Museum Technician and Conservator Salary
Museum Technicians and Conservators earn a median $51,440 a year nationally. Educational Instruction and Library Occupations
What museum technicians and conservators do
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.
- Typical education
- Bachelor's degree
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +3.6% (about average)
- Openings per year
- 1,600
- Self-employed
- 8%
Employment of museum technicians and conservators is projected to grow 3.6% from 2025 to 2035, about the same as the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 1,600 openings are expected each year, on average, including jobs left by workers who retire or switch careers.
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Museum Technician and Conservator take-home pay calculator
Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,993
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,189
- Medicare (1.45%)$746
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$43,512
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Pay by experience
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home (no state tax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $33,780 | $16.24 | $29,322 |
| 25th percentile | $41,050 | $19.74 | $35,164 |
| Median (50th) | $51,440 | $24.73 | $43,512 |
| 75th percentile | $67,640 | $32.52 | $56,415 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $87,530 | $42.08 | $70,407 |
Museum Technician and Conservator salary by state
| State | Median | 1-yr change | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maryland | $76,900 | +5.4% | $59,640 | $48,740 – $140,670 | 450 |
| District of Columbia | $76,110 | +2.4% | $58,873 | $36,420 – $118,290 | 520 |
| New York | $74,550 | +15.3% | $57,847 | $46,000 – $103,800 | 1,050 |
| Connecticut | $62,030 | −6.1% | $50,155 | $43,670 – $95,420 | 280 |
| California | $61,550 | +4.4% | $49,093 | $39,660 – $86,200 | 1,610 |
| Alaska | $60,840 | −4.2% | $51,065 | $37,960 – $75,040 | 60 |
| Washington | $59,610 | +1.9% | $50,077 | $42,430 – $77,650 | 280 |
| Massachusetts | $58,530 | −1.0% | $46,502 | $45,740 – $83,470 | 440 |
| Illinois | $56,720 | +22.9% | $45,092 | $38,610 – $96,470 | 400 |
| New Mexico | $56,670 | +10.7% | $46,217 | $30,250 – $69,490 | 100 |
| Nevada | $56,470 | +31.9% | $47,554 | $36,460 – $92,860 | 70 |
| Wyoming | $56,420 | +14.6% | $47,513 | $30,670 – $67,640 | 60 |
| Rhode Island | $55,470 | +2.3% | $45,287 | $48,470 – $94,890 | 70 |
| Florida | $53,460 | +7.5% | $45,135 | $38,710 – $80,860 | 250 |
| Virginia | $52,190 | +7.3% | $41,928 | $37,060 – $90,230 | 310 |
| Colorado | $51,990 | +0.4% | $42,375 | $36,250 – $77,870 | 290 |
| Iowa | $51,740 | +8.9% | $42,439 | $34,370 – $82,020 | 100 |
| Minnesota | $50,140 | +16.0% | $40,581 | $39,690 – $70,950 | 170 |
| Kentucky | $49,940 | +44.5% | $40,676 | $28,320 – $74,770 | 80 |
| Georgia | $49,270 | +1.8% | $39,834 | $31,200 – $96,430 | 150 |
| Missouri | $49,170 | +5.3% | $40,314 | $37,660 – $69,970 | 850 |
| Maine | $48,460 | +6.2% | $39,028 | $36,810 – $63,410 | 60 |
| Oklahoma | $48,090 | +16.3% | $39,202 | $29,110 – $76,000 | 190 |
| Ohio | $47,570 | +1.1% | $39,877 | $33,280 – $80,750 | 350 |
| Pennsylvania | $47,150 | +2.0% | $38,618 | $35,040 – $84,290 | 310 |
| Arizona | $46,650 | +4.9% | $38,706 | $35,410 – $68,920 | 90 |
| Indiana | $46,490 | −5.6% | $38,193 | $33,780 – $80,360 | 290 |
| Kansas | $46,320 | +15.3% | $37,613 | $29,290 – $64,310 | 130 |
| Texas | $45,880 | +33.7% | $39,045 | $24,770 – $71,000 | 670 |
| Oregon | $45,820 | +3.5% | $35,817 | $34,720 – $69,320 | 170 |
| Tennessee | $44,710 | +6.7% | $38,104 | $31,910 – $69,470 | 210 |
| New Jersey | $43,780 | +5.0% | $36,486 | $32,220 – $76,770 | 110 |
| Idaho | $43,520 | +6.7% | $35,950 | $27,560 – $61,990 | 40 |
| Montana | $42,390 | +7.2% | $35,005 | $31,470 – $62,400 | 120 |
| Nebraska | $41,960 | +6.1% | $34,865 | $32,180 – $61,590 | 60 |
| Arkansas | $41,280 | −5.8% | $33,951 | $30,130 – $62,640 | 110 |
| Hawaii | $40,170 | +4.7% | $32,875 | $38,690 – $58,920 | 140 |
| North Carolina | $39,290 | +0.3% | $32,691 | $30,930 – $56,080 | 450 |
| Michigan | $39,000 | +2.3% | $32,110 | $33,780 – $62,140 | 340 |
| Wisconsin | $38,840 | +17.9% | $32,460 | $26,240 – $58,300 | 160 |
| Alabama | $38,350 | −7.4% | $31,342 | $23,770 – $70,400 | 130 |
| South Carolina | $38,290 | +4.9% | $31,806 | $30,680 – $56,050 | 90 |
| Delaware | $38,080 | +2.0% | $31,341 | $35,810 – $78,310 | 60 |
| Utah | $35,430 | −18.0% | $30,020 | $28,230 – $64,260 | 100 |
| Louisiana | $32,350 | −6.7% | $27,589 | $30,230 – $52,640 | 200 |
Related jobs
| Job | Median salary | Education | Growth 2025–35 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Curator | $63,420 | Master's degree | +4.9% |
| Archivist | $64,550 | Master's degree | +3.4% |
| Library Technician | $44,580 | Postsecondary nondegree award | -6.4% |
| Librarian and Media Collections Specialist | $68,270 | Master's degree | +2.6% |
| Educational Instruction and Library Workers, All Other | $50,890 | Bachelor's degree | +1.8% |
| Self-Enrichment Teacher | $46,800 | High school diploma or equivalent | +3.5% |
| Tutor | $43,350 | Some college, no degree | -0.2% |
| Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary | $42,910 | Bachelor's degree | +2.7% |
| Farm and Home Management Educator | $60,220 | Master's degree | -3.2% |
| Substitute Teachers, Short-Term | $41,670 | Bachelor's degree | +2.0% |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a museum technician and conservator make?
The national median salary for museum technicians and conservators is $51,440 a year ($24.73 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $33,780 and the top 10% earn over $87,530. Source: BLS, May 2025.
Which state pays museum technicians and conservators the most?
Maryland has the highest median pay at $76,900.
How many museum technicians and conservators are there in the U.S.?
About 12,310 people work as museum technicians and conservators nationwide.