Median pay
$47,460
Median annual pay for Museum Technicians and Conservators.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024
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Education
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.
10-year growth
5.4%
Projected employment growth from 2024 to 2034.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024–2034 projections
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Annual openings
1,900
Projected annual openings, including growth and replacement demand.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024–2034 projections
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Employment
15,700
Estimated U.S. employment for Museum Technicians and Conservators in 2024.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024
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Jobs added or lost
+800
Projected numeric employment change from 2024 to 2034.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024–2034 projections
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Entry preparation
Bachelor's degree
Typical education needed to enter Museum Technicians and Conservators.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024 profile
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O*NET occupation profile
What the work involves
Strongest O*NET signals first.
Essential skills
- 1Active Listening
- 2Reading Comprehension
- 3Speaking
- 4Critical Thinking
- 5Writing
- 6Monitoring
Knowledge areas
- 1Fine Arts
- 2English Language
- 3Public Safety and Security
- 4History and Archeology
- 5Administration and Management
- 6Chemistry
Abilities
- 1Near Vision
- 2Oral Expression
- 3Information Ordering
- 4Oral Comprehension
- 5Speech Clarity
- 6Speech Recognition
Career interests
- 1Realistic
- 2Conventional
- 3Investigative
- 4Artistic
- 5Social
- 6Enterprising
Work styles
- 1Attention to Detail
- 2Cautiousness
- 3Dependability
- 4Integrity
- 5Intellectual Curiosity
- 6Cooperation
Work activities
- 1Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
- 2Getting Information
- 3Handling and Moving Objects
- 4Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
- 5Making Decisions and Solving Problems
- 6Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
Work context
- 1Freedom to Make Decisions
- 2Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- 3Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals
- 4Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
- 5Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
- 6E-Mail
Representative 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.
Software and tools
Adobe Acrobat · hot technologyMicrosoft Word · hot technologyMicrosoft PowerPoint · hot technologyMicrosoft Outlook · hot technologyMicrosoft Office software · hot technologyMicrosoft Active Server Pages ASP · hot technologyMicrosoft Excel · hot technologyAutodesk AutoCAD · hot technologyAdobe Photoshop · hot technologyAdobe InDesign · hot technologyAdobe Illustrator · hot technologyAdobe Creative Cloud software · hot technology
Sources
BLS provides national pay, employment, and projections. O*NET provides skills, interests, preparation, tasks, work context, and tools.