120 |
| California | 1,140 | $78,740 |
| Texas | 690 | $59,990 |
| North Carolina | 600 | $49,470 |
| Pennsylvania | 520 | $62,100 |
| Virginia | 450 | $58,200 |
| Florida | 420 | $59,500 |
| Illinois | 410 | $63,060 |
| Massachusetts | 370 | $77,790 |
| Ohio | 370 | $63,640 |
Highest paying metro areas
Metro areas with at least 100 jobs in this occupation
Swipe the table sideways to see more columns.
| # | Metro area | Median wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $90,800 | 240 |
| 2 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $87,400 | 270 |
| 3 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $83,110 | 970 |
| 4 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $78,720 | 220 |
| 5 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $78,340 | 150 |
| 6 | Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $77,700 | 180 |
| 7 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $77,160 | 390 |
| 8 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $75,800 | 170 |
| 9 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $75,260 | 150 |
| 10 | Pittsburgh, PA | $73,330 | 110 |
| 11 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $72,760 | 120 |
| 12 | Cleveland, OH | $71,850 | 100 |
Metro areas with the most jobs
Swipe the table sideways to see more columns.
| Metro area | Employment | Median wage |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 970 | $83,110 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 390 | $77,160 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 290 | $63,060 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 290 | $63,860 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 270 | $87,400 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 240 | $90,800 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 220 | $78,720 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 180 | $77,700 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 170 | $75,800 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | 160 | $65,670 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 150 | $61,060 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 150 | $75,260 |
Visa filings for this occupation
Wages employers offered on Department of Labor filings
- H-1B (FY 2026 through Q3)38 certified filingsMedian offered wage $80,000
- PERM green card (FY 2026 through Q3)5 certified filingsMedian offered wage $79,500
Curators pay by state
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Related occupations
Frequently asked questions
- How much do curators make?
- The median wage for curators in the U.S. is $63,420 a year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $48,870 and $83,080.
- Which state pays curators the most?
- District of Columbia has the highest median wage for this occupation at $93,310 a year.
- What is the job outlook for curators?
- BLS projects employment to grow 4.9% from 2025 to 2035, with about 1,600 openings each year on average.
- What education do curators need?
- The typical entry-level education is: master's degree.