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Smithsonian Institution salaries
Smithsonian Institution salary estimate
$60,644yearly
How much does Smithsonian Institution pay?
The average Smithsonian Institution salary in the United States is $60,644 per year. Smithsonian Institution salaries range between $37,000 a year in the bottom 10th percentile to $98,000 in the top 90th percentile. Smithsonian Institution pays $29.16 an hour on average. Geographic location also impacts Smithsonian Institution salaries. Smithsonian Institution employees in Washington, DC get paid the most.Highest paying jobs at Smithsonian Institution
The highest paying jobs at Smithsonian Institution are director, project manager, information technology specialist, and program manager. Director jobs at Smithsonian Institution earn an average yearly salary of $141,734, Smithsonian Institution project manager jobs average $108,842, and Smithsonian Institution information technology specialist jobs average $104,232.
The lowest paying Smithsonian Institution roles include gallery attendant and volunteer. Smithsonian Institution gallery attendant average salary is $38,528 per year. So while the average Smithsonian Institution salary is $60,644 there is a big variation in pay depending on the role.
Highest paying jobs at Smithsonian Institution
| Rank | Job Title | Average Smithsonian Institution Salary | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Director | $141,734 | $68.14 |
| 2 | Project Manager | $108,842 | $52.33 |
| 3 | Information Technology Specialist | $104,232 | $50.11 |
| 4 | Program Manager | $102,490 | $49.27 |
| 5 | Team Leader | $100,025 | $48.09 |
| 6 | Corporal | $96,330 | $46.31 |
| 7 | Geologist | $94,761 | $45.56 |
| 8 | Investment Analyst | $91,540 | $44.01 |
| 9 | Repair Operator | $86,105 | $41.40 |
| 10 | Museum Curator | $80,620 | $38.76 |
| 11 | Physical Scientist | $80,462 | $38.68 |
| 12 | Conservator | $79,605 | $38.27 |
| 13 | Audio/Visual Operator | $79,154 | $38.05 |
| 14 | Museum Technician | $79,147 | $38.05 |
| 15 | Educator | $77,854 | $37.43 |
| 16 | Entomologist | $76,634 | $36.84 |
| 17 | Animal Keeper | $75,302 | $36.20 |
| 18 | Contracts Administrator | $73,547 | $35.36 |
| 19 | Ecologist | $72,905 | $35.05 |
| 20 | Auditor | $71,300 | $34.28 |
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Average Smithsonian Institution salary by state
Smithsonian Institution pays the highest salaries in District of Columbia due to higher costs of living and competition in the state.
| Rank | State | Average Smithsonian Institution Salary | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | $73,103 | $35.15 |
| 2 | New York | $69,034 | $33.19 |
| 3 | Massachusetts | $68,318 | $32.85 |
| 4 | Maryland | $63,453 | $30.51 |
| 5 | Virginia | $63,327 | $30.45 |
How much does Smithsonian Institution pay by location?
Highest Paying Smithsonian Institution Locations
| Rank | Location | Average Smithsonian Institution Salary | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington, DC | $73,125 | $35.16 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $69,173 | $33.26 |
| 3 | Cambridge, MA | $68,319 | $32.85 |
| 4 | Suitland, MD | $63,429 | $30.49 |
| 5 | Front Royal, VA | $63,136 | $30.35 |
| 6 | Amado, AZ | $57,364 | $27.58 |
| 7 | Fort Pierce, FL | $57,280 | $27.54 |
| 8 | Hilo, HI | $53,541 | $25.74 |
| 9 | Malta, MT | $52,170 | $25.08 |
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Smithsonian Institution salaries by department
Salaries at Smithsonian Institution vary depending on the department you work in. Smithsonian Institution salaries in the it department are the highest with an average salary of $89,136. Employees in the finance department at Smithsonian Institution receive relatively high salaries as well, with an average salary of $80,294 per year. Departments that don't pay as well at Smithsonian Institution include the facilities and the administrative organizational functions, with employees earning average salaries of $51,865 and $58,492, respectively.
