Museum Technicians and Conservators

Job Zone 4 - Considerable preparation needed

Restore, maintain, or prepare objects in museum collections for storage, research, or exhibit. May work with specimens such as fossils, skeletal parts, or botanicals; or artifacts, textiles, or art. May identify and record objects or install and arrange them in exhibits. Includes book or document conservators.

Pay & job outlook

Median pay: $51,440/yr (U.S. national, May 2025)

$33,780$87,530

Typical range nationwide (10th–90th percentile). This is a population snapshot, not a personal prediction - actual pay varies by location, employer, and experience.

Job outlook: +5.4% projected growth, 2024–2034 — faster than average.

About 1,900 openings per year, on average, over the decade.

Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS and Employment Projections.

Top skills

Active ListeningReading ComprehensionSpeakingCritical ThinkingWritingMonitoringComplex Problem SolvingJudgment and Decision MakingInstructingActive Learning

Top knowledge areas

Fine ArtsEnglish LanguagePublic Safety and SecurityHistory and ArcheologyAdministration and ManagementChemistryAdministrativeMechanical

Core tasks

• Install, arrange, assemble, and prepare artifacts for exhibition, ensuring the artifacts' safety, reporting their status and condition, and identifying and correcting any problems with the set up.

• Repair, restore, and reassemble artifacts, designing and fabricating missing or broken parts, to restore them to their original appearance and prevent deterioration.

• Clean objects, such as paper, textiles, wood, metal, glass, rock, pottery, and furniture, using cleansers, solvents, soap solutions, and polishes.

• Photograph objects for documentation.

• Determine whether objects need repair and choose the safest and most effective method of repair.

• Prepare artifacts for storage and shipping.

• Enter information about museum collections into computer databases.

• Recommend preservation procedures, such as control of temperature and humidity, to curatorial and building staff.

Frequently asked questions

What's the median pay for Museum Technicians and Conservators?

The median pay for Museum Technicians and Conservators is $51,440 per year, per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

What's the job outlook for Museum Technicians and Conservators?

Employment for Museum Technicians and Conservators is projected to change +5.4% from 2024 to 2034 - faster than average.

What education is typically required for Museum Technicians and Conservators?

Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.

How many job openings are there each year for Museum Technicians and Conservators?

About 1,900 openings per year, on average, over the decade.