Curator salary in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
Curators in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area earn a median of $87,400 a year ($42.02 an hour), based on BLS data for 270 workers.
Pay ranges from $54,170 for the lowest-paid 10% to $131,810 for the top 10%. That is 38% higher than the national median of $63,420. Pay here is 6% lower than the District of Columbia statewide median of $93,310. There are 0.09 curators per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $93,030, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for curators in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $54,170 | $26.04 |
| 25th percentile | $63,650 | $30.60 |
| Median | $87,400 | $42.02 |
| 75th percentile | $111,530 | $53.62 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $131,810 | $63.37 |
| Average (mean) | $93,030 | $44.73 |
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 | $7,283.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,641.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,361.54 |
| Weekly | $1,680.77 |
| Hourly | $42.02 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $87,400 salary, see how much house you can afford in District of Columbia 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Richmond, VA | $66,650 | 80 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $63,860 | 290 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $63,080 | 90 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $58,200 | 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 District of Columbia statewide figures.
Related jobs in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Librarians and Media Collections Specialists | $95,480 | $45.90 |
| Library Technician | $57,290 | $27.54 |
| Museum Technicians and Conservators | $79,230 | $38.09 |
| Archivist | $84,590 | $40.67 |
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $79,470 | — |
| Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary | $46,200 | — |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $80,300 | — |
| Substitute Teachers, Short-Term | $46,470 | $22.34 |
| Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $77,350 | — |
| Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education | $44,660 | $21.47 |
| Self-Enrichment Teacher | $59,760 | $28.73 |
| Instructional Coordinator | $105,220 | $50.59 |
| Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School | $79,880 | — |
| Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary | $58,330 | — |
More: Educational Instruction and Library Occupations · all salaries in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
The median salary for curators in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area is $87,400 a year, or $42.02 an hour. Pay ranges from $54,170 for the lowest-paid 10% to $131,810 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid curators make in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
The top 10% of curators in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area earn at least $131,810 a year. The top 25% earn $111,530 or more.
What is the starting pay for curators in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $54,170 a year, and a quarter of curators earn $63,650 or less.
How many curators work in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
About 270 curators are employed in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area, not counting the self-employed.