Curators Salary in Chicago, IL-IN

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN

Median annual salary $61,140 -1% vs national
Median hourly $29.39
10th percentile $47,350
90th percentile $105,300
Employed locally 420
National median $61,770

Compare Curators salary & buying power

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Curators
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Chicago, IL-IN
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $47,350
    25th
    $53,610
    50th (median)
    $61,140
    75th
    $79,250
    90th
    $105,300

    Chicago economic context

    Unemployment rate 5.10% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $88,850 2023 • Census ACS
    Curators salary vs area income 69% Median Curators salary is 31% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Curators

    Metro areaMedian salary
    New Haven, CT $97,820
    Ann Arbor, MI $97,090
    Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH $96,640
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $94,110
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $90,290
    New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $86,420

    Nearby metros — Curators salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA $72,520
    Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD $63,040
    Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI $61,960
    Illinois $60,850
    St. Louis, MO-IL $60,450
    Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN $60,280

    Related occupations in Chicago, IL-IN

    OccupationMedian salary
    Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education$75,020
    Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary$36,830
    Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$80,440
    Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$75,690
    Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education$37,460
    Self-Enrichment Teachers$44,770

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Curators make per hour in Chicago?

    The median hourly wage for Curators in Chicago, IL-IN is $29.39, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $52.75 or more per hour.

    Is Chicago above or below average for Curators salaries?

    The median Curators salary in Chicago, IL-IN is 1% below the national median of $61,770. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Curators in Chicago?

    Entry-level Curators (10th percentile) earn around $47,350 per year in Chicago, IL-IN. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $53,610.