Curators Salary in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
Curators in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA make a median of $72,440 a year, or about $34.83 an hour. The range runs from $47K at the entry level to $107K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 111.13), so that salary is closer to $65,185 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,501/month — about 49.7% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $72K get you in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue’s Regional Price Parity (111.13). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About curators
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
Entry-level curators (10th percentile) start around $47K. Mid-career wages sit at $72K. Top earners bring in $107K or more, a $61K spread from bottom to top.
Curators pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $82K | +33% | 140 |
| New York | $79K | +28% | 1,270 |
| California | $79K | +27% | 1,180 |
| Massachusetts | $76K | +23% | 440 |
| Rhode Island | $75K | +21% | 80 |
| Connecticut | $73K | +19% | 200 |
| Nevada | $67K | +9% | 130 |
| Washington | $66K | +7% | 260 |
| New Jersey | $66K | +7% | 140 |
| Alaska | $65K | +5% | 80 |
| Michigan | $64K | +4% | 360 |
| Arizona | $64K | +3% | 100 |
| South Dakota | $64K | +3% | 50 |
| Pennsylvania | $64K | +3% | 590 |
| Hawaii | $62K | +1% | 80 |
| Kansas | $62K | +0% | 90 |
| Wisconsin | $62K | -0% | 250 |
| Maryland | $61K | -1% | 200 |
| Minnesota | $61K | -1% | 170 |
| Illinois | $61K | -1% | 570 |
| New Mexico | $61K | -2% | 150 |
| Virginia | $60K | -3% | 440 |
| Idaho | $60K | -3% | 60 |
| Texas | $59K | -4% | 610 |
| Ohio | $59K | -5% | 320 |
| Alabama | $58K | -5% | 170 |
| Missouri | $58K | -6% | 230 |
| South Carolina | $58K | -7% | 120 |
| Louisiana | $56K | -10% | 180 |
| Florida | $56K | -10% | 510 |
| Tennessee | $55K | -10% | 200 |
| Vermont | $55K | -10% | 70 |
| Oregon | $55K | -10% | 150 |
| Arkansas | $55K | -11% | 90 |
| Indiana | $54K | -13% | 180 |
| New Hampshire | $53K | -14% | 50 |
| Nebraska | $53K | -14% | 110 |
| Iowa | $52K | -15% | 200 |
| Wyoming | $51K | -17% | 80 |
| Delaware | $51K | -17% | 70 |
| Kentucky | $51K | -18% | 130 |
| Georgia | $51K | -18% | 240 |
| West Virginia | $51K | -18% | 40 |
| Maine | $51K | -18% | 140 |
| North Carolina | $50K | -19% | 570 |
| Utah | $50K | -19% | 90 |
| Montana | $49K | -21% | 90 |
| Oklahoma | $48K | -22% | 220 |
Showing 1–10 of 48 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track curators salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do curators make in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA?
The median is $72,440 a year, that works out to about $35 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $46,600, and experienced curators can clear $107,170. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $72K enough to live in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,946/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,501/month, which eats 50.6% 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 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue?
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue has a Regional Price Parity of 111.13 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median curators salary is worth about $65,185 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.