Museum Technicians and Conservators Salary in the United States
The median annual wage for museum technicians and conservators in the U.S. is $51,440 ($24.73 per hour), according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, May 2025 estimates.
- Median annual wage
- $51,440
- Mean annual wage
- $57,410
- Median hourly wage
- $24.73
- Employment
- 12,310
12,310 employed
Wage percentiles
| Percentile | Annual wage | Hourly wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $33,780 | $16.24 |
| 25th percentile | $41,050 | $19.73 |
| Median (50th) | $51,440 | $24.73 |
| 75th percentile | $67,640 | $32.52 |
| 90th percentile | $87,530 | $42.08 |
Highest-paying states for museum technicians and conservators
| State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Maryland | $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 |
Lowest-paying states
- Louisiana: $32,350 median annual wage
- Utah: $35,430 median annual wage
- Delaware: $38,080 median annual wage
- South Carolina: $38,290 median annual wage
- Alabama: $38,350 median annual wage
About this occupation
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.
Typical tasks
- Study object documentation or conduct standard chemical and physical tests to ascertain the object's age, composition, original appearance, need for treatment or restoration, and appropriate preservation method.
- Preserve or direct preservation of objects, using plaster, resin, sealants, hardeners, and shellac.
- Plan and conduct research to develop and improve methods of restoring and preserving specimens.
- Prepare artifacts for storage and shipping.
- Specialize in particular materials or types of object, such as documents and books, paintings, decorative arts, textiles, metals, or architectural materials.
- Perform tests and examinations to establish storage and conservation requirements, policies, and procedures.
Education of the current workforce — typical entry: Bachelor's degree
| Education level | Share of workers |
|---|---|
| Less than high school diploma | 1.2% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 6.6% |
| Some college, no degree | 9.0% |
| Associate's degree | 4.3% |
| Bachelor's degree | 36.1% |
| Master's degree | 35.3% |
| Doctoral or professional degree | 7.4% |
Occupation profile data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor.
Related occupations
- Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary$36,780
- Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education$63,970
- Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$72,040
- Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$64,370
- Substitute Teachers, Short-Term$41,670
- Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education$38,140
- Self-Enrichment Teachers$46,800
- Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School$65,120
About this data
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- CareerOneStop Occupation Profiles — data period 2026-08, retrieved August 14, 2026.
Figures are shown exactly as published by the source or derived by the documented formulas on our methodology page. Where a source suppresses an estimate, we show “—” rather than a substitute value.