All About Museum Technicians and Conservators
Occupation Description 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.
Daily Life Of a Museum Technician or Conservator
- Construct skeletal mounts of fossils, replicas of archaeological artifacts, or duplicate specimens, using a variety of materials and hand tools.
- Coordinate exhibit installations, assisting with design, constructing displays, dioramas, display cases, and models, and ensuring the availability of necessary materials.
- Photograph objects for documentation.
- Classify and assign registration numbers to artifacts and supervise inventory control.
- Prepare artifacts for storage and shipping.
- Plan and conduct research to develop and improve methods of restoring and preserving specimens.
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What Skills Do You Need to Work as a Museum Technician or Conservator?
Museum Technicians and Conservators state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Types of Museum Technician or Conservator
- Artifacts Conservator
- Textile Conservator
- Fine Arts Packer
- Preparator
- Conservation Technician
Is There Going to be Demand for Museum Technicians and Conservators?
In the United States, there were 11,800 jobs for Museum Technician or Conservator in 2016. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 12.7% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 1,500 new jobs for Museum Technician or Conservator by 2026. There will be an estimated 1,400 positions for Museum Technician or Conservator per year.
The states with the most job growth for Museum Technician or Conservator are Utah, Washington, and Colorado. Watch out if you plan on working in Vermont, Rhode Island, or North Dakota. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Museum Technician or Conservator Salary
The average yearly salary of a Museum Technician or Conservator ranges between $25,430 and $74,840.
Museum Technicians and Conservators who work in District of Columbia, Maryland, or Connecticut, make the highest salaries.
How much do Museum Technicians and Conservators make in each U.S. state?
| State | Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $41,260 |
| Alaska | $50,660 |
| Arizona | $38,950 |
| Arkansas | $35,650 |
| California | $48,120 |
| Colorado | $42,580 |
| Connecticut | $55,340 |
| District of Columbia | $68,460 |
| Florida | $41,600 |
| Georgia | $43,390 |
| Hawaii | $39,270 |
| Illinois | $45,210 |
| Indiana | $36,250 |
| Iowa | $45,520 |
| Kansas | $36,040 |
| Kentucky | $39,410 |
| Louisiana | $24,690 |
| Maine | $40,610 |
| Maryland | $66,300 |
| Massachusetts | $56,100 |
| Michigan | $36,030 |
| Minnesota | $42,750 |
| Missouri | $41,350 |
| Nebraska | $34,240 |
| Nevada | $36,240 |
| New Jersey | $57,510 |
| New Mexico | $38,690 |
| New York | $56,040 |
| North Carolina | $40,850 |
| Ohio | $41,940 |
| Oklahoma | $34,410 |
| Oregon | $44,350 |
| Pennsylvania | $42,700 |
| South Carolina | $32,820 |
| South Dakota | $31,550 |
| Tennessee | $43,940 |
| Texas | $44,090 |
| Virginia | $45,100 |
| Washington | $46,300 |
| Wisconsin | $37,480 |
| Wyoming | $39,280 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Museum Technicians and Conservators
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Museum Technicians and Conservators:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft Outlook
- Adobe Systems Adobe Photoshop
- Microsoft Visual FoxPro
- Gallery Systems EmbARK
- PastPerfect Software PastPerfect
- Questor Systems ARGUS
How to Become a Museum Technician or Conservator
What education is needed to be a Museum Technician or Conservator?
How many years of work experience do I need?
Where Museum Technicians and Conservators Are Employed
Museum Technicians and Conservators work in the following industries:
Other Jobs You May be Interested In
Those thinking about becoming a Museum Technician or Conservator might also be interested in the following careers:
Those who work as a Museum Technician or Conservator sometimes switch careers to one of these choices:
References:
Image Credit: Jorge Royan via Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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