Curators pay range in Chicago
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $42,120 a year or less, while the top 10% make $109,720 or more. The middle half of curators in Chicago earn between $54,950 and $80,410.
- $42K10th
- $55K25th
- $63KMedian
- $80K75th
- $110K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $72,030 | $6,002 | $34.63 |
| Median | $63,060 | $5,255 | $30.32 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $54,950 | $4,579 | $26.42 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $80,410 | $6,701 | $38.66 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Curators pay in Chicago vs. Illinois and the U.S.
Curators in Chicago earn 4% more than the Illinois average ($68,940) and about the same as the U.S. average ($71,560). At the median the gap is -1% against the U.S. median of $63,420.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $72,030 | $63,060 | $42,120 | $109,720 | 290 |
| Illinois | $68,940 | $63,060 | $36,490 | $107,990 | 410 |
| United States | $71,560 | $63,420 | $40,470 | $107,140 | 12,150 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Curators salary after taxes in Chicago
On the average salary of $72,030, a single filer in Chicago takes home about $56,079 a year, or $4,673 a month and $2,157 every two weeks. Taxes take 22% of gross pay.
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in IN | $57,372 | $4,781 |
| Working in IL | $56,079 | $4,673 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Chicago a good place for curators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Chicago area are 4% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 103.6), so the average $72,030 buys what about $69,530 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Chicago ($54,720). A typical home costs $353,998, or 4.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Curators salary in nearby metro areas
- Milwaukee, WI$70,890
- Madison, WI$76,060
- Grand Rapids, MI$64,730
- Indianapolis, IN$66,220
- Ann Arbor, MI$95,110
- Toledo, OH$74,820
Highest-paying cities for curators
New York, NY pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($99,910).
- New York, NY$99,910
- New Haven, CT$99,830
- San Francisco, CA$98,200
- Ann Arbor, MI$95,110
- Washington, DC$93,030
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Curators salary in Chicago: questions
How much do curators make an hour in Chicago?
$34.63 an hour on average, and $30.32 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level curators salary in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $42,120 a year and the 25th percentile is $54,950, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the curators take-home pay in Chicago?
About $56,079 a year ($4,673 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $72,030.
Do curators earn more in Chicago than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as the U.S. average for this job ($71,560).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 25-4012; area Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (16980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.3%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.83, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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