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Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics

Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2023

25-4012 Curators

Administer collections, such as artwork, collectibles, historic items, or scientific specimens of museums or other institutions. May conduct instructional, research, or public service activities of institution.


National estimates for Curators
Industry profile for Curators
Geographic profile for Curators

National estimates for Curators:

Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for Curators:

Employment (1) Employment
RSE (3)
Mean hourly
wage
Mean annual
wage (2)
Wage RSE (3)
12,510 1.6 % $ 34.07 $ 70,870 2.5 %

Percentile wage estimates for Curators:

Percentile 10% 25% 50%
(Median)
75% 90%
Hourly Wage $ 18.27 $ 23.12 $ 29.69 $ 39.40 $ 51.86
Annual Wage (2) $ 38,000 $ 48,080 $ 61,750 $ 81,950 $ 107,860


Industry profile for Curators:

Industries with the highest published employment and wages for Curators are provided. For a list of all industries with employment in Curators, see the Create Customized Tables function.

Industries with the highest levels of employment in Curators:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions 6,920 4.09 $ 32.90 $ 68,430
Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools 1,550 0.05 $ 33.74 $ 70,180
Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) 1,210 0.02 $ 30.51 $ 63,460
State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) 840 0.04 $ 28.75 $ 59,790
Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) 330 0.02 $ 45.39 $ 94,420

Industries with the highest concentration of employment in Curators:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions 6,920 4.09 $ 32.90 $ 68,430
Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events 260 0.16 $ 31.30 $ 65,110
Grantmaking and Giving Services 90 0.06 $ 38.67 $ 80,430
Web Search Portals, Libraries, Archives, and Other Information Services 100 0.05 $ 40.79 $ 84,840
Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools 1,550 0.05 $ 33.74 $ 70,180

Top paying industries for Curators:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) 330 0.02 $ 45.39 $ 94,420
Employment Services 80 (7) $ 41.62 $ 86,560
Scientific Research and Development Services 100 0.01 $ 41.58 $ 86,490
Web Search Portals, Libraries, Archives, and Other Information Services 100 0.05 $ 40.79 $ 84,840
Grantmaking and Giving Services 90 0.06 $ 38.67 $ 80,430


Geographic profile for Curators:

States and areas with the highest published employment, location quotients, and wages for Curators are provided. For a list of all areas with employment in Curators, see the Create Customized Tables function.



Map of employment of curators by state, May 2023


States with the highest employment level in Curators:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
New York 1,510 0.16 1.95 $ 52.22 $ 108,620
California 1,230 0.07 0.83 $ 40.36 $ 83,940
Illinois 670 0.11 1.36 $ 32.77 $ 68,160
Florida 650 0.07 0.82 $ 27.29 $ 56,760
Texas 620 0.05 0.56 $ 28.36 $ 58,980


Map of location quotient of curators by state, May 2023


States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Curators:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Wyoming 80 0.28 3.35 $ 27.94 $ 58,100
Alaska 60 0.20 2.45 $ 37.81 $ 78,640
New Mexico 160 0.19 2.26 $ 27.46 $ 57,110
District of Columbia 130 0.18 2.24 $ 43.94 $ 91,400
Delaware 80 0.18 2.17 $ 30.51 $ 63,460


Map of annual mean wages of curators by state, May 2023


Top paying states for Curators:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
New York 1,510 0.16 1.95 $ 52.22 $ 108,620
District of Columbia 130 0.18 2.24 $ 43.94 $ 91,400
California 1,230 0.07 0.83 $ 40.36 $ 83,940
Alaska 60 0.20 2.45 $ 37.81 $ 78,640
Rhode Island 60 0.13 1.52 $ 37.55 $ 78,110



Map of employment of curators by area, May 2023


Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in Curators:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA 1,240 0.13 1.58 $ 55.14 $ 114,690
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI 530 0.12 1.42 $ 33.91 $ 70,540
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 420 0.07 0.83 $ 41.36 $ 86,020
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH 310 0.11 1.36 $ 37.53 $ 78,070
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD 290 0.10 1.25 $ 33.18 $ 69,010
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 290 0.09 1.15 $ 39.83 $ 82,840
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA 290 0.12 1.45 $ 44.31 $ 92,170
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL 230 0.09 1.04 $ 28.69 $ 59,670
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN 170 0.15 1.87 $ 28.98 $ 60,280
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO 160 0.10 1.25 $ 35.09 $ 72,980


