Curators
SOC 25-4012 • View wages by state
The median annual wage for Curators is $61,750, based on BLS OEWS 2023 data. The mean annual wage is $70,870, and an estimated 12,510 workers are employed in this occupation nationally. Between 2020 and 2023, pay rose +8.4% while consumer prices rose 17.7% — a real change of -8% (pay did not keep up with inflation). BLS projects employment will grow 7% between 2024 and 2034.
Wage Trend & Inflation Adjustment
How the national median wage for Curators has moved across BLS OEWS release years, and what each year's wage is worth in 2023 dollars after adjusting for CPI inflation. "Real" change strips out inflation — the truest measure of whether pay is actually rising.
| Year | Median (nominal) | In 2023 $ (real) | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $61,750 | $61,750 | 12,510 |
| 2022 | $60,380 | $62,866 | 11,620 |
| 2021 | $60,110 | $67,593 | 11,030 |
| 2020 | $56,990 | $67,095 | 11,750 |
Nominal change
+8.4%
Inflation (CPI)
+17.7%
Real change
-8%
Job Outlook (2024–2034 BLS projection)
The BLS Employment Projections program estimates how each occupation's employment will change over the coming decade, and how many job openings to expect each year (from both growth and the need to replace workers who leave).
Projected Growth
+7%
Faster than average
Employment 2024
15,100
Projected 2034
16,200
Annual Openings
1,800
Typical entry-level education: Master's degree.
Highest-Paying Areas (2023)
Where Curators earn the most, and how each area's median compares to the national median of $61,750. A positive premium means the area pays above the national rate.
| Area | Median Annual | vs National | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | $84,210 | +36.4% | 1,510 |
| District of Columbia | $81,200 | +31.5% | 130 |
| California | $77,230 | +25.1% | 1,230 |
| Rhode Island | $75,240 | +21.8% | 60 |
| Alaska | $74,980 | +21.4% | 60 |
| Massachusetts | $70,710 | +14.5% | 480 |
| Massachusetts nonmetropolitan area | $70,710 | +14.5% | 60 |
| Connecticut | $69,350 | +12.3% | 200 |
| Maryland | $68,400 | +10.8% | 200 |
| Colorado | $67,860 | +9.9% | 270 |
Wage Distribution (National, 2023)
10th, 25th, 50th (median), 75th, and 90th percentile annual wages from BLS OEWS — the full spread, not just an average.
10th Pct
$38,000
25th Pct
$48,080
Median
$61,750
75th Pct
$81,950
90th Pct
$107,860
H-1B Employer Filings
Employer-certified wages from DOL H-1B LCA filings — competitive market benchmark, not approved visas.
| Employer | State | Filings | Median Wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Museum of Natural History | NY | 2 | $145,000 |
| For Freedoms Federation, LLC | NY | 2 | $65,000 |
| Yale University | CT | 1 | $80,000 |
| University of Oregon | OR | 1 | $75,000 |
| Sotheby's, Inc. | NY | 1 | $105,000 |
| The Art Institute of Chicago | IL | 1 | $110,000 |
| Qualia Contemporary Art, LLC | CA | 1 | $58,282 |
| Texas A&M AgriLife Research | TX | 1 | $50,000 |
| ABOUT GLAMOUR INC. | NY | 1 | $79,290 |
| Chinatown Museum Foundation | IL | 1 | $47,166 |
| Bishop Museum | HI | 1 | $55,000 |
| Friedman Benda LLC | NY | 1 | $65,000 |
| Ethan Cohen Fine Arts LLC | NY | 1 | $74,298 |
| iStar Jewelry LLC | NJ | 1 | $60,320 |
| The Museum of Modern Art | NY | 1 | $105,000 |
| Colby College | ME | 1 | $46,800 |
Source: DOL Office of Foreign Labor Certification, H-1B LCA data.
Related Occupations in Educational Instruction & Library
Other occupations in the same SOC major group, ranked by national median wage.