Curators Salary
Curators in Arkansas make a median of $53,870 a year, or about $25.9 an hour. The range runs from $43K at the entry level to $98K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 87.64), which stretches that salary to about $61,467 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,021/month, or 28.8% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Arkansas. Jump to a metro for precise data:
Where the paycheck goes
What $54K actually covers in Arkansas, month by month
About curators
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What this looks like in Arkansas
Pay for curators in Arkansas runs about 15% below the U.S. median of $63K. Rent runs $1,021/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 28.2% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 87.64 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 12% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Arkansas
Entry-level curators (10th percentile) start around $43K. Mid-career wages sit at $54K. Top earners bring in $98K or more, a $56K spread from bottom to top.
Curators salary by metro in Arkansas
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers | $58K | +8% | 40 |
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BLS updates this data annually. We'll email you when Arkansas numbers change.
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Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a curator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Arkansas?
Yes — at the median salary of $54K, rent takes 28.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,021/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for curators in Arkansas?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new curators typically earn — is $43K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,895/month. At HUD’s $1,021/month FMR, rent would take 35% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is curator a high-paying job in Arkansas?
Local pay runs 15% below the national median — $54K here vs. $63K nationally. Cost of living is 12% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Arkansas compare to the national average for curators?
Arkansas pays $54K median vs. the U.S. average of $63K — that’s -15%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 87.64), the purchasing-power equivalent is $61K — below the national median.
How much do curators make in Arkansas?
The median is $53,870 a year, that works out to about $26 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $42,550, and experienced curators can clear $98,120. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $54K enough to live in Arkansas?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,616/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,021/month, which eats 28.2% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a curators salary go in Arkansas?
Arkansas has a Regional Price Parity of 87.64 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median curators salary is worth about $61,467 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do curators get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.