Curators pay range in Seattle
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $46,170 a year or less, while the top 10% make $129,360 or more. The middle half of curators in Seattle earn between $62,640 and $98,630.
- $46K10th
- $63K25th
- $78KMedian
- $99K75th
- $129K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $82,120 | $6,843 | $39.48 |
| Median | $78,340 | $6,528 | $37.66 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $62,640 | $5,220 | $30.12 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $98,630 | $8,219 | $47.42 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Curators pay in Seattle vs. Washington and the U.S.
Curators in Seattle earn 6% more than the Washington average ($77,370) and 15% more than the U.S. average ($71,560). At the median the gap is +24% against the U.S. median of $63,420.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle | $82,120 | $78,340 | $46,170 | $129,360 | 150 |
| Washington | $77,370 | $74,030 | $45,720 | $119,220 | 260 |
| 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 Seattle
On the average salary of $82,120, a single filer in Seattle takes home about $66,601 a year, or $5,550 a month and $2,562 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax. Washington's WA Cares (0.58%) and Paid Family and Medical Leave payroll premiums are not included.
Is Seattle a good place for curators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Seattle area are 11% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 111.1), so the average $82,120 buys what about $73,893 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Seattle ($72,610). A typical home costs $750,279, or 9.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Curators salary in nearby metro areas
- Portland, OR$70,810
- Sacramento, CA$84,900
- San Francisco, CA$98,200
- Las Vegas, NV$67,110
- Santa Maria, CA$72,660
- Riverside, CA$75,370
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 Seattle: questions
How much do curators make an hour in Seattle?
$39.48 an hour on average, and $37.66 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level curators salary in Seattle?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $46,170 a year and the 25th percentile is $62,640, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the curators take-home pay in Seattle?
About $66,601 a year ($5,550 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $82,120. Washington has no state income tax; Washington's WA Cares (0.58%) and Paid Family and Medical Leave payroll premiums are not included.
Do curators earn more in Seattle than elsewhere?
The average here is 15% 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 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA (42660). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.2%.
- 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 no state income tax. Washington's WA Cares (0.58%) and Paid Family and Medical Leave payroll premiums are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.94, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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