U.S. Federal Government (non-Defense) / Smithsonian Institution / Museum Curator

Job-title file

Museum Curator

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

134 employees hold this title in Smithsonian Institution. Median total compensation for the role is $145,489, above the department median of $91,039.

Employees: 134
Total payroll: $20M
Role median: $145,489
Agency median: $91,039
Comparison: Above

What the records show

Role pay distribution

Pay distribution for this role

$72,965$206,275+

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

How total compensation varies among the 134 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. Smithsonian Institution pays a median base salary of $145,489 for this role, 129% above that figure — above the 90th percentile of local pay for the occupation.

Where Smithsonian Institution sits in the local pay range

10th

25th

Median

75th

90th

$40,470

$48,870

$63,420

$83,080

$107,140

Smithsonian Institution median · $145,489

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 Smithsonian Institution’s median base salary for this role. Both figures are base pay only.

Median total compensation for this role at Smithsonian Institution is $145,489, 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 Smithsonian Institution, the median of $145,489 ranks #5 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

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

Department of Interior

$94,317 · 168

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

Aaron Bryant

Museum Curator/Smithsonian Institution

2024 total comp

$132,354

Sub-department: Smithsonian Inst (Exc Sep Brds of Trust)
Base pay: $129,759
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $2,595
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $132,354
Pay grade: 13
Work city: Washington
Work county: District of Columbia
Work state: District of Columbia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $129,759
Basic Pay (before locality): $97,373
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 110010001
Length of Service (Years): 7
Occupation Code (OPM): 1015
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Aaron Bryant works as a Museum Curator for Smithsonian Institution based in Washington, District of Columbia. Aaron earned $132,354 in 2024. Their pay grade is 13.

Kathleen Kendrick

Museum Curator/Smithsonian Institution

2024 total comp

$132,271

Sub-department: Smithsonian Inst (Exc Sep Brds of Trust)
Base pay: $132,271
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $132,271
Pay grade: 13
Work city: Monrovia
Work county: Los Angeles
Work state: California

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $132,271
Basic Pay (before locality): $97,373
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 062220037
Length of Service (Years): 11
Occupation Code (OPM): 1015
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

At Smithsonian Institution, Kathleen Kendrick serves as a Museum Curator based in Monrovia, California. Their 2024 pay totaled $132,271. They are classified at grade 13.

Timothy Winkle

Museum Curator/Smithsonian Institution

2024 total comp

$131,759

Sub-department: Smithsonian Inst (Exc Sep Brds of Trust)
Base pay: $129,759
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $2,000
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $131,759
Pay grade: 13
Work city: Washington
Work county: District of Columbia
Work state: District of Columbia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $129,759
Basic Pay (before locality): $97,373
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 110010001
Length of Service (Years): 13
Occupation Code (OPM): 1015
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Timothy Winkle holds the role of Museum Curator at Smithsonian Institution based in Washington, District of Columbia. In 2024, their total compensation was $131,759. Their pay grade is 13.

Kevin Dumouchelle

Museum Curator/Smithsonian Institution

2024 total comp

$129,759

Sub-department: Smithsonian Inst (Exc Sep Brds of Trust)
Base pay: $129,759
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $129,759
Pay grade: 13
Work city: Washington
Work county: District of Columbia
Work state: District of Columbia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $129,759
Basic Pay (before locality): $97,373
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 110010001
Length of Service (Years): 7
Occupation Code (OPM): 1015
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Kevin Dumouchelle holds the role of Museum Curator at Smithsonian Institution based in Washington, District of Columbia. In 2024, their total compensation was $129,759. Their pay grade is 13.

Mary Elliott

Museum Curator/Smithsonian Institution

2024 total comp

$129,759

Sub-department: Smithsonian Inst (Exc Sep Brds of Trust)
Base pay: $129,759
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $129,759
Pay grade: 13
Work city: Washington
Work county: District of Columbia
Work state: District of Columbia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $129,759
Basic Pay (before locality): $97,373
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 110010001
Length of Service (Years): 10
Occupation Code (OPM): 1015
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Mary Elliott is a Museum Curator at Smithsonian Institution based in Washington, District of Columbia. 2024 total compensation came to $129,759. They are classified at grade 13.

Kanitra Fletcher

Museum Curator/Smithsonian Institution

2024 total comp

$129,759

Sub-department: National Gallery of Art
Base pay: $129,759
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $129,759
Pay grade: 13
Work city: Washington
Work county: District of Columbia
Work state: District of Columbia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $129,759
Basic Pay (before locality): $97,373
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 110010001
Length of Service (Years): 3
Occupation Code (OPM): 1015
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Kanitra Fletcher holds the role of Museum Curator at Smithsonian Institution based in Washington, District of Columbia. In 2024, their total compensation was $129,759. Their pay grade is 13.

