U.S. Federal Government (non-Defense) / Department of Interior / Museum Curator

Job-title file

Museum Curator

Carry out the duties of this position in support of the agency's public mission.

168 employees hold this title in Department of Interior. Median total compensation for the role is $94,317, above the department median of $87,331.

Employees: 168
Total payroll: $16.4M
Role median: $94,317
Agency median: $87,331
Comparison: Above

What the records show

Role pay distribution

Pay distribution for this role

$57,594$156,377+

Hover a bar for its range; click to filter the list below.

How total compensation varies among the 168 people in this role. Even for one job title, pay differs with seniority, step, overtime, and tenure. Each bar is a pay range; the far-right bar collects the highest earners.

Compared with the local labor market

Museum Curator pay vs. the United States

Across all employers in the United States, the median wage for Curators — about 12,150 people — is $63,420. Department of Interior pays a median base salary of $94,317 for this role, 49% above that figure — about the 82nd percentile of local pay for the occupation.

Where Department of Interior sits in the local pay range

10th

25th

Median

75th

90th

$40,470

$48,870

$63,420

$83,080

$107,140

Department of Interior median · $94,317

The bar is the range of annual wages for Curators across every employer in the United States, from the 10th to the 90th percentile, with the middle 50% highlighted. The marker shows Department of Interior’s median base salary for this role. Both figures are base pay only.

Median total compensation for this role at Department of Interior is $94,317, which includes overtime and employer-paid benefits. The benchmark above excludes both, so total compensation is deliberately not compared against it.

Benchmark: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025). BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) covers all employers in the area — private, non-profit, and government alike — so this is a comparison against the whole local labor market for the occupation, not against private-sector pay. OEWS wages are straight-time pay and exclude overtime, shift differentials, and employer-paid benefits, so the government figure shown here is base pay on the same basis. Total compensation is not comparable to it. Job titles are matched to the closest standard occupation, so the comparison is between similar work rather than an identical job classification.

Compare departments

This role across U.S. Federal Government (non-Defense)

Museum Curator is held in 11 U.S. Federal Government (non-Defense) departments. In Department of Interior, the median of $94,317 ranks #11 of 11.

Highest-paying departments for this role

U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum

$181,216 · 4

Department of State

$152,093 · 12

Department of Veterans Affairs

$150,713 · 1

Department of Treasury

$149,422 · 3

Smithsonian Institution

$145,489 · 134

Department of Commerce

$144,127 · 1

Presidio Trust

$133,864 · 1

Nat Archives and Records Administration

$127,902 · 12

Department of Health and Human Services

$123,478 · 4

Department of Homeland Security

$114,078 · 2

Median total compensation for the Museum Curator role in other U.S. Federal Government (non-Defense)departments (highest first). Each bar links to that department’s page for this role.

Compare jurisdictions

Museum Curator beyond U.S. Federal Government (non-Defense)

This role is reported in 3 jurisdictions. In U.S. Federal Government (non-Defense), the median of $117,681 ranks #1 of 3. See Museum Curator across all of U.S. Federal Government (non-Defense) →

Highest-paying jurisdictions for this role

California

$77,573 · 30

Tennessee

$60,441 · 6

Median total compensation for comparable Museum Curatorroles in other jurisdictions. Titles are matched by normalized name across sources, not identical job classification, and pay is not cost-of-living adjusted. Each bar links to that jurisdiction’s page for the role.

Record list

Employees with this title

Page 1

Kimberly Besom

Museum Curator/Department of Interior

2024 total comp

$75,956

Sub-department: National Park Service
Base pay: $75,956
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $75,956
Pay grade: 09
Work city: Grand Canyon
Work county: Coconino
Work state: Arizona

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $75,956
Basic Pay (before locality): $65,020
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 040223005
Length of Service (Years): 33
Occupation Code (OPM): 1015
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Kimberly Besom holds the role of Museum Curator at Department of Interior based in Grand Canyon, Arizona. In 2024, their total compensation was $75,956. Their pay grade is 09.

Melissa Hoskins

Museum Curator/Department of Interior

2024 total comp

$75,472

Sub-department: National Park Service
Base pay: $74,972
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $500
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $75,472
Pay grade: 11
Work city: Springdale
Work county: Washington
Work state: Utah

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $74,972
Basic Pay (before locality): $64,177
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 491855053
Length of Service (Years): 8
Occupation Code (OPM): 1015
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Melissa Hoskins works as a Museum Curator for Department of Interior based in Springdale, Utah. Melissa earned $75,472 in 2024. Their pay grade is 11.

Nora Greiman

Museum Curator/Department of Interior

2024 total comp

$74,972

Sub-department: National Park Service
Base pay: $74,972
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $74,972
Pay grade: 11
Work city: Lincoln
Work county: Lancaster
Work state: Nebraska

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $74,972
Basic Pay (before locality): $64,177
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 312830109
Length of Service (Years): 10
Occupation Code (OPM): 1015
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

At Department of Interior, Nora Greiman serves as a Museum Curator based in Lincoln, Nebraska. Their 2024 pay totaled $74,972. They are classified at grade 11.

