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Museum Technicians and Conservators
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 titles employers use
Art Preparator · Conservation Technician · Conservator · Exhibit Technician · Museum Registrar · Museum Technician · Objects Conservator · Paintings Conservator
Inside the work
What you would actually do.
6 responsibilities that define the role, before job titles and workplaces change the details.
- 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.
- Prepare artifacts for storage and shipping.
Who it suits
Would this work hold your attention?
This career often appeals to people drawn to practical, organizing and analytical work.
- Practical
- Building, repairing, using tools, or working outdoors
- Organizing
- Creating order, checking details, and keeping work accurate
- Analytical
- Investigating questions, testing ideas, and solving problems
Skills and strengths
What you would get good at.
Compare the skills the work relies on, the subjects behind it, and the abilities that make it easier to learn.
Core skills
- Active Listening
- Reading Comprehension
- Speaking
- Writing
- Critical Thinking
- Monitoring
Subjects to know
- Fine Arts
- English Language
- Public Safety and Security
- History and Archeology
- Administration and Management
Useful strengths
- Oral Expression
- Near Vision
- Oral Comprehension
- Information Ordering
- Written Comprehension
Working day
Picture yourself doing it.
These measures show how much of the day involves people, movement, conversation, and hands-on work.
| Measure | Out of 5 | What that means here |
|---|---|---|
| Close to other people | 3.2 | Shared rooms, but not shoulder to shoulder |
| On your feet | 3.5 | Up and down through the day |
| Talking face to face | 4.5 | Continuous — the job is conversations |
| Working with your hands | 3.6 | Some of the day |
Preparation
How people prepare for this work.
Employers usually ask for a bachelor's degree. Other routes may also lead into the field.
- A master's degree 41%
- A four-year degree 24%
- A certificate or some college 21%
- A two-year degree 7%
- A doctorate or professional degree 6%
Tools of the work
Technology you may use.
- Graphics or photo imaging software
- Document management software
- Desktop publishing software
- Computer aided design CAD software
- Web platform development software
- Spreadsheet software
- Office suite software
- Electronic mail software
Opportunity near you
See where this work is growing.
Choose a state to compare the size of the field, annual openings, and expected hiring change.
- People doing this work
- 2,000
- Job openings each year
- 250
- Expected hiring change, 2022–2032
- 17.6%
Compare every available state
| State | People doing it | Job openings each year | Expected change |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 2,000 | 250 | 17.6% |
| New York | 1,610 | 30 | 22.0% |
| Illinois | 1,040 | 130 | 7.2% |
| Missouri | 1,010 | 120 | 12.2% |
| Texas | 1,000 | 130 | 23.5% |
| Virginia | 720 | 90 | 10.8% |
| District of Columbia | 680 | 80 | 9.7% |
| Pennsylvania | 670 | 80 | 9.8% |
| Maryland | 490 | 60 | 8.9% |
| Michigan | 480 | 60 | 9.1% |
| Colorado | 460 | 60 | 17.9% |
| Ohio | 440 | 50 | 10.0% |
| North Carolina | 340 | 40 | 17.2% |
| Washington | 340 | 60 | 47.8% |
| Florida | 330 | 40 | 22.2% |
| Oklahoma | 300 | 40 | 11.1% |
| Connecticut | 290 | 40 | 20.8% |
| South Carolina | 260 | 30 | 23.8% |
| Minnesota | 250 | 30 | 13.6% |
| Tennessee | 240 | 30 | 26.3% |
| Rhode Island | 220 | 30 | 22.2% |
| Arizona | 210 | 30 | 16.7% |
| Massachusetts | 210 | 30 | 16.7% |
| Indiana | 200 | 30 | 11.1% |
| Kansas | 170 | 20 | 6.3% |
| New Mexico | 170 | 20 | 30.8% |
| Nevada | 150 | 20 | 15.4% |
| Iowa | 140 | 20 | — |
| Wisconsin | 140 | 20 | 27.3% |
| South Dakota | 130 | 20 | 8.3% |
| Alabama | 120 | 20 | 20.0% |
| Georgia | 120 | 10 | 9.1% |
| Kentucky | 120 | 10 | 9.1% |
| Maine | 120 | 10 | 9.1% |
| New Jersey | 110 | 10 | 10.0% |
| Oregon | 110 | 10 | 37.5% |
| Arkansas | 90 | 10 | 12.5% |
| Utah | 90 | 10 | 50.0% |
| Delaware | 80 | 10 | — |
| West Virginia | 80 | 10 | — |
| Louisiana | 70 | 10 | 16.7% |
| Alaska | 60 | 10 | — |
| Montana | 60 | 10 | 20.0% |
| Nebraska | 60 | 10 | 20.0% |
| Puerto Rico | 50 | 10 | 25.0% |
| New Hampshire | 40 | 10 | — |
| North Dakota | 40 | 10 | 33.3% |
| Idaho | 30 | 0 | 50.0% |
| Mississippi | 30 | 0 | — |
Career to college
Build a path toward this work.
Start with a related major, then compare colleges where students complete that field.
Where to study
Colleges with strong activity in these fields.
Start with program size, admission, and likely cost. Open a college for the full picture.
California State University-Long Beach
- Degrees each year
- 587
- Admit rate
- 47%
- Annual cost after aid
- $10,000
School of the Art Institute of Chicago
- Degrees each year
- 581
- Admit rate
- 76%
- Annual cost after aid
- $47,000
California State University-Fullerton
- Degrees each year
- 549
- Admit rate
- 87%
- Annual cost after aid
- $6,000
California State University-Northridge
- Degrees each year
- 422
- Admit rate
- 93%
- Annual cost after aid
- $8,000
University of North Texas
- Degrees each year
- 398
- Admit rate
- 72%
- Annual cost after aid
- $14,000
University of California-Los Angeles
- Degrees each year
- 398
- Admit rate
- 9%
- Annual cost after aid
- $10,000
San Diego State University
- Degrees each year
- 335
- Admit rate
- 34%
- Annual cost after aid
- $13,000
Southern New Hampshire University
- Degrees each year
- 315
- Admit rate
- 96%
- Annual cost after aid
- $37,000