Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
Master's degree
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These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
Based on skills, knowledge, and work activities, these occupations are the closest match to your current career.
Explore the states and metropolitan areas offering the strongest combination of salary, employment, demand, and long-term opportunity.
Discover metro markets where compensation, hiring demand, and long-term momentum align.
Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Curators play a central role in shaping collections, exhibitions, and cultural experiences for the public. This career combines creativity and innovation with strong analytical and organizational abilities. With national employment of 15,000 and projected employment growth of 7.0%, curatorship offers a pathway with measurable opportunities across the country. About 2,000 annual openings indicate recurring demand for new and experienced professionals. The national median annual salary of $61,770 reflects solid earning potential, with some states and metro areas offering higher pay. Curators benefit from a versatile skill set that includes project management, leadership, communication, problem solving, and comfort with computers and information technology. For individuals who enjoy critical and analytical thinking, as well as working with diverse audiences and stakeholders, this field can provide a rewarding blend of intellectual work and public engagement. The combination of growth, ongoing openings, and advancement potential in certain markets makes curating a career worth exploring for motivated candidates.
Curators earn a national median annual salary of $61,770, with potential for higher pay depending on location. Several states report notably higher median salaries, including New York at $79,120, California at $78,740, and Massachusetts at $77,790. In Colorado and Washington, median salaries of $73,630 and $74,030 also exceed the national median. Certain metro areas stand out even more. The New York–Newark–Jersey City metro has a median salary of $83,110, while Washington–Arlington–Alexandria is at $87,400. The San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont metro reports the highest listed median salary at $90,800. These figures suggest that curators who target specific states or large metro regions may access stronger earning potential. Candidates can weigh salary prospects alongside other factors such as employment levels and opportunity scores when considering where to build their careers.
Curator roles show measurable opportunity nationwide, with national employment of 15,000 and projected employment growth of 7.0%. This growth rate applies consistently across the highlighted states and metro areas, indicating a uniform projection rather than large regional swings. The occupation is expected to generate about 2,000 annual openings, which can come from both new positions and turnover in existing roles. This steady flow of openings can create entry points for new graduates, career changers, and experienced professionals looking to move between institutions or locations. Because both national employment and growth projections are clearly defined, individuals can plan for a career path that offers movement and potential advancement over time. Prospective curators may benefit from aligning their job search with regions that combine this projected growth with higher opportunity scores or stronger salary levels to optimize their long-term prospects.
Location choices can significantly shape a curator’s career, with some states and metro areas offering stronger overall opportunity scores and salaries. Among states, California, Massachusetts, and New York lead in CareerGPS opportunity scores, at 67.38, 65.87, and 65.78 respectively. New York has the highest state-level median salary at $79,120, closely followed by California at $78,740 and Massachusetts at $77,790. Colorado and Washington also show competitive salaries in the low- to mid-$70,000s and solid opportunity scores above 56. At the metro level, differences become even clearer. The New York–Newark–Jersey City metro combines the highest opportunity score (77.27) with a median salary of $83,110 and employment of 970. San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont stands out with the highest listed median salary of $90,800 and a strong opportunity score of 68.75. Washington–Arlington–Alexandria, Boston–Cambridge–Newton, and Los Angeles–Long Beach–Anaheim also offer notable combinations of salary, employment, and opportunity scores, providing multiple geographic options for curators seeking robust markets.
Curators typically need a master’s degree, indicating that this role relies on advanced knowledge and specialized training. This educational level aligns with the broad mix of skills associated with the occupation. Creativity and innovation combine with strong critical and analytical thinking to support decisions about collections and projects. Project management and leadership skills are important for planning and overseeing complex initiatives, coordinating people, budgets, and timelines. Speaking and listening, along with writing and reading, enable curators to communicate effectively with colleagues, stakeholders, and the public. Problem solving and decision making help them address challenges and make sound judgments. Comfort with computers and information technology supports modern workflows, while customer service skills are valuable for engaging audiences and partners. Mathematics contributes to tasks that require quantitative reasoning. Together, the master’s degree and this skill set create a professional profile suited to intellectually demanding, highly organized cultural work.
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