Curators pay range in Houston
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $43,650 a year or less, while the top 10% make $103,160 or more. The middle half of curators in Houston earn between $50,500 and $75,070.
- $44K10th
- $50K25th
- $57KMedian
- $75K75th
- $103K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $64,170 | $5,348 | $30.85 |
| Median | $57,290 | $4,774 | $27.54 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $50,500 | $4,208 | $24.28 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $75,070 | $6,256 | $36.09 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Curators pay in Houston vs. Texas and the U.S.
Curators in Houston earn about the same as the Texas average ($64,880) and 10% less than the U.S. average ($71,560). At the median the gap is -10% against the U.S. median of $63,420.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Houston | $64,170 | $57,290 | $43,650 | $103,160 | 150 |
| Texas | $64,880 | $59,990 | $43,040 | $93,860 | 690 |
| 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 Houston
On the average salary of $64,170, a single filer in Houston takes home about $53,741 a year, or $4,478 a month and $2,067 every two weeks. Taxes take 16% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Houston a good place for curators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Houston area are in line with the U.S. average (BEA price parity 98.6), so the average $64,170 buys what about $65,062 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Houston ($49,410). A typical home costs $308,306, or 4.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Curators salary in other Texas cities
Houston ranks 4th of 4 Texas metro areas for this job; Dallas pays the most ($72,610).
- Dallas$72,610
- Austin$69,380
- San Antonio$65,210
- Houston$64,170
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 Houston: questions
How much do curators make an hour in Houston?
$30.85 an hour on average, and $27.54 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level curators salary in Houston?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $43,650 a year and the 25th percentile is $50,500, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the curators take-home pay in Houston?
About $53,741 a year ($4,478 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $64,170. Texas has no state income tax.
Do curators earn more in Houston than elsewhere?
The average here is 10% 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 Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX (26420). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.6%.
- 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 no state income tax.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.58, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.58).
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