How much does a museum curator make in the United States?
This is the median gross salary: half earn more and half earn less. That is $5,322 a month.
- Approx. take-home per month
- $4,454
- Compared with the median pay in the United States
- 1.2 times
- Data from
- 2025
Where the United States ranks among 144 countries
Each line is a country, on a log scale from $100 to $100,000 a year.
In other countries
Median gross salary a year, in dollars.
| 1. Switzerland estimate | $96,350 |
| 2. Luxembourg estimate | $79,100 |
| 3. Iceland estimate | $68,930 |
| 5. Qatar estimate | $64,480 |
| 6. United States | $63,870 |
| 7. Denmark estimate | $62,050 |
| 144. Nigeria estimate | $346 |
Similar jobs
Professionals
- Librarian$68,270
- Lawyer$159,700
- Judge$139,400
- Legal professionals not elsewhere classified$75,530
- Economist$124,700
- Anthropologist$80,530
- Historian$106,300
- Psychologist$100,400
By state
Median gross salary a year.
| District of Columbia | $93,150 |
| Connecticut | $78,010 |
| Massachusetts | $77,950 |
| Rhode Island | $77,590 |
| New York | $76,910 |
| Washington | $75,780 |
| South Dakota | $74,990 |
| California | $74,600 |
| New Jersey | $74,150 |
| Maryland | $73,840 |
See all 49 states
| New Hampshire | $72,910 |
| Colorado | $70,900 |
| Nevada | $69,900 |
| Alaska | $63,880 |
| New Mexico | $63,690 |
| Michigan | $63,410 |
| Oregon | $62,600 |
| Wisconsin | $62,270 |
| Ohio | $62,240 |
| Wyoming | $61,910 |
| Illinois | $61,840 |
| Pennsylvania | $61,520 |
| Arizona | $60,760 |
| Idaho | $60,760 |
| Missouri | $59,980 |
| Louisiana | $59,840 |
| Alabama | $59,820 |
| Nebraska | $58,600 |
| Georgia | $58,280 |
| Virginia | $58,200 |
| Florida | $58,080 |
| Utah | $57,910 |
| Oklahoma | $57,560 |
| Minnesota | $57,350 |
| Vermont | $56,520 |
| Maine | $56,400 |
| Tennessee | $55,980 |
| Texas | $55,910 |
| Delaware | $55,480 |
| Arkansas | $55,430 |
| Kansas | $55,140 |
| Iowa | $54,600 |
| Montana | $54,460 |
| Indiana | $53,980 |
| Kentucky | $53,900 |
| Hawaii | $50,720 |
| North Carolina | $50,520 |
| South Carolina | $49,070 |
| Mississippi | $40,600 |
Jobs in this group in the United States
Official name of each one and its median salary a year.
| Curator | $63,420 |
| Archivist | $64,550 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a museum curator make a month in the United States?
The median gross salary is $5,322 a month, $63,870 a year.
How much does a museum curator make starting out and with experience?
The lowest-paid 10%, usually people starting out, make around $40,270 a year; the top 10%, with experience or senior roles, make more than $108,500.
Which country pays a museum curator the most?
Germany, with a median of $67,730 a year before tax, according to our data.
Which state pays a museum curator the most?
District of Columbia, with a median of $93,150 a year.
Does a museum curator make more in the United States or in Germany?
In Germany: $67,730 a year against $63,870 in the United States, 1.1 times more.
Who makes more, a museum curator or a librarian?
A librarian: $68,270 a year against $63,870 for a museum curator, 1.1 times more.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS survey, 2025. How we calculate