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.
From people doing the work
Working as a museum technician or conservator is a careful blend of art and science. One day you might be carefully cleaning a centuries-old painting, the next you could be analyzing the chemical composition of a metal artifact. It's very to preserve history, but it requires patience, attention to detail, and a deep understanding of materials and their degradation.
Drawn from AIC discussions, ICOM-CC publications, Reddit r/MuseumPros
Attribution: Composite
Composite · Synthesised from AIC discussions, ICOM-CC publications, Reddit r/MuseumPros
A day in the life of Museum Technicians and Conservators
- People interaction
- Extensive
- Team vs solo
- 80% Team / 20% Solo
- Client facing
- Sometimes
- Impact visibility
- Moderate
- Travel
- Occasional
- Schedule flexibility
- Flexible
- Remote work
- On-site Only
- Typical work hours
- 40-50
- Stress level
- Moderate
Museum Technicians and Conservators salary, education and outlook at a glance
- Median salary
- $47,460
- Entry-level
- $31,000
- Senior
- $78,000
- Growth by 2033
- +5.4%
- Demand
- Stable
- Freelance potential
- Moderate
- Salary growth potential
- 152%
- Typical student debt
- High
Skills you need as Museum Technicians and Conservators
Hard skills
- Fine Arts
- Complex Problem Solving
- Graphics or photo imaging software
Soft skills
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Coordination
- Active Listening
Technical complexity: Low
Tools of the trade
Core tools
- Adobe Photoshop (Software): Used for image manipulation and restoration of digital representations of artifacts.
- Microscopes (Hardware): Essential for detailed examination of artifacts and specimens to identify damage or deterioration.
- Spectrophotometers (Hardware): Used to analyze the chemical composition of materials for conservation treatments.
- Environmental monitoring equipment (Hardware): Devices for tracking temperature, humidity, and light levels to ensure optimal storage conditions for collections.
Commonly used
- Integrated Pest Management (IPM) systems (Standard): A set of guidelines and practices for preventing and controlling pests in museum collections.
- Collection Management Systems (CMS) (Software): Software used to catalog, track, and manage museum objects and their associated data.
Specialist tools
- Conservation-grade adhesives (Toolkit): Specialized glues and bonding agents used for repairing delicate artifacts without causing further damage.
How to become Museum Technicians and Conservators
- Minimum education
- Master's Degree
- Licensing
- Yes
- Years to mid-career
- 5-8
- Years to senior
- 15-25
- Career switching
- Moderate
Where this career leads
How people arrive here
- Archaeological Technician: Individuals with a background in archaeological fieldwork often transition to museum roles focused on artifact processing and conservation.
- Archivist: Professionals managing historical documents and records can pivot to museum roles, especially those involving paper and book conservation.
- Exhibit Preparator: Those experienced in preparing and installing museum exhibits may move into technician roles with a focus on object handling and display.
Where you can go from here
- Curator: Museum technicians and conservators often advance to curator positions, taking on more responsibility for collection development and research.
- Collections Manager: With experience in object care and documentation, technicians can move into management roles overseeing entire collections.
- Conservation Scientist: Conservators with a strong scientific background may pursue roles focused on research and development of new conservation techniques.
Typical progression
- Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary
- Museum Technicians and Conservators
- Curators
- Archivists
- or Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians
Museum Technicians and Conservators job outlook and future demand
- Automation probability
- Moderate-High
- AI disruption risk
- Moderate
- Demand trend
- Stable
Job satisfaction as Museum Technicians and Conservators
- Overall satisfaction
- 7.2/10
- Meaning
- 8.5/10
- Work-life balance
- 7.5/10
- Prestige
- 7.5/10
- Social perception
- High
Where practitioners gather
Professional organisations
- American Institute for Conservation (AIC): A professional organization dedicated to preserving cultural heritage through conservation excellence.
- International Council of Museums (ICOM) Conservation Committee (ICOM-CC): The largest of ICOM's International Committees, fostering international cooperation in conservation.
- Museums Association: A membership organization for museum and gallery professionals in the UK, offering training and advocacy.
Podcasts and media
- The Getty Conservation Institute (GCI) Newsletter: Provides updates on GCI's projects, research, and publications in the field of conservation.
Reddit communities
- r/MuseumPros: An online community for museum professionals to discuss challenges, share insights, and network.