Curator salary in New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ
Curators in the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro area earn a median of $83,110 a year ($39.96 an hour), based on BLS data for 970 workers.
Pay ranges from $51,390 for the lowest-paid 10% to $161,360 for the top 10%. That is 31% higher than the national median of $63,420. Pay here is 5% higher than the New York statewide median of $79,120. There are 0.10 curators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.3× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $99,910, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for curators in New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $51,390 | $24.71 |
| 25th percentile | $62,000 | $29.81 |
| Median | $83,110 | $39.96 |
| 75th percentile | $117,750 | $56.61 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $161,360 | $77.58 |
| Average (mean) | $99,910 | $48.03 |
Half of curators earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $6,925.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,462.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,196.54 |
| Weekly | $1,598.27 |
| Hourly | $39.96 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $83,110 salary, see how much house you can afford in New York at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Curator salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $82,640 | 80 |
| Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | $73,680 | 40 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $63,860 | 290 |
| Rochester, NY | $59,120 | 70 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $55,290 | 60 |
Highest-paying states for curators
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $93,310 |
| New Hampshire | $82,490 |
| New York | $79,120 |
| California | $78,740 |
| Rhode Island | $77,930 |
| New Jersey | $77,800 |
| Massachusetts | $77,790 |
| Connecticut | $76,510 |
| South Dakota | $74,990 |
| Washington | $74,030 |
See Curator pay in every state or the New York statewide figures.
Related jobs in New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Librarians and Media Collections Specialists | $81,670 | $39.26 |
| Library Technician | $52,040 | $25.02 |
| Museum Technicians and Conservators | $77,030 | $37.03 |
| Archivist | $77,450 | $37.24 |
| Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary | $38,890 | — |
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $96,900 | — |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $100,800 | — |
| Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $96,500 | — |
| Self-Enrichment Teacher | $59,600 | $28.65 |
| Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education | $50,230 | $24.15 |
| Substitute Teachers, Short-Term | $45,220 | $21.74 |
| Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School | $91,610 | — |
| Instructional Coordinator | $85,730 | $41.21 |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | $128,090 | — |
More: Educational Instruction and Library Occupations · all salaries in New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 25-4012. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a curator make in New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ?
The median salary for curators in the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro area is $83,110 a year, or $39.96 an hour. Pay ranges from $51,390 for the lowest-paid 10% to $161,360 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid curators make in New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ?
The top 10% of curators in the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro area earn at least $161,360 a year. The top 25% earn $117,750 or more.
What is the starting pay for curators in New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $51,390 a year, and a quarter of curators earn $62,000 or less.
How many curators work in New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ?
About 970 curators are employed in the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro area, not counting the self-employed.