Average Salary for Curators
SOC 25-4012 · Educational Instruction and Library Occupations · 2024 data
The median annual wage for Curators in the United States is $61,770 ($29.70/hr), based on 2024 BLS OEWS data. Wages range from $37,110 at the 10th percentile to $105,520 at the 90th percentile nationally. An estimated 12,280 people work in this occupation across the country. The national median wage has grown 20.5% since 2014.
Median Annual
$61,770
Mean Annual
$70,060
10th Pct
$37,110
75th Pct
$81,350
Employment
12,280
Salary Distribution
$37k
10th
$47k
25th
$62k
Median
$81k
75th
$106k
90th
Highest Paying Metro Areas
| Metro Area | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| New Haven, CT | $97,820 |
| Ann Arbor, MI | $97,090 |
| Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | $96,640 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $94,110 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $90,290 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $86,420 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $83,910 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $81,030 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $80,300 |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $80,240 |
| Omaha, NE-IA | $79,420 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $78,510 |
| Amherst Town-Northampton, MA | $78,270 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $78,270 |
| Cleveland, OH | $78,090 |
Salary by State
| State | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $81,990 |
| New York | $78,760 |
| California | $78,710 |
| Massachusetts | $75,980 |
| Rhode Island | $74,690 |
| Connecticut | $73,350 |
| Colorado | $70,100 |
| Nevada | $67,310 |
| Washington | $66,160 |
| New Jersey | $65,930 |
| Alaska | $65,150 |
| Michigan | $64,030 |
| Arizona | $63,900 |
| South Dakota | $63,810 |
| Pennsylvania | $63,600 |
| Hawaii | $62,400 |
| Kansas | $61,770 |
| Wisconsin | $61,560 |
| Maryland | $61,350 |
| Minnesota | $61,270 |
| Illinois | $60,850 |
| New Mexico | $60,650 |
| Virginia | $60,020 |
| Idaho | $59,640 |
| Texas | $59,030 |
| Ohio | $58,890 |
| Alabama | $58,390 |
| Missouri | $57,790 |
| South Carolina | $57,750 |
| Louisiana | $55,680 |
| Florida | $55,560 |
| Tennessee | $55,490 |
| Vermont | $55,340 |
| Oregon | $55,290 |
| Arkansas | $55,040 |
| Indiana | $53,850 |
| New Hampshire | $53,160 |
| Nebraska | $52,870 |
| Iowa | $52,230 |
| Wyoming | $51,040 |
| Delaware | $50,980 |
| Kentucky | $50,940 |
| Georgia | $50,900 |
| West Virginia | $50,810 |
| Maine | $50,690 |
| North Carolina | $50,220 |
| Utah | $50,040 |
| Montana | $48,700 |
| Oklahoma | $48,470 |
Salary by Industry
National median wage for Curators broken down by industry sector, 2024 data.
| Industry | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| Wholesale Trade | $107,060 |
| Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) | $96,660 |
| Federal Government, including the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $96,660 |
| Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences | $95,430 |
| Scientific Research and Development Services | $86,550 |
| Grantmaking and Giving Services | $79,600 |
| Information | $76,270 |
| Educational Support Services | $76,220 |
| Web Search Portals, Libraries, Archives, and Other Information Services | $75,630 |
| Web Search Portals, Libraries, Archives, and Other Information Services | $75,630 |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools | $74,490 |
| Educational Services | $72,890 |
| Religious Organizations | $70,660 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | $67,880 |
| Educational Services | $66,330 |
| Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations | $65,760 |
| Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations | $64,160 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | $64,160 |
| Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events | $63,980 |
| Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries | $63,340 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, including State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $62,880 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $62,650 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $62,650 |
| State Government, including Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $61,320 |
| Cross-industry, Private Ownership only | $61,250 |
| Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $61,040 |
| Local Government, including Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $60,810 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | $60,110 |
| Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions | $60,110 |
| Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions | $60,110 |
| Junior Colleges | $58,740 |
| State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $57,730 |
| Other Schools and Instruction | $53,620 |
| Furniture, Home Furnishings, Electronics, and Appliance Retailers | $48,860 |
| Furniture and Home Furnishings Retailers | $48,860 |
| Retail Trade | $45,770 |
| Civic and Social Organizations | $45,270 |
| Sporting Goods, Hobby, Musical Instrument, Book, and Miscellaneous Retailers | $45,050 |
| Other Miscellaneous Retailers | $45,050 |
| Independent Artists, Writers, and Performers | $44,970 |
| Employment Services | $41,600 |
National Wage Trend
View data table
| Year | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| 2024 | $61,770 |
| 2023 | $61,750 |
| 2022 | $60,380 |
| 2021 | $60,110 |
| 2020 | $56,990 |
| 2019 | $54,570 |
| 2018 | $53,780 |
| 2017 | $53,770 |
| 2016 | $53,360 |
| 2015 | $51,520 |
| 2014 | $51,280 |