How Much Does an Art Curator Make? Salary by State
Median annual salary (U.S.)
$63,420
Art curators in the U.S. earn a median of $63,420 a year, or $30.49 an hour. Half of art curators earn more than $63,420 and half earn less. The top 10% make more than $107,140.
Pay percentiles for art curators
| Percentile | Hourly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $19.46 | $40,470 |
| 25th | $23.49 | $48,870 |
| 50th (median) | $30.49 | $63,420 |
| 75th | $39.94 | $83,080 |
| 90th | $51.51 | $107,140 |
U.S. wages, May 2025. BLS occupation: Curators (SOC 25-4012). Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
Highest-paying states for art curators
| State | Median annual | Median hourly | vs. U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $93,310 | $44.86 | +47% |
| New Hampshire | $82,490 | $39.66 | +30% |
| New York | $79,120 | $38.04 | +25% |
| California | $78,740 | $37.86 | +24% |
| Rhode Island | $77,930 | $37.47 | +23% |
| New Jersey | $77,800 | $37.40 | +23% |
| Massachusetts | $77,790 | $37.40 | +23% |
| Connecticut | $76,510 | $36.78 | +21% |
| South Dakota | $74,990 | $36.05 | +18% |
| Washington | $74,030 | $35.59 | +17% |
| United States | $63,420 | $30.49 | — |
Top 10 states by median annual wage, May 2025. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
How many art curators are there?
BLS counts about 12,150 art curators employed in the U.S. (May 2025, excluding the self-employed). These figures cover the BLS occupation “Curators”. The most jobs are in New York (1,330), California (1,140) and Texas (690).
The mean (average) annual wage is $71,560, higher than the median of $63,420.
Hourly to annual pay calculator
Per year
- Monthly
- $5,285
- Biweekly
- $2,439
- Weekly
- $1,220
- Daily (8 hours)
- $244
- Hours per year
- 2,080
BLS annual figure; hourly × 2,080 may differ slightly.
Frequently asked questions
How much do art curators make an hour?
The median hourly wage for art curators is $30.49. The middle 50% earn between $23.49 and $39.94 an hour.
Which state pays art curators the most?
District of Columbia has the highest median wage for art curators at $93,310, +47% vs. the U.S. median.
What is the starting salary for art curators?
BLS does not report pay by experience, but the lowest-paid 10% of art curators earn less than $40,470 a year, a common proxy for entry-level pay.