Map of location quotient of curators by area, May 2023


Metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Curators:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Santa Fe, NM 40 0.73 8.80 $ 28.03 $ 58,300
Wilmington, NC 40 0.28 3.34 $ 24.54 $ 51,040
Tucson, AZ 100 0.25 3.02 $ 25.79 $ 53,640
New Haven, CT 70 0.24 2.92 $ 40.56 $ 84,360
Ann Arbor, MI 50 0.23 2.75 $ 47.88 $ 99,590
Raleigh, NC 160 0.22 2.70 $ 27.18 $ 56,530
Montgomery, AL 30 0.19 2.32 $ 23.21 $ 48,280
Madison, WI 70 0.17 2.09 $ 35.36 $ 73,540
Springfield, MA-CT 50 0.17 2.07 $ 35.13 $ 73,070
Albuquerque, NM 70 0.17 2.04 $ 27.77 $ 57,770


Map of annual mean wages of curators by area, May 2023


Top paying metropolitan areas for Curators:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA 1,240 0.13 1.58 $ 55.14 $ 114,690
Ann Arbor, MI 50 0.23 2.75 $ 47.88 $ 99,590
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA 290 0.12 1.45 $ 44.31 $ 92,170
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA 160 0.10 1.25 $ 42.01 $ 87,390
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 420 0.07 0.83 $ 41.36 $ 86,020
Cleveland-Elyria, OH 70 0.07 0.81 $ 41.15 $ 85,600
New Haven, CT 70 0.24 2.92 $ 40.56 $ 84,360
Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY 70 0.17 2.03 $ 39.94 $ 83,080
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA 40 0.03 0.42 $ 39.85 $ 82,890
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 290 0.09 1.15 $ 39.83 $ 82,840

Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest employment in Curators:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Massachusetts nonmetropolitan area 60 0.93 11.33 $ 35.25 $ 73,330
Kansas nonmetropolitan area 50 0.13 1.63 $ 24.23 $ 50,400
Southwest Maine nonmetropolitan area 50 0.27 3.23 $ 29.90 $ 62,190
South Nebraska nonmetropolitan area 50 0.32 3.90 $ 18.86 $ 39,240
Alaska nonmetropolitan area 40 0.43 5.22 $ 38.69 $ 80,480

Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Curators:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Massachusetts nonmetropolitan area 60 0.93 11.33 $ 35.25 $ 73,330
Alaska nonmetropolitan area 40 0.43 5.22 $ 38.69 $ 80,480
Northeast Coastal North Carolina nonmetropolitan area 40 0.39 4.71 $ 24.37 $ 50,680
Western Washington nonmetropolitan area 40 0.32 3.92 $ 33.27 $ 69,190
South Nebraska nonmetropolitan area 50 0.32 3.90 $ 18.86 $ 39,240

Top paying nonmetropolitan areas for Curators:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Alaska nonmetropolitan area 40 0.43 5.22 $ 38.69 $ 80,480
Central East New York nonmetropolitan area 40 0.26 3.17 $ 38.10 $ 79,240
Massachusetts nonmetropolitan area 60 0.93 11.33 $ 35.25 $ 73,330
Western Washington nonmetropolitan area 40 0.32 3.92 $ 33.27 $ 69,190
Southwest Maine nonmetropolitan area 50 0.27 3.23 $ 29.90 $ 62,190


About May 2023 National, State, Metropolitan, and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

These estimates are calculated with data collected from employers in all industry sectors, all metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas, and all states and the District of Columbia. The top employment and wage figures are provided above. The complete list is available in the downloadable XLS files.

The percentile wage estimate is the value of a wage below which a certain percent of workers fall. The median wage is the 50th percentile wage estimate—50 percent of workers earn less than the median and 50 percent of workers earn more than the median. More about percentile wages.


(1) Estimates for detailed occupations do not sum to the totals because the totals include occupations not shown separately. Estimates do not include self-employed workers.

(2) Annual wages have been calculated by multiplying the hourly mean wage by a "year-round, full-time" hours figure of 2,080 hours; for those occupations where there is not an hourly wage published, the annual wage has been directly calculated from the reported survey data.

(3) The relative standard error (RSE) is a measure of the reliability of a survey statistic. The smaller the relative standard error, the more precise the estimate.

(7) The value is less than .005 percent of industry employment.

(9) The location quotient is the ratio of the area concentration of occupational employment to the national average concentration. A location quotient greater than one indicates the occupation has a higher share of employment than average, and a location quotient less than one indicates the occupation is less prevalent in the area than average.


Other OEWS estimates and related information:

May 2023 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2023 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2023 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2023 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2023 Occupation Profiles

Technical Notes

 

Last Modified Date: April 3, 2024