Curators Salary
Curators in Montana make a median of $54,460 a year, or about $26.18 an hour. The range runs from $38K at the entry level to $89K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97), that's roughly $56,144 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,129/month, about 31.5% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Montana. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $54K get you in Montana?
About curators
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Montana
Pay for curators in Montana runs about 14% below the U.S. median of $63K. Rent runs $1,129/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 31% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 97) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Montana
Entry-level curators (10th percentile) start around $38K. Mid-career wages sit at $54K. Top earners bring in $89K or more, a $51K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track curators salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Montana numbers change.
Related careers in Education
Frequently asked questions
Can a curator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Montana?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $54K, rent takes 31% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,129/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,100/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for curators in Montana?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new curators typically earn — is $38K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,266/month. At HUD’s $1,129/month FMR, rent would take 50% 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 Montana?
Local pay runs 14% below the national median — $54K here vs. $63K nationally.
How does Montana compare to the national average for curators?
Montana pays $54K median vs. the U.S. average of $63K — that’s -14%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $56K — below the national median.
How much do curators make in Montana?
The median is $54,460 a year, that works out to about $26 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $37,760, and experienced curators can clear $88,910. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $54K enough to live in Montana?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,641/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,129/month, which eats 31% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a curators salary go in Montana?
Montana has a Regional Price Parity of 97 (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 $56,144 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.