SOC 25-4012 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Curators — California
California · 6 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in California comes to $78,740 a year, ahead of the national median of $63,420 by 24.2%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in California comes to $78,740 a year, ahead of the national median of $63,420 by 24.2%. Pay ranges from under $53,390 at the tenth percentile to more than $125,670 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $66,480 to $99,430.
The area has 1,140 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 0.80 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. California ranks number 4th out of 49 states by median pay for this occupation. Within the state, San Francisco records the highest median at $90,800. Of the 793 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 333rd.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $53,390 | −15.8% |
| 25th | $66,480 | +4.8% |
| Median (50th) | $78,740 | +24.2% |
| 75th | $99,430 | +56.8% |
| 90th | $125,670 | +98.2% |
| Mean | $86,330 | +36.1% |
Highest-paying metro areas in California
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco | $90,800 | 240 | |
| 2 | Sacramento | $78,420 | 50 | |
| 3 | Los Angeles | $77,160 | 390 | |
| 4 | San Diego | $75,800 | 170 | |
| 5 | Riverside | $74,950 | 60 | |
| 6 | Santa Maria | $71,380 | 30 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in California run 10.7% above the national average, so the median of $78,740 buys what $71,129 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 12.2% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$78,740as reported by BLSLocal price level
110.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$71,129US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $78,740 a year, 24.2% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $53,390 to $125,670 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 1,140 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 4th of 49 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is San Francisco, at $90,800.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Curators in California?
The median annual wage is $78,740, or $37.86 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $63,420, so pay in California is 24.2% higher. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in California earns more than $125,670 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $53,390 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in San Francisco, at $90,800 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 1,140 jobs in this occupation in California. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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