All careers › Museum Technicians and Conservators
Conservator: pay, job outlook and how to become one
- $33,780lowest 10% earn less
- $41,05025th percentile
- $51,440median
- $67,64075th percentile
- $87,530top 10% earn more
A conservator, grouped by BLS with museum technicians, had a median pay of $51,440 a year in May 2025[1]. Jobs are projected to grow 3.6% from 2025 to 2035[2].
How much do conservators make?
BLS reports pay for conservators together with museum technicians. The median wage was $51,440 a year, or $24.73 an hour[1]. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. The median for all occupations was $50,980[4], so this group sits only a little above it. The mean (average) wage was $57,410 a year, or $27.60 an hour[7].
The range is wide. A percentile wage is a boundary, and BLS does not publish a starting salary[8]. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $33,780 a year, and the top 10% earned more than $87,530[3].
| Percentile | Annual wage | Hourly wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th[3][9] | $33,780 | $16.24 |
| 25th[3][9] | $41,050 | $19.73 |
| Median[1] | $51,440 | $24.73 |
| 75th[3][9] | $67,640 | $32.52 |
| 90th[3][9] | $87,530 | $42.08 |
These figures cover wage and salary workers. They leave out the self-employed and the cost of benefits[10].
Pay by state and city
The highest state medians were Maryland at $76,900, the District of Columbia at $76,110 and New York at $74,550[11]. Louisiana had the lowest listed median at $32,350[11].
California had the most jobs at 1,610[12]. New York followed with 1,050 and Missouri with 850[12].
Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs[13], the Washington, DC area had the highest median at $79,230. The New York area was next at $77,030, then the San Francisco area at $75,020[13]. The Washington area also had the most jobs at 970[14]. New York had 820[14]. The Saint Louis area had 750 jobs and a median of $50,690[14].
Show median pay in 44 states and DC
| State | Median per year | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Maryland[11] | $76,900 | 450 |
| District of Columbia | $76,110 | 520 |
| New York | $74,550 | 1,050 |
| Connecticut | $62,030 | 280 |
| California | $61,550 | 1,610 |
| Alaska | $60,840 | 60 |
| Washington | $59,610 | 280 |
| Massachusetts | $58,530 | 440 |
| Illinois | $56,720 | 400 |
| New Mexico | $56,670 | 100 |
| Nevada | $56,470 | 70 |
| Wyoming | $56,420 | 60 |
| Rhode Island | $55,470 | 70 |
| Florida | $53,460 | 250 |
| Virginia | $52,190 | 310 |
| Colorado | $51,990 | 290 |
| Iowa | $51,740 | 100 |
| Minnesota | $50,140 | 170 |
| Kentucky | $49,940 | 80 |
| Georgia | $49,270 | 150 |
| Missouri | $49,170 | 850 |
| Maine | $48,460 | 60 |
| Oklahoma | $48,090 | 190 |
| Ohio | $47,570 | 350 |
| Pennsylvania | $47,150 | 310 |
| Arizona | $46,650 | 90 |
| Indiana | $46,490 | 290 |
| Kansas | $46,320 | 130 |
| Texas | $45,880 | 670 |
| Oregon | $45,820 | 170 |
| Tennessee | $44,710 | 210 |
| New Jersey | $43,780 | 110 |
| Idaho | $43,520 | 40 |
| Montana | $42,390 | 120 |
| Nebraska | $41,960 | 60 |
| Arkansas | $41,280 | 110 |
| Hawaii | $40,170 | 140 |
| North Carolina | $39,290 | 450 |
| Michigan | $39,000 | 340 |
| Wisconsin | $38,840 | 160 |
| Alabama | $38,350 | 130 |
| South Carolina | $38,290 | 90 |
| Delaware | $38,080 | 60 |
| Utah | $35,430 | 100 |
| Louisiana | $32,350 | 200 |
How to become a conservator
BLS lists a bachelor's degree as the typical entry education for this category, with no related work experience and no on-the-job training[6]. The training details below come from a BLS profile that covers a wider group of museum, archive and curator jobs[15].
- First: for museum technician jobs, earn a bachelor's degree. Museum studies is typical, and archaeology, art history or history are related fields[16].
- Next: for conservator jobs, plan on a master's degree in conservation or a related field[17].
- Then: expect a graduate program of 2 to 4 years, with an internship in the later part[17]. Applicants to these programs must come from archaeology, art history, chemistry or studio art[17].
- Also: build experience. Part-time work, internships and volunteering during or after school are common ways to do it[18]. A conservation internship as an undergraduate may help an applicant to graduate programs[17].
Some museum technician jobs ask for a master's degree in museum studies, and employers may prefer knowledge of the museum's specialty or museum experience[16]. Full-time positions call for substantial experience in areas such as collection management, research, exhibit design or restoration, along with database skills[18]. Some advanced positions may call for a doctoral degree[19].
O*NET places the work in Job Zone Five, which means extensive preparation is needed[20].
