Museum Technician and Conservator Salary
Museum Technicians and Conservators earn a median $51,440 a year nationally. Educational Instruction and Library Occupations
U.S. median
$51,440
$24.73 per hour
Range
$33,780 – $87,530
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
12,310
across the U.S.
Museum Technician and Conservator take-home pay calculator
Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.
Your take-home pay
$43,512
per year · effective tax rate 15.4%
$3,626Monthly
$1,813Twice a month
$1,674Every 2 weeks
$20.92Hourly
- 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 |
Best cities for museum technicians and conservators (after tax & cost of living)
| # | Metro area | Median | Take-home | Real value* | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington, DC | $79,230 | $60,802 | $55,841 | 970 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $77,030 | $59,458 | $52,822 | 820 |
| 3 | St. Louis, MO | $50,690 | $41,464 | $43,606 | 750 |
*Take-home pay in U.S.-average dollars (BEA Regional Price Parities).
Highest-paying cities
- Washington, DC — $79,230
- New York, NY — $77,030
- St. Louis, MO — $50,690
Museum Technician and Conservator salary by state
| State | Median | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maryland | $76,900 | $59,640 | $48,740 – $140,670 | 450 |
| District of Columbia | $76,110 | $58,873 | $36,420 – $118,290 | 520 |
| New York | $74,550 | $57,847 | $46,000 – $103,800 | 1,050 |
| Connecticut | $62,030 | $50,155 | $43,670 – $95,420 | 280 |
| California | $61,550 | $49,093 | $39,660 – $86,200 | 1,610 |
| Alaska | $60,840 | $51,065 | $37,960 – $75,040 | 60 |
| Washington | $59,610 | $50,077 | $42,430 – $77,650 | 280 |
| Massachusetts | $58,530 | $46,502 | $45,740 – $83,470 | 440 |
| Illinois | $56,720 | $45,092 | $38,610 – $96,470 | 400 |
| New Mexico | $56,670 | $46,217 | $30,250 – $69,490 | 100 |
| Nevada | $56,470 | $47,554 | $36,460 – $92,860 | 70 |
| Wyoming | $56,420 | $47,513 | $30,670 – $67,640 | 60 |
| Rhode Island | $55,470 | $45,287 | $48,470 – $94,890 | 70 |
| Florida | $53,460 | $45,135 | $38,710 – $80,860 | 250 |
| Virginia | $52,190 | $41,928 | $37,060 – $90,230 | 310 |
| Colorado | $51,990 | $42,375 | $36,250 – $77,870 | 290 |
| Iowa | $51,740 | $42,439 | $34,370 – $82,020 | 100 |
| Minnesota | $50,140 | $40,581 | $39,690 – $70,950 | 170 |
| Kentucky | $49,940 | $40,676 | $28,320 – $74,770 | 80 |
| Georgia | $49,270 | $39,834 | $31,200 – $96,430 | 150 |
| Missouri | $49,170 | $40,314 | $37,660 – $69,970 | 850 |
| Maine | $48,460 | $39,028 | $36,810 – $63,410 | 60 |
| Oklahoma | $48,090 | $39,202 | $29,110 – $76,000 | 190 |
| Ohio | $47,570 | $39,877 | $33,280 – $80,750 | 350 |
| Pennsylvania | $47,150 | $38,618 | $35,040 – $84,290 | 310 |
| Arizona | $46,650 | $38,706 | $35,410 – $68,920 | 90 |
| Indiana | $46,490 | $38,193 | $33,780 – $80,360 | 290 |
| Kansas | $46,320 | $37,613 | $29,290 – $64,310 | 130 |
| Texas | $45,880 | $39,045 | $24,770 – $71,000 | 670 |
| Oregon | $45,820 | $35,817 | $34,720 – $69,320 | 170 |
| Tennessee | $44,710 | $38,104 | $31,910 – $69,470 | 210 |
| New Jersey | $43,780 | $36,486 | $32,220 – $76,770 | 110 |
| Idaho | $43,520 | $35,950 | $27,560 – $61,990 | 40 |
| Montana | $42,390 | $35,005 | $31,470 – $62,400 | 120 |
| Nebraska | $41,960 | $34,865 | $32,180 – $61,590 | 60 |
| Arkansas | $41,280 | $33,951 | $30,130 – $62,640 | 110 |
| Hawaii | $40,170 | $32,875 | $38,690 – $58,920 | 140 |
| North Carolina | $39,290 | $32,691 | $30,930 – $56,080 | 450 |
| Michigan | $39,000 | $32,110 | $33,780 – $62,140 | 340 |
| Wisconsin | $38,840 | $32,460 | $26,240 – $58,300 | 160 |
| Alabama | $38,350 | $31,342 | $23,770 – $70,400 | 130 |
| South Carolina | $38,290 | $31,806 | $30,680 – $56,050 | 90 |
| Delaware | $38,080 | $31,341 | $35,810 – $78,310 | 60 |
| Utah | $35,430 | $30,020 | $28,230 – $64,260 | 100 |
| Louisiana | $32,350 | $27,589 | $30,230 – $52,640 | 200 |
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. After taxes and local prices, Washington, DC offers the best real take-home pay of any metro area.
How many museum technicians and conservators are there in the U.S.?
About 12,310 people work as museum technicians and conservators nationwide.