Museum Curator Salary
Museum curators manage collections, organize exhibitions, and conduct research for museums and galleries.
Museum Curator Salary by Experience Level
Entry-level museum curators earn around $38,000 per year, while mid-career professionals earn $62,000. Senior-level museum curators can earn $92,000 or more.
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See Investment Options →Salary Percentile Breakdown
The salary range for museum curators varies significantly. The bottom 10% earn $35,000, while the top 10% earn $98,000.
| Percentile | Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th Percentile | $35,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $44,000 |
| 50th Percentile (Median) | $60,110 |
| 75th Percentile | $78,000 |
| 90th Percentile | $98,000 |
Museum Curator Salary by State
Museum Curator salaries vary significantly by state due to cost of living, demand, and industry concentration. The highest paying state is Hawaii at $102,187, while Mississippi offers the lowest at $49,891.
| State | Median | |
|---|---|---|
| #1 Hawaii | $102,187 | Details → |
| #2 California | $82,952 | Details → |
| #3 Massachusetts | $81,149 | Details → |
| #4 Alaska | $74,536 | Details → |
| #5 New York | $73,334 | Details → |
| #6 New Jersey | $69,127 | Details → |
| #7 Washington | $69,127 | Details → |
| #8 Connecticut | $67,323 | Details → |
| #9 Maryland | $66,121 | Details → |
| #10 Oregon | $66,121 | Details → |
| #11 Colorado | $63,116 | Details → |
| #12 New Hampshire | $63,116 | Details → |
| #13 Rhode Island | $63,116 | Details → |
| #14 Virginia | $62,514 | Details → |
| #15 Delaware | $60,711 | Details → |
| #16 Vermont | $60,711 | Details → |
| #17 Florida | $58,908 | Details → |
| #18 Maine | $58,908 | Details → |
| #19 Arizona | $58,307 | Details → |
| #20 Minnesota | $58,307 | Details → |
| #21 Nevada | $58,307 | Details → |
| #22 Utah | $58,307 | Details → |
| #23 Pennsylvania | $57,706 | Details → |
| #24 Illinois | $57,105 | Details → |
| #25 Montana | $57,105 | Details → |
| #26 Idaho | $56,503 | Details → |
| #27 Georgia | $55,902 | Details → |
| #28 New Mexico | $55,902 | Details → |
| #29 North Carolina | $55,301 | Details → |
| #30 Texas | $55,301 | Details → |
| #31 Wisconsin | $55,301 | Details → |
| #32 Wyoming | $55,301 | Details → |
| #33 Louisiana | $54,700 | Details → |
| #34 Indiana | $54,099 | Details → |
| #35 Michigan | $54,099 | Details → |
| #36 Nebraska | $54,099 | Details → |
| #37 North Dakota | $54,099 | Details → |
| #38 Ohio | $54,099 | Details → |
| #39 Iowa | $53,498 | Details → |
| #40 South Carolina | $53,498 | Details → |
| #41 Tennessee | $53,498 | Details → |
| #42 Missouri | $52,897 | Details → |
| #43 South Dakota | $52,897 | Details → |
| #44 Alabama | $52,296 | Details → |
| #45 Kansas | $52,296 | Details → |
| #46 Kentucky | $52,296 | Details → |
| #47 Oklahoma | $51,695 | Details → |
| #48 Arkansas | $50,492 | Details → |
| #49 West Virginia | $50,492 | Details → |
| #50 Mississippi | $49,891 | Details → |
Negotiate Your Way to Senior Pay
Data shows Museum Curators who negotiate earn 7–15% more. A single negotiation could add $31,890 over your career trajectory.
Get Negotiation Scripts — $197 →Key Responsibilities
- ● Manage museum collections
- ● Organize exhibitions
- ● Conduct research on artifacts
- ● Write catalog entries
- ● Develop educational programs
Top Skills
Education Required
Master's degree
Job Outlook
Much faster than average — projected 12% growth over the next decade
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