Curators pay range in Charleston
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $38,050 a year or less, while the top 10% make $79,350 or more. The middle half of curators in Charleston earn between $44,420 and $69,060.
- $38K10th
- $44K25th
- $47KMedian
- $69K75th
- $79K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $56,350 | $4,696 | $27.09 |
| Median | $47,200 | $3,933 | $22.69 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $44,420 | $3,702 | $21.36 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $69,060 | $5,755 | $33.20 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Curators pay in Charleston vs. South Carolina and the U.S.
Curators in Charleston earn about the same as the South Carolina average ($55,640) and 21% less than the U.S. average ($71,560). At the median the gap is -26% against the U.S. median of $63,420.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston | $56,350 | $47,200 | $38,050 | $79,350 | 30 |
| South Carolina | $55,640 | $47,200 | $35,800 | $78,430 | 120 |
| 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 Charleston
On the average salary of $56,350, a single filer in Charleston takes home about $46,037 a year, or $3,836 a month and $1,771 every two weeks. Taxes take 18% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Charleston a good place for curators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Charleston area are in line with the U.S. average (BEA price parity 101.0), so the average $56,350 buys what about $55,813 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Charleston ($49,150). A typical home costs $435,877, or 7.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Curators salary in other South Carolina cities
Charleston ranks 1st of 2 South Carolina metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Charleston$56,350
- Columbia$56,150
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
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Curators salary in Charleston: questions
How much do curators make an hour in Charleston?
$27.09 an hour on average, and $22.69 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level curators salary in Charleston?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $38,050 a year and the 25th percentile is $44,420, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the curators take-home pay in Charleston?
About $46,037 a year ($3,836 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $56,350.
Do curators earn more in Charleston than elsewhere?
The average here is 21% less 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 Charleston-North Charleston, SC (16700). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.3%.
- 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 (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.02, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.