Curators pay range in Madison
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $51,770 a year or less, while the top 10% make $97,470 or more. The middle half of curators in Madison earn between $60,860 and $82,410.
- $52K10th
- $61K25th
- $68KMedian
- $82K75th
- $97K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $76,060 | $6,338 | $36.57 |
| Median | $68,060 | $5,672 | $32.72 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $60,860 | $5,072 | $29.26 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $82,410 | $6,868 | $39.62 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Curators pay in Madison vs. Wisconsin and the U.S.
Curators in Madison earn 7% more than the Wisconsin average ($70,980) and 6% more 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Madison | $76,060 | $68,060 | $51,770 | $97,470 | 80 |
| Wisconsin | $70,980 | $64,370 | $43,210 | $91,220 | 300 |
| 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 Madison
On the average salary of $76,060, a single filer in Madison takes home about $59,332 a year, or $4,944 a month and $2,282 every two weeks. Taxes take 22% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Madison a good place for curators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Madison area are 3% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 97.3), so the average $76,060 buys what about $78,181 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Madison ($58,080). A typical home costs $452,769, or 6.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Curators salary in other Wisconsin cities
Madison ranks 1st of 2 Wisconsin metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Madison$76,060
- Milwaukee$70,890
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 Madison: questions
How much do curators make an hour in Madison?
$36.57 an hour on average, and $32.72 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level curators salary in Madison?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $51,770 a year and the 25th percentile is $60,860, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the curators take-home pay in Madison?
About $59,332 a year ($4,944 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $76,060.
Do curators earn more in Madison than elsewhere?
The average here is 6% 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 Madison, WI (31540). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 6.2%.
- 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 state income tax (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 2.43, this job is 2.4 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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