Museum Technicians and Conservators salary in the U.S.
Museum Technicians and Conservators in the U.S. earn a median of $51,440 a year ($24.73 an hour), based on BLS data for 12,310 workers.
Pay ranges from $33,780 for the lowest-paid 10% to $87,530 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $57,410, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for museum technicians and conservators in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $33,780 | $16.24 |
| 25th percentile | $41,050 | $19.73 |
| Median | $51,440 | $24.73 |
| 75th percentile | $67,640 | $32.52 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $87,530 | $42.08 |
| Average (mean) | $57,410 | $27.60 |
Half of museum technicians and conservators earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $4,286.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,143.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,978.46 |
| Weekly | $989.23 |
| Hourly | $24.73 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Museum Technicians and Conservators salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Maryland | $76,900 | 450 |
| District of Columbia | $76,110 | 520 |
| New York | $74,550 | 1,050 |
| Connecticut | $62,030 | 280 |
| California | $61,550 | 1,610 |
| Alaska | $60,840 | 60 |
| Washington | $59,610 | 280 |
| Massachusetts | $58,530 | 440 |
| Illinois | $56,720 | 400 |
| New Mexico | $56,670 | 100 |
| Nevada | $56,470 | 70 |
| Wyoming | $56,420 | 60 |
| Rhode Island | $55,470 | 70 |
| Florida | $53,460 | 250 |
| Virginia | $52,190 | 310 |
| Colorado | $51,990 | 290 |
| Iowa | $51,740 | 100 |
| Minnesota | $50,140 | 170 |
| Kentucky | $49,940 | 80 |
| Georgia | $49,270 | 150 |
| Missouri | $49,170 | 850 |
| Maine | $48,460 | 60 |
| Oklahoma | $48,090 | 190 |
| Ohio | $47,570 | 350 |
| Pennsylvania | $47,150 | 310 |
| Arizona | $46,650 | 90 |
| Indiana | $46,490 | 290 |
| Kansas | $46,320 | 130 |
| Texas | $45,880 | 670 |
| Oregon | $45,820 | 170 |
| Tennessee | $44,710 | 210 |
| New Jersey | $43,780 | 110 |
| Idaho | $43,520 | 40 |
| Montana | $42,390 | 120 |
| Nebraska | $41,960 | 60 |
| Arkansas | $41,280 | 110 |
| Hawaii | $40,170 | 140 |
| North Carolina | $39,290 | 450 |
| Michigan | $39,000 | 340 |
| Wisconsin | $38,840 | 160 |
| Alabama | $38,350 | 130 |
| South Carolina | $38,290 | 90 |
| Delaware | $38,080 | 60 |
| Utah | $35,430 | 100 |
| Louisiana | $32,350 | 200 |
Best-paying metro areas for museum technicians and conservators
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $79,230 | 970 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $77,030 | 820 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $75,100 | 30 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $75,020 | 420 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $68,960 | 30 |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $66,620 | 70 |
| Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | $65,310 | 40 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $62,290 | 40 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $61,370 | 180 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $61,040 | 80 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $60,540 | 60 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $60,510 | n/a |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $60,110 | 180 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $59,820 | 100 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $58,840 | 280 |
Metro areas with the most museum technicians and conservators
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 970 | $79,230 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 820 | $77,030 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | 750 | $50,690 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 420 | $75,020 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 290 | $58,530 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 280 | $58,840 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 220 | $47,150 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 200 | $50,880 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 180 | $60,110 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 180 | $56,590 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 180 | $61,370 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | 160 | $48,410 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 140 | $47,410 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | 140 | $39,880 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | 130 | $46,380 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Librarians and Media Collections Specialists | $68,270 | $32.82 |
| Library Technician | $44,580 | $21.43 |
| Curator | $63,420 | $30.49 |
| Archivist | $64,550 | $31.03 |
| Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary | $36,780 | — |
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $63,970 | — |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $72,040 | — |
| Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $64,370 | — |
| Substitute Teachers, Short-Term | $41,670 | $20.03 |
| Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education | $38,140 | $18.34 |
| Self-Enrichment Teacher | $46,800 | $22.50 |
| Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School | $65,120 | — |
| Instructional Coordinator | $77,440 | $37.23 |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | $107,310 | — |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 25-4013. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a museum technicians and conservators make in the U.S.?
The median salary for museum technicians and conservators in the U.S. is $51,440 a year, or $24.73 an hour. Pay ranges from $33,780 for the lowest-paid 10% to $87,530 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid museum technicians and conservators make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of museum technicians and conservators in the U.S. earn at least $87,530 a year. The top 25% earn $67,640 or more.
What is the starting pay for museum technicians and conservators in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $33,780 a year, and a quarter of museum technicians and conservators earn $41,050 or less.
How many museum technicians and conservators work in the U.S.?
About 12,310 museum technicians and conservators are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.