Patricia Smith

Museum Curator/Department of Interior

2024 total comp

$74,517

Sub-department: National Park Service
Base pay: $74,517
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $74,517
Pay grade: 09
Work city: Quincy
Work county: Norfolk
Work state: Massachusetts

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $74,517
Basic Pay (before locality): $56,465
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 251060021
Length of Service (Years): 23
Occupation Code (OPM): 1015
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

At Department of Interior, Patricia Smith serves as a Museum Curator based in Quincy, Massachusetts. Their 2024 pay totaled $74,517. They are classified at grade 09.

Valerie Butterfield

Museum Curator/Department of Interior

2024 total comp

$74,050

Sub-department: National Park Service
Base pay: $74,050
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $74,050
Pay grade: 11
Work city: Moccasin
Work county: Mohave
Work state: Arizona

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $74,050
Basic Pay (before locality): $62,107
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 040315015
Length of Service (Years): 8
Occupation Code (OPM): 1015
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Valerie Butterfield works as a Museum Curator for Department of Interior based in Moccasin, Arizona. Valerie earned $74,050 in 2024. Their pay grade is 11.

Bambi Allen

Museum Curator/Department of Interior

2024 total comp

$73,958

Sub-department: Office of the Secretary of the Interior
Base pay: $73,958
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $73,958
Pay grade: 09
Work city: Anadarko
Work county: Caddo
Work state: Oklahoma

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $73,958
Basic Pay (before locality): $63,309
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 400160015
Length of Service (Years): 12
Occupation Code (OPM): 1015
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Bambi Allen holds the role of Museum Curator at Department of Interior based in Anadarko, Oklahoma. In 2024, their total compensation was $73,958. Their pay grade is 09.

Sharon Small

Museum Curator/Department of Interior

2024 total comp

$73,958

Sub-department: National Park Service
Base pay: $73,958
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $73,958
Pay grade: 09
Work city: Crow Agency
Work county: Big Horn
Work state: Montana

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $73,958
Basic Pay (before locality): $63,309
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 300285003
Length of Service (Years): 18
Occupation Code (OPM): 1015
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Sharon Small works as a Museum Curator for Department of Interior based in Crow Agency, Montana. Sharon earned $73,958 in 2024. Their pay grade is 09.

Elizabeth Demaria

Museum Curator/Department of Interior

2024 total comp

$72,648

Sub-department: National Park Service
Base pay: $70,448
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $2,200
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $72,648
Pay grade: 09
Work city: Patchogue
Work county: Suffolk
Work state: New York

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $70,448
Basic Pay (before locality): $51,332
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 364670103
Length of Service (Years): 11
Occupation Code (OPM): 1015
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Elizabeth Demaria works as a Museum Curator for Department of Interior based in Patchogue, New York. Elizabeth earned $72,648 in 2024. Their pay grade is 09.

Alexander Kim

Museum Curator/Department of Interior

2024 total comp

$72,553

Sub-department: National Park Service
Base pay: $72,553
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $72,553
Pay grade: 11
Work city: Hagerman
Work county: Gooding
Work state: Idaho

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $72,553
Basic Pay (before locality): $62,107
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 160640047
Length of Service (Years): 2
Occupation Code (OPM): 1015
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Alexander Kim is a Museum Curator at Department of Interior based in Hagerman, Idaho. 2024 total compensation came to $72,553. They are classified at grade 11.

Ann Roos

Museum Curator/Department of Interior

2024 total comp

$72,553

Sub-department: National Park Service
Base pay: $72,553
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $72,553
Pay grade: 11
Work city: Scranton
Work county: Lackawanna
Work state: Pennsylvania

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $72,553
Basic Pay (before locality): $62,107
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 427460069
Length of Service (Years): 14
Occupation Code (OPM): 1015
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Ann Roos holds the role of Museum Curator at Department of Interior based in Scranton, Pennsylvania. In 2024, their total compensation was $72,553. Their pay grade is 11.

Jessica Bitter

Museum Curator/Department of Interior

2024 total comp

$72,553

Sub-department: National Park Service
Base pay: $72,553
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $72,553
Pay grade: 11
Work city: MT Pleasant
Work county: Charleston
Work state: South Carolina

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $72,553
Basic Pay (before locality): $62,107
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 451710019
Length of Service (Years): 3
Occupation Code (OPM): 1015
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

At Department of Interior, Jessica Bitter serves as a Museum Curator based in Mt Pleasant, South Carolina. Their 2024 pay totaled $72,553. They are classified at grade 11.

Coquelicot Shirey

Museum Curator/Department of Interior

2024 total comp

$72,553

Sub-department: National Park Service
Base pay: $72,553
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $72,553
Pay grade: 11
Work city: Asheville
Work county: Buncombe
Work state: North Carolina

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $72,553
Basic Pay (before locality): $62,107
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 370170021
Length of Service (Years): 4
Occupation Code (OPM): 1015
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Coquelicot Shirey works as a Museum Curator for Department of Interior based in Asheville, North Carolina. Coquelicot earned $72,553 in 2024. Their pay grade is 11.