How much does a museum technician make?

In the United States, pay can differ with experience and education: conservators usually need more schooling than museum technicians. It also depends on the employer and location, the objects and tasks you specialize in, and how much responsibility the job carries.

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.

What's a typical day like?

They inspect and photograph artifacts, decide how to clean or protect them, and record each object's condition. They may repair delicate items or carefully install them in a display case.

In the United States, museum technicians usually earn a bachelor's degree in museum studies, archaeology, art history, or a related field, then build experience through internships or volunteering. Conservators commonly go on to a conservation master's degree, often after gaining hands-on experience as an intern, volunteer, or paid technician.

Graduate degree or long training (preparation level 5 of 5)

Good for people who like building and doing and keeping things organized.

A Brooklyn Museum conservator once had to add new live blowflies every week to keep an artwork going after the flies completed their life cycle.