Frank Blazich

Museum Curator/Smithsonian Institution

2024 total comp

$129,759

Sub-department: Smithsonian Inst (Exc Sep Brds of Trust)
Base pay: $129,759
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $129,759
Pay grade: 13
Work city: Washington
Work county: District of Columbia
Work state: District of Columbia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $129,759
Basic Pay (before locality): $97,373
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 110010001
Length of Service (Years): 12
Occupation Code (OPM): 1015
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Frank Blazich holds the role of Museum Curator at Smithsonian Institution based in Washington, District of Columbia. In 2024, their total compensation was $129,759. Their pay grade is 13.

Amy Groleau

Museum Curator/Smithsonian Institution

2024 total comp

$129,759

Sub-department: Smithsonian Inst (Exc Sep Brds of Trust)
Base pay: $129,759
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $129,759
Pay grade: 13
Work city: Suitland
Work county: Prince George's
Work state: Maryland

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $129,759
Basic Pay (before locality): $97,373
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 241520033
Length of Service (Years): 2
Occupation Code (OPM): 1015
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Amy Groleau holds the role of Museum Curator at Smithsonian Institution based in Suitland, Maryland. In 2024, their total compensation was $129,759. Their pay grade is 13.

Modupe Labode

Museum Curator/Smithsonian Institution

2024 total comp

$129,759

Sub-department: Smithsonian Inst (Exc Sep Brds of Trust)
Base pay: $129,759
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $129,759
Pay grade: 13
Work city: Washington
Work county: District of Columbia
Work state: District of Columbia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $129,759
Basic Pay (before locality): $97,373
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 110010001
Length of Service (Years): 4
Occupation Code (OPM): 1015
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Modupe Labode works as a Museum Curator for Smithsonian Institution based in Washington, District of Columbia. Modupe earned $129,759 in 2024. Their pay grade is 13.

Harmony Muir

Museum Curator/Smithsonian Institution

2024 total comp

$129,759

Sub-department: Smithsonian Inst (Exc Sep Brds of Trust)
Base pay: $129,759
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $129,759
Pay grade: 13
Work city: Washington
Work county: District of Columbia
Work state: District of Columbia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $129,759
Basic Pay (before locality): $97,373
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 110010001
Length of Service (Years): 7
Occupation Code (OPM): 1015
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Harmony Muir works as a Museum Curator for Smithsonian Institution based in Washington, District of Columbia. Harmony earned $129,759 in 2024. Their pay grade is 13.

Matthew Shindell

Museum Curator/Smithsonian Institution

2024 total comp

$129,759

Sub-department: Smithsonian Inst (Exc Sep Brds of Trust)
Base pay: $129,759
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $129,759
Pay grade: 13
Work city: Washington
Work county: District of Columbia
Work state: District of Columbia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $129,759
Basic Pay (before locality): $97,373
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 110010001
Length of Service (Years): 8
Occupation Code (OPM): 1015
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Matthew Shindell holds the role of Museum Curator at Smithsonian Institution based in Washington, District of Columbia. In 2024, their total compensation was $129,759. Their pay grade is 13.

Jacobs Schaefer

Museum Curator/Smithsonian Institution

2024 total comp

$128,956

Sub-department: Smithsonian Inst (Exc Sep Brds of Trust)
Base pay: $128,956
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $128,956
Pay grade: 12
Work city: Washington
Work county: District of Columbia
Work state: District of Columbia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $128,956
Basic Pay (before locality): $96,770
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 110010001
Length of Service (Years): 41
Occupation Code (OPM): 1015
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Jacobs Schaefer works as a Museum Curator for Smithsonian Institution based in Washington, District of Columbia. Jacobs earned $128,956 in 2024. Their pay grade is 12.

Dorothy Cochrane

Museum Curator/Smithsonian Institution

2024 total comp

$128,956

Sub-department: Smithsonian Inst (Exc Sep Brds of Trust)
Base pay: $128,956
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $128,956
Pay grade: 12
Work city: Washington
Work county: District of Columbia
Work state: District of Columbia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $128,956
Basic Pay (before locality): $96,770
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 110010001
Length of Service (Years): 46
Occupation Code (OPM): 1015
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Dorothy Cochrane works as a Museum Curator for Smithsonian Institution based in Washington, District of Columbia. Dorothy earned $128,956 in 2024. Their pay grade is 12.