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Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics

Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2023

25-4013 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.


National estimates for Museum Technicians and Conservators
Industry profile for Museum Technicians and Conservators
Geographic profile for Museum Technicians and Conservators

National estimates for Museum Technicians and Conservators:

Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for Museum Technicians and Conservators:

Employment (1) Employment
RSE (3)
Mean hourly
wage
Mean annual
wage (2)
Wage RSE (3)
12,670 2.1 % $ 26.39 $ 54,890 1.0 %

Percentile wage estimates for Museum Technicians and Conservators:

Percentile 10% 25% 50%
(Median)
75% 90%
Hourly Wage $ 14.77 $ 18.07 $ 23.40 $ 31.26 $ 40.58
Annual Wage (2) $ 30,730 $ 37,580 $ 48,670 $ 65,020 $ 84,400


Industry profile for Museum Technicians and Conservators:

Industries with the highest published employment and wages for Museum Technicians and Conservators are provided. For a list of all industries with employment in Museum Technicians and Conservators, see the Create Customized Tables function.

Industries with the highest levels of employment in Museum Technicians and Conservators:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions 6,970 4.12 $ 25.10 $ 52,210
Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) 1,980 0.09 $ 31.48 $ 65,480
Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools 1,360 0.04 $ 29.29 $ 60,930
Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) 880 0.02 $ 22.43 $ 46,650
State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) 510 0.02 $ 23.79 $ 49,480

Industries with the highest concentration of employment in Museum Technicians and Conservators:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions 6,970 4.12 $ 25.10 $ 52,210
Independent Artists, Writers, and Performers 270 0.41 $ 29.33 $ 61,010
Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) 1,980 0.09 $ 31.48 $ 65,480
Grantmaking and Giving Services 100 0.07 $ 17.05 $ 35,470
Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events 80 0.05 $ 25.16 $ 52,330

Top paying industries for Museum Technicians and Conservators:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Web Search Portals, Libraries, Archives, and Other Information Services 40 0.02 $ 33.45 $ 69,580
Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) 1,980 0.09 $ 31.48 $ 65,480
Independent Artists, Writers, and Performers 270 0.41 $ 29.33 $ 61,010
Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools 1,360 0.04 $ 29.29 $ 60,930
Other Schools and Instruction 50 0.01 $ 28.90 $ 60,120


Geographic profile for Museum Technicians and Conservators:

States and areas with the highest published employment, location quotients, and wages for Museum Technicians and Conservators are provided. For a list of all areas with employment in Museum Technicians and Conservators, see the Create Customized Tables function.



Map of employment of museum technicians and conservators by state, May 2023


States with the highest employment level in Museum Technicians and Conservators:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
California 1,610 0.09 1.07 $ 30.60 $ 63,650
New York 1,080 0.12 1.38 $ 34.52 $ 71,810
Illinois 1,050 0.18 2.10 $ 26.08 $ 54,240
Texas 870 0.06 0.77 $ 17.75 $ 36,910
Missouri 810 0.28 3.39 $ 23.28 $ 48,430


Map of location quotient of museum technicians and conservators by state, May 2023


States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Museum Technicians and Conservators:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
District of Columbia 500 0.71 8.46 $ 32.34 $ 67,270
Missouri 810 0.28 3.39 $ 23.28 $ 48,430
Alaska 70 0.21 2.51 $ 25.00 $ 52,000
Illinois 1,050 0.18 2.10 $ 26.08 $ 54,240
Wyoming 40 0.16 1.89 $ 25.58 $ 53,200


Map of annual mean wages of museum technicians and conservators by state, May 2023


Top paying states for Museum Technicians and Conservators:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Maryland 400 0.15 1.77 $ 38.93 $ 80,980
New York 1,080 0.12 1.38 $ 34.52 $ 71,810
Massachusetts 510 0.14 1.67 $ 33.44 $ 69,550
District of Columbia 500 0.71 8.46 $ 32.34 $ 67,270
Connecticut 220 0.13 1.57 $ 32.22 $ 67,020



Map of employment of museum technicians and conservators by area, May 2023


Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in Museum Technicians and Conservators:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 910 0.29 3.51 $ 35.84 $ 74,560
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA 880 0.09 1.11 $ 36.47 $ 75,860
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI 870 0.19 2.32 $ 26.60 $ 55,340
St. Louis, MO-IL 740 0.56 6.65 $ 23.17 $ 48,180
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 590 0.10 1.15 $ 30.59 $ 63,630
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA 410 0.17 2.01 $ 35.07 $ 72,940
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH 370 0.13 1.59 $ 36.41 $ 75,730
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD 300 0.11 1.28 $ 27.48 $ 57,160
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX 290 0.09 1.08 $ 18.43 $ 38,330
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 220 0.05 0.66 $ 21.57 $ 44,860


