Secondary School Teacher
Median wage · national
$72,040
Range: $60K – $93K
Employed
1.1M
Openings/yr
66K
Typically: bachelor's degree
HUMANITIES
Museum Technicians and Conservators
Museum Technicians and Conservators earn $51,440 nationally at the median. The middle 50% of workers fall between $41,050 and $67,640. Where you land depends on specialization, employer, and experience.
About Museum Technicians and Conservators
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.
- Median Wage
- $51,440
- Employed Nationally
- 12K
- Openings / Year
- 1,900
- Entry Education
- Bachelor's degree
- Job Zone
- Zone 4: Considerable Preparation
Also known as:
Archaeological Technician
Armorer Technician
Art Conservator
Art Handler
Art Objects Repairer
How Much Do Museum Technicians and Conservators Make?
Museum Technicians and Conservators earn $51,440 nationally, below average for bachelor's degree holders. The middle 50% of earners fall between $41,050 and $67,640. Actual pay varies by employer, specialization, and location.
$51,440
National Median (Annual)
Below average for bachelor's degree holders.
$41K–$68K
Middle 50% Range
25th to 75th percentile. Most workers earn within this band.
Earnings Range
$41,050
Entry-level
$51,440
Median
$67,640
Experienced
What Do Museum Technicians and Conservators Do?
O*NET data identifies 5 core activities and 5 measurable skills for Museum Technicians and Conservators roles. Use this section to judge whether the day-to-day reality aligns with what you actually want to spend time doing.
What You'll Do
- 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.
Core Skills Employers Look For
Active Listening
Reading Comprehension
Speaking
Critical Thinking
Writing
Who Thrives Here
R
Realistic
Hands-on tasks, physical activity, or working with tools and real materials are central parts of the daily work here.
C
Conventional
Success depends on precision and structured processes, where detail-oriented people who work consistently within established systems perform best.
I
Investigative
This career demands analytical thinking: researching problems, interpreting data, and applying logical reasoning to find practical solutions.
Where Do Museum Technicians and Conservators Work?
What the physical and mental conditions of this job actually look like day to day, based on O*NET Work Context data collected from people working in this occupation.
Work Setting
Mixed
Split between indoor and outdoor or field settings.
Physical Demands
Light
Mix of sitting and movement throughout the day.
Stress Level
Moderate
Moderate pressure. Regular deadlines exist but are generally manageable with experience.
What Is the Job Outlook for Museum Technicians and Conservators?
The BLS projects +5.4% employment change for Museum Technicians and Conservators through 2034, roughly in line with the national average of +5%. About 1,900 openings per year keep the field accessible to new entrants.
↗ +5.4%
10-Year Growth (2024–2034)
About as fast as average.
1,900
Annual Openings
New positions plus replacements for retirees and career-changers.
12K
Currently Employed
Total US employment as of BLS May 2024.
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 and Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2024.
Where the Jobs Are
The five states below employ the most Museum Technicians and Conservators professionals nationwide. State-level wages can differ significantly from the $51,440 national median. Research your specific market before committing to a program.
| # | State | Jobs | Median Wage | vs. National |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 1,790 | $58,960 | +14.6% |
| 2 | New York | 1,060 | $64,680 | +25.7% |
| 3 | Missouri | 1,000 | $46,680 | -9.3% |
| 4 | Texas | 780 | $34,320 | -33.3% |
| 5 | North Carolina | 740 | $39,190 | -23.8% |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024. Employment figures rounded. Read our methodology →
How to Get Here
Most Museum Technicians and Conservators positions require a bachelor's degree to qualify. The 3 programs below are the most common academic pathways into this field, ranked by how many graduates they produce each year.
Typical Entry Education
Bachelor's degree
Job Zone
Zone 4: Considerable Preparation
These positions typically require a bachelor's degree and several years of related experience before advancing into senior roles.
