Curators pay range in Rochester
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $39,520 a year or less, while the top 10% make $100,670 or more. The middle half of curators in Rochester earn between $50,860 and $77,800.
- $40K10th
- $51K25th
- $59KMedian
- $78K75th
- $101K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $66,370 | $5,531 | $31.91 |
| Median | $59,120 | $4,927 | $28.42 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $50,860 | $4,238 | $24.45 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $77,800 | $6,483 | $37.40 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Curators pay in Rochester vs. New York and the U.S.
Curators in Rochester earn 27% less than the New York average ($90,630) and 7% less than the U.S. average ($71,560). At the median the gap is -7% against the U.S. median of $63,420.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rochester | $66,370 | $59,120 | $39,520 | $100,670 | 70 |
| New York | $90,630 | $79,120 | $46,060 | $148,580 | 1,330 |
| 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 Rochester
On the average salary of $66,370, a single filer in Rochester takes home about $52,463 a year, or $4,372 a month and $2,018 every two weeks. Taxes take 21% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). New York City (up to 3.876%) and Yonkers income taxes are not included.
Is Rochester a good place for curators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Rochester area are 3% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 97.0), so the average $66,370 buys what about $68,398 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Rochester ($51,210). A typical home costs $285,034, or 4.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Curators salary in other New York cities
Rochester ranks 4th of 5 New York metro areas for this job; New York pays the most ($99,910).
- New York$99,910
- Albany$80,830
- Kiryas Joel$77,620
- Rochester$66,370
- Buffalo$64,760
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 Rochester: questions
How much do curators make an hour in Rochester?
$31.91 an hour on average, and $28.42 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level curators salary in Rochester?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $39,520 a year and the 25th percentile is $50,860, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the curators take-home pay in Rochester?
About $52,463 a year ($4,372 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $66,370. New York City (up to 3.876%) and Yonkers income taxes are not included.
Do curators earn more in Rochester than elsewhere?
The average here is 7% less than 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 Rochester, NY (40380). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 6.0%.
- 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). New York City (up to 3.876%) and Yonkers income taxes are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.77, this job is 1.8 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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