Map of location quotient of museum technicians and conservators by area, May 2023


Metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Museum Technicians and Conservators:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Santa Fe, NM 50 0.78 9.40 $ 24.23 $ 50,400
St. Louis, MO-IL 740 0.56 6.65 $ 23.17 $ 48,180
Ann Arbor, MI 70 0.35 4.16 $ 18.53 $ 38,540
Springfield, IL 40 0.34 4.13 $ 28.64 $ 59,570
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 910 0.29 3.51 $ 35.84 $ 74,560
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA 60 0.27 3.27 $ 29.13 $ 60,600
New Orleans-Metairie, LA 130 0.25 2.96 $ 15.84 $ 32,950
Dayton, OH 80 0.23 2.76 $ 25.55 $ 53,140
Salinas, CA 40 0.22 2.66 $ 27.58 $ 57,360
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI 870 0.19 2.32 $ 26.60 $ 55,340


Map of annual mean wages of museum technicians and conservators by area, May 2023


Top paying metropolitan areas for Museum Technicians and Conservators:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA 880 0.09 1.11 $ 36.47 $ 75,860
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH 370 0.13 1.59 $ 36.41 $ 75,730
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 910 0.29 3.51 $ 35.84 $ 74,560
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA 30 0.03 0.36 $ 35.34 $ 73,500
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA 410 0.17 2.01 $ 35.07 $ 72,940
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA 150 0.07 0.85 $ 33.40 $ 69,470
Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY 70 0.16 1.86 $ 31.45 $ 65,420
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 590 0.10 1.15 $ 30.59 $ 63,630
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA 170 0.11 1.31 $ 30.09 $ 62,590
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA 90 0.03 0.38 $ 29.30 $ 60,940

Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest employment in Museum Technicians and Conservators:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Massachusetts nonmetropolitan area 40 0.58 6.92 $ 27.88 $ 57,980
Central East New York nonmetropolitan area 30 0.20 2.43 $ 25.92 $ 53,900
Southwest Maine nonmetropolitan area 30 0.16 1.94 $ 22.76 $ 47,340

Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Museum Technicians and Conservators:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Massachusetts nonmetropolitan area 40 0.58 6.92 $ 27.88 $ 57,980
Central East New York nonmetropolitan area 30 0.20 2.43 $ 25.92 $ 53,900
Southwest Maine nonmetropolitan area 30 0.16 1.94 $ 22.76 $ 47,340

Top paying nonmetropolitan areas for Museum Technicians and Conservators:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Massachusetts nonmetropolitan area 40 0.58 6.92 $ 27.88 $ 57,980
Central East New York nonmetropolitan area 30 0.20 2.43 $ 25.92 $ 53,900
Southwest Maine nonmetropolitan area 30 0.16 1.94 $ 22.76 $ 47,340


About May 2023 National, State, Metropolitan, and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

These estimates are calculated with data collected from employers in all industry sectors, all metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas, and all states and the District of Columbia. The top employment and wage figures are provided above. The complete list is available in the downloadable XLS files.

The percentile wage estimate is the value of a wage below which a certain percent of workers fall. The median wage is the 50th percentile wage estimate—50 percent of workers earn less than the median and 50 percent of workers earn more than the median. More about percentile wages.


(1) Estimates for detailed occupations do not sum to the totals because the totals include occupations not shown separately. Estimates do not include self-employed workers.

(2) Annual wages have been calculated by multiplying the hourly mean wage by a "year-round, full-time" hours figure of 2,080 hours; for those occupations where there is not an hourly wage published, the annual wage has been directly calculated from the reported survey data.

(3) The relative standard error (RSE) is a measure of the reliability of a survey statistic. The smaller the relative standard error, the more precise the estimate.

(9) The location quotient is the ratio of the area concentration of occupational employment to the national average concentration. A location quotient greater than one indicates the occupation has a higher share of employment than average, and a location quotient less than one indicates the occupation is less prevalent in the area than average.


Other OEWS estimates and related information:

May 2023 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2023 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2023 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2023 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2023 Occupation Profiles

Technical Notes

 

Last Modified Date: April 3, 2024