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.

$57,100

Median Annual Pay

Jobs growth:

+6% projected 2024–2034

What They Do

Museum technicians and conservators work behind the scenes to protect and preserve cultural treasures for future generations. They spend their days carefully examining artifacts, artworks, textiles, and historical objects to assess their condition and determine what care they need. Using specialized tools and techniques, they clean delicate items, repair damage, and stabilize materials to prevent further deterioration. Some focus on specific types of objects, such as paintings, furniture, archaeological finds, or rare documents.

Programs That Prepare You

College programs linked to this occupation, ranked by graduate earnings

Museology/Museum Studies(masters)Fashion Institute of Technology, NY

Museology/Museum Studies(masters)University of the Arts, PA

Museology/Museum Studies(masters)Harvard University, MA

Museology/Museum Studies(masters)George Washington University, DC

Museology/Museum Studies(masters)Johns Hopkins University, MD

Museology/Museum Studies(masters)Georgetown University, DC

Museology/Museum Studies(masters)Marist University, NY

Museology/Museum Studies(masters)Long Island University, NY

Museology/Museum Studies(masters)New York University, NY

Museology/Museum Studies(masters)St. John's University-New York, NY

Museology/Museum Studies(masters)SUNY Buffalo State University, NY

Museology/Museum Studies(masters)SUNY Oneonta, NY

Museology/Museum Studies(masters)CUNY Graduate School and University Center, NY

Museology/Museum Studies(masters)School of Visual Arts, NY

Museology/Museum Studies(grad-cert)University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, WI

Museology/Museum Studies(masters)University of Kansas, KS

Museology/Museum Studies(masters)Baylor University, TX

Museology/Museum Studies(masters)Brigham Young University, UT

Museology/Museum Studies(masters)Brown University, RI

Museology/Museum Studies(masters)California College of the Arts, CA

Museology/Museum Studies(masters)Cleveland State University, OH

Museology/Museum Studies(masters)Drexel University, PA

Museology/Museum Studies(masters)Eastern Michigan University, MI

Museology/Museum Studies(masters)Morgan State University, MD

Museology/Museum Studies(masters)New Mexico State University-Main Campus, NM

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