Curators pay range in Grand Rapids
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $39,480 a year or less, while the top 10% make $79,350 or more. The middle half of curators in Grand Rapids earn between $48,960 and $78,780.
- $39K10th
- $49K25th
- $63KMedian
- $79K75th
- $79K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $64,730 | $5,394 | $31.12 |
| Median | $63,190 | $5,266 | $30.38 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $48,960 | $4,080 | $23.54 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $78,780 | $6,565 | $37.88 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Curators pay in Grand Rapids vs. Michigan and the U.S.
Curators in Grand Rapids earn 7% less than the Michigan average ($69,710) and 10% less than the U.S. average ($71,560). At the median the gap is -0% against the U.S. median of $63,420.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Rapids | $64,730 | $63,190 | $39,480 | $79,350 | 40 |
| Michigan | $69,710 | $63,190 | $36,440 | $105,970 | 360 |
| 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 Grand Rapids
On the average salary of $64,730, a single filer in Grand Rapids takes home about $50,802 a year, or $4,234 a month and $1,954 every two weeks. Taxes take 22% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Includes Grand Rapids's local income tax (1.5%).
Is Grand Rapids a good place for curators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Grand Rapids area are 4% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 95.5), so the average $64,730 buys what about $67,747 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.3 times the median wage of all jobs in Grand Rapids ($47,570). A typical home costs $359,923, or 5.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Curators salary in other Michigan cities
Grand Rapids ranks 3rd of 3 Michigan metro areas for this job; Ann Arbor pays the most ($95,110).
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 Grand Rapids: questions
How much do curators make an hour in Grand Rapids?
$31.12 an hour on average, and $30.38 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level curators salary in Grand Rapids?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $39,480 a year and the 25th percentile is $48,960, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the curators take-home pay in Grand Rapids?
About $50,802 a year ($4,234 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $64,730. Includes Grand Rapids's local income tax (1.5%).
Do curators earn more in Grand Rapids 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 Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI (24340). 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). Includes Grand Rapids's local income tax (1.5%).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.83, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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