Curator salary in Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA
Curators in the Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA metro area earn a median of $64,060 a year ($30.80 an hour), based on BLS data for 140 workers.
Pay ranges from $43,140 for the lowest-paid 10% to $106,770 for the top 10%. That is 1% higher than the national median of $63,420. Pay here is 2% higher than the Oregon statewide median of $62,790. There are 0.12 curators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.5× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $70,810, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for curators in Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $43,140 | $20.74 |
| 25th percentile | $48,020 | $23.09 |
| Median | $64,060 | $30.80 |
| 75th percentile | $83,290 | $40.04 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $106,770 | $51.33 |
| Average (mean) | $70,810 | $34.04 |
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 | $5,338.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,669.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,463.85 |
| Weekly | $1,231.92 |
| Hourly | $30.80 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $64,060 salary, see how much house you can afford in Oregon 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $78,340 | 150 |
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 Oregon statewide figures.
Related jobs in Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Librarians and Media Collections Specialists | $82,130 | $39.49 |
| Library Technician | $57,050 | $27.43 |
| Museum Technicians and Conservators | $52,050 | $25.02 |
| Archivist | $61,880 | $29.75 |
| Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary | $45,280 | — |
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $82,330 | — |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $84,120 | — |
| Substitute Teachers, Short-Term | $61,190 | $29.42 |
| Self-Enrichment Teacher | $53,790 | $25.86 |
| Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education | $45,310 | $21.78 |
| Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $89,590 | — |
| Educational Instruction and Library Workers, All Other | $49,540 | $23.82 |
| Postsecondary Teachers, All Other | $72,370 | — |
| Instructional Coordinator | $94,280 | $45.33 |
More: Educational Instruction and Library Occupations · all salaries in Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA
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 Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA?
The median salary for curators in the Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA metro area is $64,060 a year, or $30.80 an hour. Pay ranges from $43,140 for the lowest-paid 10% to $106,770 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid curators make in Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA?
The top 10% of curators in the Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA metro area earn at least $106,770 a year. The top 25% earn $83,290 or more.
What is the starting pay for curators in Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $43,140 a year, and a quarter of curators earn $48,020 or less.
How many curators work in Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA?
About 140 curators are employed in the Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA metro area, not counting the self-employed.