Museum Technicians and Conservators
Museum technicians and conservators are like detectives and artists combined, working to preserve and restore historical artifacts, artworks, and documents for future generations. They design engaging exhibits, lead educational tours, and use both traditional techniques and modern technology like 3D scanning and digital imaging to bring history to life. This career involves hands-on work with ancient objects, collaborative teamwork with curators and researchers, and the opportunity to share fascinating stories with the public. Many professionals in this field have backgrounds in art history, chemistry, or archaeology, and they often work in museums, galleries, or cultural institutions.
Did you know?
Most positions require a master's degree in museum studies, art conservation, or related field from accredited American programs.
At a glance
Typical average pay
$46,800 Avg/yr
Growth
Fast growing
Top skill
Active Listening
Things to consider
Geographic Job Concentration
Opportunities are primarily concentrated in major metropolitan areas with established museums and cultural institutions like New York, Washington D.C., and Los Angeles.
Professional Certification and Networking
Membership in organizations like the American Institute for Conservation (AIC) and ongoing professional development are essential for career advancement.
Key responsibilities
Recommend preservation procedures, such as control of temperature and humidity, to curatorial and building staff.
Build, repair, and install wooden steps, scaffolds, and walkways to gain access to or permit improved view of exhibited equipment.
Classify and assign registration numbers to artifacts and supervise inventory control.
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.