Smithsonian Institution salaries
Full-time civilian employees of the Smithsonian Institution earned a median of $93,994 in annualized adjusted
basic pay in September 2026, 14% below the all-federal median of $109,641. The middle half earned between $70,623 and $133,142.
Median pay
$93,994
full-time, September 2026
Middle 50%
$70,623–$133,142
25th–75th percentile
Employees
4,073
all schedules
Pay published for
99.1%
of employees
Pay distribution, full-time employees with published pay, September 2026 Smithsonian Institution
$55,420 10th $70,623 25th $93,994 Median $133,142 75th $172,700 90th
Time period September 2026 snapshot (as of September 30, 2026; published November 4, 2026)
Population Civilian employees of the Smithsonian Institution
Geography All duty stations, including those with location withheld Pay definition Annualized adjusted basic pay: base pay plus locality or special-rate supplement, after pay caps. Excludes bonuses, overtime, allowances and benefits. More Coverage
OPM published pay for 4,036 of 4,073 employees (99.1%).
Pay figures use the 3,990 full-time employees with published pay. Coverage details Smithsonian Institution pay by occupation The 25 largest occupations at this agency with at least 30 full-time employees with published pay.
Smithsonian Institution pay by occupation Occupation Employees Median pay Middle 50% $0 $50K $100K $150K $200K $250K Security Guard Series 0085 600 $62,888 $55,804–$69,376 Museum Specialist and Technician Series 1016 327 $102,540 $85,447–$122,899 Miscellaneous Transportation/Mobile Equipment Operation Series 5701 270 $49,566 $49,248–$59,646 General Arts and Information Series 1001 230 $112,657 $91,815–$138,024 Miscellaneous Administration and Program Series 0301 219 $105,389 $89,618–$133,142 Information Technology Management Series 2210 185 $154,263 $126,196–$177,497 Utility Systems Repairing-Operating Series 4742 147 $86,256 $75,633–$92,966 Museum Curator Series 1015 112 $146,143 $129,772–$172,700 Exhibits Specialist Series 1010 102 $109,243 $91,480–$122,899 Miscellaneous Plant and Animal Work Series 5001 89 $77,136 $65,532–$80,162 Engineering Technical Series 0802 66 $112,657 $103,158–$129,728 Maintenance Mechanic Series 4749 65 $81,623 $75,508–$84,628 Miscellaneous General Services and Support Work Series 3501 64 $42,241 $40,550–$44,244 Security Administration Series 0080 63 $119,485 $97,522–$146,143 Facility Operations Services Series 1640 63 $133,964 $116,071–$160,713 General Natural Resources Management and Biological Sciences Series 0401 61 $121,785 $91,145–$163,104 Human Resources Management Series 0201 61 $150,203 $126,313–$172,700 Management and Program Analysis Series 0343 60 $121,192 $106,844–$158,322 Visual Information Series 1084 47 $126,313 $102,478–$137,576 Financial Administration and Program Series 0501 46 $129,904 $104,122–$157,295 Administrative Officer Series 0341 44 $140,054 $109,243–$158,306 Miscellaneous Clerk and Assistant Series 0303 40 $71,209 $59,661–$75,059 Librarian Series 1410 40 $109,023 $93,994–$133,142 Astronomy and Space Science Series 1330 38 $197,200 $172,133–$209,295 Archivist Series 1420 36 $111,872 $98,980–$123,752
Smithsonian Institution pay by state States where the agency has at least 30 full-time employees with published pay and a published duty station.
Smithsonian Institution pay by state State Employees Median pay Middle 50% $50K $100K $150K $200K $250K District of Columbia 3,211 $93,994 $70,311–$133,142 Maryland 368 $88,296 $67,543–$119,485 Virginia 197 $99,692 $77,136–$157,295 New York 128 $84,461 $68,579–$104,078 Massachusetts 48 $197,200 $182,162–$209,292
Change since September 2025 The median moved +1.0% from $93,059 in September 2025 to $93,994 in September 2026. Headcount went from 4,315 to 4,073 (−5.6%). A change in the median reflects both pay adjustments and who joined or left the workforce, so it is not the same as a pay raise.