SOC 254013

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.

National Median

$47,460

per year

National Salary Overview

Median Annual

$47,460

Entry Level (10th pct)

$30,720

Experienced (90th pct)

$82,790

Total Employed

13,070

Salary Distribution

Salary percentiles show the range from entry-level (10th) to top earners (90th)

Salary by Experience Level

Experience Level	Estimated Salary Range
Entry Level0-2 years experience	$30,720 - $37,460
Mid Career2-8 years experience	$37,460 - $62,990
Senior / Expert8+ years experience	$62,990 - $82,790

Highest Paying Locations for Museum Technicians and Conservators

Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV

$74,370

+56.7% vs national

District of Columbia

$74,300

+56.6% vs national

Maryland

$72,950

+53.7% vs national

San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA

$72,480

+52.7% vs national

New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ

$70,370

+48.3% vs national

Museum Technicians and Conservators Salary by Location

Compare salaries across 50 metropolitan areas

Metropolitan Area	Median Salary	Employed
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV	$74,370	980
District of Columbia	$74,300	520
Maryland	$72,950	420
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA	$72,480	470
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ	$70,370	850
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA	$66,460	40
Connecticut	$66,070	210
New York	$64,680	1,060
Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY	$64,680	70
Alaska	$63,490	60
Alaska nonmetropolitan area	$63,490	40
Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY	$62,900	30
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA	$60,670	640
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH	$60,320	210
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA	$60,300	60
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA	$59,890	180
Massachusetts	$59,130	290
California	$58,960	1,790
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA	$58,540	60
Washington	$58,470	270
Santa Fe, NM	$54,790	50
Rhode Island	$54,230	50
Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO	$51,940	130
Colorado	$51,780	190
Providence-Warwick, RI-MA	$51,660	50
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA	$51,290	70
Albuquerque, NM	$51,170	40
New Mexico	$51,170	130
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL	$50,920	60
Tulsa, OK	$50,680	50
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA	$50,270	110
Florida	$49,740	190
Wyoming	$49,250	70
Indiana	$49,240	190
Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN	$49,240	70
Rochester, NY	$49,010	50
Virginia	$48,640	360
Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC	$48,580	170
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA	$48,510	N/A
Georgia	$48,380	160
Cleveland, OH	$48,270	90
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA	$47,980	200
West Virginia	$47,910	30
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA	$47,900	50
Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH	$47,670	80
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI	$47,570	120
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD	$47,520	260
Iowa	$47,520	110
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN	$47,410	100
Richmond, VA	$47,130	60

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average salary for a Museum Technicians and Conservators?

The national median annual salary for Museum Technicians and Conservators is $47,460, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data. This means half of workers in this occupation earn more, and half earn less.

Where do Museum Technicians and Conservatorss earn the most?

The highest-paying metro area for Museum Technicians and Conservatorss is Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV, with a median salary of $74,370.

How much can an experienced Museum Technicians and Conservators make?

Top-earning Museum Technicians and Conservatorss (90th percentile) make $82,790 or more annually. This typically reflects workers with significant experience, specialized skills, or positions in high-paying regions.