Average Smithsonian Institution salary by department
| Rank | Department | Average Smithsonian Institution Salary | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | IT | $89,136 | $42.85 |
| 2 | Finance | $80,294 | $38.60 |
| 3 | Engineering | $77,509 | $37.26 |
| 4 | Plant/Manufacturing | $75,996 | $36.54 |
| 5 | Sales | $73,882 | $35.52 |
| 6 | Education | $73,247 | $35.21 |
| 7 | Non Profit/Government | $67,268 | $32.34 |
| 8 | Customer Service | $64,302 | $30.91 |
| 9 | Research & Development | $62,039 | $29.83 |
| 10 | Art/Design | $61,473 | $29.55 |
| 11 | Marketing | $59,914 | $28.80 |
| 12 | Accounting | $59,275 | $28.50 |
| 13 | Retail | $58,743 | $28.24 |
| 14 | Administrative | $58,493 | $28.12 |
| 15 | Facilities | $51,866 | $24.94 |
How much does Smithsonian Institution pay by department?
Best paying Smithsonian Institution facilities salaries
| Rank | Position | Average Smithsonian Institution Salary | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Facilities Planner | $100,365 | $48.25 |
| 2 | Landscape Gardener | $81,173 | $39.03 |
| 3 | Locksmith | $76,365 | $36.71 |
| 4 | Animal Keeper | $75,302 | $36.20 |
| 5 | Safety Coordinator | $66,871 | $32.15 |
| 6 | Maintenance Mechanic Helper | $66,583 | $32.01 |
| 7 | Securities Clerk | $60,185 | $28.94 |
| 8 | Protective Officer | $59,717 | $28.71 |
| 9 | Electronics Technician | $59,263 | $28.49 |
| 10 | Maintenance Worker | $58,819 | $28.28 |
| 11 | Special Police | $55,712 | $26.78 |
| 12 | Building Service Worker | $45,195 | $21.73 |
| 13 | Security Officer | $42,632 | $20.50 |
| 14 | Security Guard | $41,971 | $20.18 |
| 15 | Cleaner | $39,773 | $19.12 |
| 16 | Custodian | $39,176 | $18.83 |
Best paying Smithsonian Institution research & development salaries
| Rank | Position | Average Smithsonian Institution Salary | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chief Scientist | $114,258 | $54.93 |
| 2 | Geologist | $94,761 | $45.56 |
| 3 | Contract Researcher | $82,114 | $39.48 |
| 4 | Physical Scientist | $80,462 | $38.68 |
| 5 | Entomologist | $76,634 | $36.84 |
| 6 | Ecologist | $72,905 | $35.05 |
| 7 | Graduate Fellow | $67,420 | $32.41 |
| 8 | Biologist | $64,391 | $30.96 |
| 9 | Research Internship | $59,126 | $28.43 |
| 10 | Research Assistant | $58,000 | $27.88 |
| 11 | Laboratory Internship | $51,639 | $24.83 |
| 12 | Doctoral Fellow | $50,181 | $24.13 |
| 13 | Visiting Researcher | $47,753 | $22.96 |
| 14 | Laboratory Technician | $42,701 | $20.53 |
Best paying Smithsonian Institution administrative salaries
| Rank | Position | Average Smithsonian Institution Salary | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Executive Associate | $116,889 | $56.20 |
| 2 | Administrator | $89,377 | $42.97 |
| 3 | Contract Worker | $88,526 | $42.56 |
| 4 | Student Internship | $81,008 | $38.95 |
| 5 | Document Specialist | $76,308 | $36.69 |
| 6 | Senior Executive Secretary | $66,234 | $31.84 |
| 7 | Administrative Specialist | $65,132 | $31.31 |
| 8 | Administrative Assistant | $56,228 | $27.03 |
| 9 | Office Volunteer | $53,126 | $25.54 |
| 10 | Project Management Internship | $51,167 | $24.60 |
| 11 | Scanning Technician | $50,614 | $24.33 |
| 12 | Office Assistant | $50,056 | $24.07 |
| 13 | Receptionist | $45,461 | $21.86 |
| 14 | Mail Clerk | $42,385 | $20.38 |
| 15 | File Clerk | $36,555 | $17.57 |
What employees say about salary at Smithsonian Institution
Creativity, working with smart people, great project
Position was a term position, so I did not have an opportunity to advance.
Retirement plan, health benefits
Frequently asked questions about Smithsonian Institution salaries
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