Museum Technicians and Conservators salary in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Museum Technicians and Conservators in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median of $58,840 a year ($28.29 an hour), based on BLS data for 280 workers.
Pay ranges from $38,610 for the lowest-paid 10% to $96,470 for the top 10%. That is 14% higher than the national median of $51,440. Pay here is 4% higher than the Illinois statewide median of $56,720. There are 0.06 museum technicians and conservators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.79). The average (mean) salary is $61,500, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for museum technicians and conservators in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $38,610 | $18.56 |
| 25th percentile | $47,560 | $22.87 |
| Median | $58,840 | $28.29 |
| 75th percentile | $76,990 | $37.01 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $96,470 | $46.38 |
| Average (mean) | $61,500 | $29.57 |
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 | $4,903.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,451.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,263.08 |
| Weekly | $1,131.54 |
| Hourly | $28.29 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Museum Technicians and Conservators salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $54,600 | 80 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $52,800 | 40 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $50,690 | 750 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $46,380 | 130 |
Highest-paying states for museum technicians and conservators
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Maryland | $76,900 |
| District of Columbia | $76,110 |
| New York | $74,550 |
| Connecticut | $62,030 |
| California | $61,550 |
| Alaska | $60,840 |
| Washington | $59,610 |
| Massachusetts | $58,530 |
| Illinois | $56,720 |
| New Mexico | $56,670 |
See Museum Technicians and Conservators pay in every state or the Illinois statewide figures.
Related jobs in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Librarians and Media Collections Specialists | $66,250 | $31.85 |
| Library Technician | $47,100 | $22.64 |
| Curator | $63,060 | $30.32 |
| Archivist | $57,930 | $27.85 |
| Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary | $37,840 | — |
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $78,390 | — |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $98,970 | — |
| Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $78,000 | — |
| Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education | $43,050 | $20.70 |
| Self-Enrichment Teacher | $45,020 | $21.64 |
| Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School | $79,690 | — |
| Substitute Teachers, Short-Term | $43,460 | $20.90 |
| Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary | $35,760 | — |
| Instructional Coordinator | $77,900 | $37.45 |
More: Educational Instruction and Library Occupations · all salaries in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
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 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The median salary for museum technicians and conservators in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $58,840 a year, or $28.29 an hour. Pay ranges from $38,610 for the lowest-paid 10% to $96,470 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid museum technicians and conservators make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The top 10% of museum technicians and conservators in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn at least $96,470 a year. The top 25% earn $76,990 or more.
What is the starting pay for museum technicians and conservators in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $38,610 a year, and a quarter of museum technicians and conservators earn $47,560 or less.
How many museum technicians and conservators work in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
About 280 museum technicians and conservators are employed in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, not counting the self-employed.