What conservators do
Conservators and museum technicians repair and look after museum objects, and get them ready to be stored, studied or shown[21]. Typical tasks include:
- Deciding whether an object needs repair and choosing the safest method[22]
- Cleaning objects made of paper, textiles, wood, metal, glass, stone, pottery or furniture[22]
- Repairing and reassembling artifacts, including making missing parts[22]
- Running tests to learn an object's age, makeup and need for treatment[22]
- Advising curators and building staff on care, such as temperature and humidity[22]
- Setting up artifacts for exhibits and checking their condition[22]
- Writing reports on treatments and condition[22]
- Supervising curatorial, technical and student staff[22]
Sample job titles include Conservator, Objects Conservator, Paper Conservator and Museum Technician[23].
Where they work
In the wider BLS profile, museums, historical sites and similar institutions were the largest employer, at 36%[24]. Some workers spend time at a desk and others work with the public. Those who restore and set up exhibits may lift objects, climb ladders and stretch to reach items[25]. Full-time work is typical[26]. Museum technicians may work evenings and weekends when the institution is open to the public[27]. About 7.9% of workers in this group were self-employed in 2025[28].
Job outlook
BLS projects employment to grow 3.6% from 2025 to 2035, from about 14,000 to 14,500 jobs[2]. Growth for all occupations is projected at 3.5%[29]. These counts include self-employed workers[2].
BLS expects about 1,600 openings a year on average[5]. Openings include jobs left by people who retire or switch occupations, not only new jobs[5]. Each year, 4.8% of workers are projected to leave the labor force and 5.7% to move to a different occupation[30].
OEWS counted about 12,310 wage and salary jobs in May 2025[31]. The projections count includes self-employed workers[2], while OEWS does not[31].
Is it a good fit?
The facts describe a small field with pay close to the all-occupations median[1][4]. Growth is projected at about the same pace as all jobs[2][29]. Training is longer for conservators, since the usual path is a master's degree with a graduate program of 2 to 4 years[17]. Museum technician jobs typically start with a bachelor's degree[16]. Pay depends on place, with Maryland, the District of Columbia and New York at the top[11].
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a conservator make a year?
- The median for museum technicians and conservators was $51,440 a year in May 2025[1]. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $33,780 and the top 10% earned more than $87,530[1][3].
- What degree do you need to be a conservator?
- A BLS profile covering a wider group says conservators typically need a master's degree in conservation or a related field[15][17].
- How long is a conservation graduate program?
- The BLS profile says graduate programs last 2 to 4 years, with an internship in the later part[17].
- Which state pays museum technicians and conservators the most?
- Maryland had the highest median at $76,900, followed by the District of Columbia at $76,110[11].
Facts and sources
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Museum Technicians and Conservators in the US was $51,440 per year and $24.73 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS Employment Projections: employment of Museum Technicians and Conservators is projected to grow 3.6% from 2025 to 2035, from about 14,000 to 14,500 jobs (a change of +500). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Museum Technicians and Conservators: 10th percentile $33,780, 25th percentile $41,050, 75th percentile $67,640, 90th percentile $87,530. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS Employment Projections: about 1,600 openings for Museum Technicians and Conservators are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Museum Technicians and Conservators: education needed for entry: Bachelor's degree; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: None. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Museum Technicians and Conservators was $57,410 per year and $27.60 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Museum Technicians and Conservators: 10th percentile $16.24, 25th percentile $19.73, 75th percentile $32.52, 90th percentile $42.08. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage for Museum Technicians and Conservators in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Museum Technicians and Conservators jobs: California 1,610; New York 1,050; Missouri 850; Texas 670; District of Columbia 520. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Museum Technicians and Conservators (areas with at least 100 jobs): Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $79,230; New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $77,030; San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $75,020; Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $61,370; Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO $60,110; Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI $59,820; Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN $58,840; Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $58,530. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Museum Technicians and Conservators jobs: Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 970 (median $79,230); New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 820 (median $77,030); St. Louis, MO-IL 750 (median $50,690); San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA 420 (median $75,020); Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH 290 (median $58,530); Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 280 (median $58,840). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile "Archivists, Curators, and Museum Workers" covers Museum Technicians and Conservators together with other related occupations, so its text describes the wider group. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Other Experience. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Advancement. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- O*NET 25-4013.00: Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed. Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job. O*NET OnLine
- O*NET description of Museum Technicians and Conservators. O*NET OnLine
- O*NET task list for Museum Technicians and Conservators. O*NET OnLine
- O*NET 25-4013.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Conservation Technician (Conservation Tech), Conservator, Exhibit Technician (Exhibit Tech), Museum Registrar, Museum Technician (Museum Tech), Objects Conservator, Paintings Conservator, Paper Conservator. O*NET OnLine
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of archivists, curators, and museum workers in 2025: Museums, historical sites, and similar institutions 36%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- BLS Employment Projections: 7.9% of Museum Technicians and Conservators were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Museum Technicians and Conservators: 4.8% of workers leave the labor force each year and 5.7% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 12,310 people were employed as Museum Technicians and Conservators in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine
This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.