Curator salary in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC
Curators in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area earn a median of $58,200 a year ($27.98 an hour), based on BLS data for 150 workers.
Pay ranges from $38,550 for the lowest-paid 10% to $82,530 for the top 10%. That is 8% lower than the national median of $63,420. Pay here is about the same as the Virginia statewide median of $58,200. There are 0.20 curators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 2.5× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $60,650, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for curators in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $38,550 | $18.53 |
| 25th percentile | $44,890 | $21.58 |
| Median | $58,200 | $27.98 |
| 75th percentile | $76,430 | $36.75 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $82,530 | $39.68 |
| Average (mean) | $60,650 | $29.16 |
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 | $4,850 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,425 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,238.46 |
| Weekly | $1,119.23 |
| Hourly | $27.98 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $58,200 salary, see how much house you can afford in Virginia 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $87,400 | 270 |
| Richmond, VA | $66,650 | 80 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $65,670 | 160 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $55,170 | 60 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $53,100 | 50 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $49,240 | 80 |
| Wilmington, NC | $48,230 | 40 |
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 Virginia statewide figures.
Related jobs in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Librarians and Media Collections Specialists | $77,520 | $37.27 |
| Library Technician | $40,070 | $19.27 |
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $63,380 | — |
| Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary | $38,050 | — |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $76,790 | — |
| Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $65,300 | — |
| Substitute Teachers, Short-Term | $45,800 | $22.02 |
| Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education | $36,330 | $17.46 |
| Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School | $78,330 | — |
| Instructional Coordinator | $85,300 | $41.01 |
| Self-Enrichment Teacher | $43,480 | $20.90 |
| Special Education Teachers, Middle School | $76,620 | — |
| Special Education Teachers, Secondary School | $77,500 | — |
| Teachers and Instructors, All Other | $82,530 | — |
More: Educational Instruction and Library Occupations · all salaries in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC
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 Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC?
The median salary for curators in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area is $58,200 a year, or $27.98 an hour. Pay ranges from $38,550 for the lowest-paid 10% to $82,530 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid curators make in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC?
The top 10% of curators in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area earn at least $82,530 a year. The top 25% earn $76,430 or more.
What is the starting pay for curators in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $38,550 a year, and a quarter of curators earn $44,890 or less.
How many curators work in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC?
About 150 curators are employed in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area, not counting the self-employed.