Curators pay range in Washington
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $54,170 a year or less, while the top 10% make $131,810 or more. The middle half of curators in Washington earn between $63,650 and $111,530.
- $54K10th
- $64K25th
- $87KMedian
- $112K75th
- $132K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $93,030 | $7,752 | $44.73 |
| Median | $87,400 | $7,283 | $42.02 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $63,650 | $5,304 | $30.60 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $111,530 | $9,294 | $53.62 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Curators pay in Washington vs. Washington, D.C. and the U.S.
Curators in Washington earn 7% less than the Washington, D.C. average ($100,420) and 30% more than the U.S. average ($71,560). At the median the gap is +38% against the U.S. median of $63,420.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $93,030 | $87,400 | $54,170 | $131,810 | 270 |
| Washington, D.C. | $100,420 | $93,310 | $62,530 | $161,380 | 140 |
| 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 Washington
On the average salary of $93,030, a single filer in Washington takes home about $69,338 a year, or $5,778 a month and $2,667 every two weeks. Taxes take 25% of gross pay.
The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in WV | $70,905 | $5,909 |
| Working in MD | $70,069 | $5,839 |
| Working in VA | $69,741 | $5,812 |
| Working in DC | $69,338 | $5,778 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Washington a good place for curators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Washington area are 9% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 108.9), so the average $93,030 buys what about $85,440 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Washington ($71,060). A typical home costs $583,013, or 6.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Curators salary in nearby metro areas
- Baltimore, MD$66,960
- Richmond, VA$74,460
- Harrisburg, PA$67,950
- Lancaster, PA$60,230
- Philadelphia, PA$72,390
- Virginia Beach, VA$60,650
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 Washington: questions
How much do curators make an hour in Washington?
$44.73 an hour on average, and $42.02 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level curators salary in Washington?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $54,170 a year and the 25th percentile is $63,650, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the curators take-home pay in Washington?
About $69,338 a year ($5,778 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $93,030.
Do curators earn more in Washington than elsewhere?
The average here is 30% more 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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV (47900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.6%.
- 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 (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.11, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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