Museum Technicians and Conservators: salary, outlook & degrees
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.
Middle half $41,050–$67,640. 12,310 jobs.
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025
Census ACS 2020-2024 microdata, workers with at least a high school diploma; EducationGuide calculation
About 1,600 openings a year, including replacements.
BLS Employment Projections 2025-35
Extensive preparation (usually a graduate degree).
BLS; O*NET 31.0 job zone
Pay by state and metro
| State | Median wage |
|---|---|
| Maryland | $76,900 |
| District of Columbia | $76,110 |
| New York | $74,550 |
| Connecticut | $62,030 |
| California | $61,550 |
| Alaska | $60,840 |
| Washington | $59,610 |
| Massachusetts | $58,530 |
| Illinois | $56,720 |
| New Mexico | $56,670 |
| Nevada | $56,470 |
| Wyoming | $56,420 |
| Rhode Island | $55,470 |
| Florida | $53,460 |
| Virginia | $52,190 |
| Colorado | $51,990 |
| Iowa | $51,740 |
| Minnesota | $50,140 |
| Kentucky | $49,940 |
| Georgia | $49,270 |
| Missouri | $49,170 |
| Maine | $48,460 |
| Oklahoma | $48,090 |
| Ohio | $47,570 |
| Pennsylvania | $47,150 |
| Arizona | $46,650 |
| Indiana | $46,490 |
| Kansas | $46,320 |
| Texas | $45,880 |
| Oregon | $45,820 |
| Tennessee | $44,710 |
| New Jersey | $43,780 |
| Idaho | $43,520 |
| Montana | $42,390 |
| Nebraska | $41,960 |
| Arkansas | $41,280 |
| Hawaii | $40,170 |
| North Carolina | $39,290 |
| Michigan | $39,000 |
| Wisconsin | $38,840 |
| Alabama | $38,350 |
| South Carolina | $38,290 |
| Delaware | $38,080 |
| Utah | $35,430 |
| Louisiana | $32,350 |
Largest metro areas for this job
- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria DC-VA-MD-WV$79,230
- New York-Newark-Jersey City NY-NJ$77,030
- St. Louis MO-IL$50,690
- San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont CA$75,020
- Boston-Cambridge-Newton MA-NH$58,530
- Chicago-Naperville-Elgin IL-IN$58,840
- Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington PA-NJ-DE-MD$47,150
- Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington TX$50,880
- Denver-Aurora-Centennial CO$60,110
- San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad CA$56,590
- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue WA$61,370
- Kansas City MO-KS$48,410
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025: median annual wage, all workers in the job. Metro areas: the largest by employment.
What the work takes
Top skills
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Writing
- Critical Thinking
Knowledge used
- Chemistry
- Fine Arts
- History and Archeology
- English Language
- Education and Training
Work styles
- Attention to Detail
- Cautiousness
- Dependability
- Integrity
- Intellectual Curiosity
People in this job tend to have Realistic (hands-on), Conventional (organizing) interests.
O*NET 31.0 (U.S. Department of Labor, CC BY 4.0): skills and knowledge by importance; work styles; interest high points.
Museum Technicians and Conservators: questions
How much do museum Technicians and Conservators make?
Museum Technicians and Conservators earn a U.S. median $51,440 a year; the middle half earn $41,050 to $67,640 (BLS, May 2025).
Is museum Technicians and Conservators a growing field?
BLS projects growth of 3.6% from 2025 to 2035, with about 1,600 openings a year, including replacements.
What degree do you need to be a museum Technicians and Conservator?
BLS lists the typical entry education as bachelor's degree.
How much do museum Technicians and Conservators make in Florida?
The median in Florida is $53,460 a year (BLS, May 2025), compared with $51,440 nationally.
Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2025; Employment Projections 2025-35); O*NET 31.0 (U.S. Department of Labor, CC BY 4.0); U.S. Census Bureau ACS microdata. SOC 25-4013. Method
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Cite this: “Museum Technicians and Conservators: salary, outlook and degrees,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/careers/museum-technicians-and-conservators.