Degree Programs That Lead Here
| # | Program | Graduates/yr | 4yr Median | Colleges |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fine Arts | 36,332 | $41,367 | 1,458 |
| 2 | History | 31,255 | $50,680 | 1,474 |
| 3 | Museology/Museum Studies | 892 | $36,787 | 95 |
Top Colleges for Aspiring Museum Technicians and Conservators
Colleges offering the degree programs that lead to this career, ranked by UCD Score. A strong program plus solid outcomes is a good place to begin your search.
| # | College | UCD Score | Net Price | Salary 10yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United States Naval Academy Annapolis, MD | 97 | — | — |
| 2 | United States Air Force Academy USAF Academy, CO | 96 | — | — |
| 3 | United States Military Academy West Point, NY | 96 | — | — |
| 4 | Princeton University Princeton, NJ | 94 | $6,128 | $110,066 |
| 5 | CUNY Bernard M Baruch College New York, NY | 93 | $3,033 | $75,971 |
| 6 | University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA | 93 | $12,548 | $82,511 |
Plan Your Path
Once you've sized up Museum Technicians and Conservators, these tools turn the numbers into a plan. Estimate the real cost of a degree that leads here, weigh the long-term payoff, compare specific colleges side-by-side, and find programs that match your profile.
College ROI Calculator
See if the degree that leads to Museum Technicians and Conservators pays off. Weighs each college's cost against the earnings graduates see.
College Cost Calculator
Enter a budget and see the colleges whose net price fits, with the out-of-pocket cost and likely loan load for each.
Compare Colleges
Put any 2–4 colleges side-by-side. Admissions, cost, outcomes, and earnings, all on one screen, no tab-hopping.
College Match Quiz
Answer six quick questions and see your best-fit colleges ranked by budget, field of study, and what matters most to you.
Museum Technicians and Conservators Pros & Cons
The data on Museum Technicians and Conservators shows 1 measurable strengths and 2 real trade-offs. All points are drawn from BLS wage data, employment projections, and IPEDS program completions.
PROS
- Steady job outlook The BLS projects +5.4% growth through 2034, keeping pace with the national average. Demand is stable and annual openings remain consistent.
CONS
- Modest median salary At $51,440 median, this career lags STEM and business fields. High-cost degree programs may be difficult to justify on salary alone.
- Multi-year ramp before career-level pay This is a Job Zone 4 occupation, these positions typically require a bachelor's degree and several years of related experience before advancing into senior roles. Most workers in this field spend their first several years at entry-level pay well below the $51,440 median while building the experience employers require.
Museum Technicians and Conservators Frequently Asked Questions
How much do Museum Technicians and Conservators professionals earn?
The national median annual wage for Museum Technicians and Conservators is $51,440, below the national median, program ROI depends heavily on keeping tuition costs low. The middle 50% of earners fall between $41,050 and $67,640. Pay varies by employer size, industry sector, specialization, and geography. National figures are a starting point, not a guarantee.
Is Museum Technicians and Conservators a good career?
Museum Technicians and Conservators involves trade-offs worth understanding before committing. At $51,440 median, programs with high tuition are difficult to justify on salary return alone. Prioritize in-state public schools or employer-sponsored pathways. Job growth is projected at +5.4% through 2034. Genuine interest in the work, not just the salary, matters most here.
How long does it take to become a Museum Technicians and Conservators?
Expect 4 years of undergraduate education followed by 2 or more years of field experience before most employers consider you qualified for career-level positions. A bachelor's degree is the typical minimum credential. Degree programs like Fine Arts are typical entry paths. Early-career pay during this ramp-up period will be meaningfully below the $51,440 national median. Factor that gap into any program ROI calculation.
What is the job outlook for Museum Technicians and Conservators?
The BLS projects +5.4% employment change for Museum Technicians and Conservators through 2034, about as fast as average compared to all occupations. About 1,900 job openings per year are projected, including new positions and replacements for workers who retire or change careers. 12K people currently work in this occupation nationwide (BLS May 2024).
What skills do Museum Technicians and Conservators professionals need?
O*NET data identifies the core skills employers consistently prioritize for Museum Technicians and Conservators roles: Active Listening, Reading Comprehension, Speaking, Critical Thinking, and Writing. These develop through formal education and hands-on work. Programs with internship or co-op requirements give you a meaningful head start on the ones that take time to build.
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