Curators pay range in Sacramento
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $58,600 a year or less, while the top 10% make $117,250 or more. The middle half of curators in Sacramento earn between $71,150 and $101,500.
- $59K10th
- $71K25th
- $78KMedian
- $102K75th
- $117K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $84,900 | $7,075 | $40.82 |
| Median | $78,420 | $6,535 | $37.70 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $71,150 | $5,929 | $34.21 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $101,500 | $8,458 | $48.80 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Curators pay in Sacramento vs. California and the U.S.
Curators in Sacramento earn about the same as the California average ($86,330) and 19% more than the U.S. average ($71,560). At the median the gap is +24% against the U.S. median of $63,420.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sacramento | $84,900 | $78,420 | $58,600 | $117,250 | 50 |
| California | $86,330 | $78,740 | $53,390 | $125,670 | 1,140 |
| United States | $71,560 | $63,420 | $40,470 | $107,140 | 12,150 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Curators salary after taxes in Sacramento
On the average salary of $84,900, a single filer in Sacramento takes home about $64,753 a year, or $5,396 a month and $2,491 every two weeks. Taxes take 24% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is Sacramento a good place for curators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Sacramento area are 7% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 106.7), so the average $84,900 buys what about $79,591 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.3 times the median wage of all jobs in Sacramento ($59,750). A typical home costs $582,707, or 6.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Curators salary in other California cities
Sacramento ranks 4th of 6 California metro areas for this job; San Francisco pays the most ($98,200).
- San Francisco$98,200
- San Diego$88,290
- Los Angeles$85,350
- Sacramento$84,900
- Riverside$75,370
- Santa Maria$72,660
Highest-paying cities for curators
New York, NY pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($99,910).
- New York, NY$99,910
- New Haven, CT$99,830
- San Francisco, CA$98,200
- Ann Arbor, MI$95,110
- Washington, DC$93,030
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Curators salary in Sacramento: questions
How much do curators make an hour in Sacramento?
$40.82 an hour on average, and $37.70 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level curators salary in Sacramento?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $58,600 a year and the 25th percentile is $71,150, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the curators take-home pay in Sacramento?
About $64,753 a year ($5,396 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $84,900. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do curators earn more in Sacramento than elsewhere?
The average here is 19% more than the U.S. average for this job ($71,560).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 25-4012; area Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA (40900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.8%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.63, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.63).
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