CAREER

Museum Technicians and Conservators

Overview

Salary Median (2020)

$47,630

Projected Job Growth (2019-2029)

+12.7% (faster than the average)

Career

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. Includes book or document conservators.

Other Job Titles Museum Technicians and Conservators May Have

Conservator, Objects Conservator, Paintings Conservator, Preparator

How Leaders Describe a Typical Day at Work

President & CEO ,

Filoli

As the CEO of Filoli, my days are filled with variety—from strategic planning and community engagement to exploring our vast estate. I lead our team in preserving history and nature, uncovering new stories, and ensuring Filoli remains relevant and inspiring for all who visit. Whether I'm guiding tours, partnering with donors, or simply hiking through our gardens, I’m constantly connecting the past with the future, making every day a fulfilling and rewarding experience.


Tasks & Responsibilities May Include

  • Install, arrange, assemble, and prepare artifacts for exhibition, ensuring the artifacts' safety, reporting their status and condition, and identifying and correcting any problems with the set up.
  • Repair, restore, and reassemble artifacts, designing and fabricating missing or broken parts, to restore them to their original appearance and prevent deterioration.
  • Clean objects, such as paper, textiles, wood, metal, glass, rock, pottery, and furniture, using cleansers, solvents, soap solutions, and polishes.
  • Photograph objects for documentation.
  • Determine whether objects need repair and choose the safest and most effective method of repair.

This page includes information from theO*NET 26.1 Databaseby the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under theCC BY 4.0license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.