Curator
Build museum collections and plan exhibitions that tell stories.
- $63,420
- 2 years after a bachelor’s plus experience
Arts, Media & Design career
Museum Technician
Also called: Collections Technician · Art Handler · Preparator · Conservation Technician
What museum technicians do, what they earn, how long training takes and how to get started, with official BLS pay data and practical, job-level detail.
What does a museum technician do?
Museum technicians and conservators prepare and restore objects and documents in museum collections and exhibits. The median pay is $51,440 per year (BLS, May 2025), most people train for about Bachelor’s plus internships, and employment is projected to grow +3.6% from 2025–35.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
- Median pay$51,440$24.73/hour · May 2025
- Job growth+3.6%2025–35, about as fast as average
- Openings per year1,600Average, 2025–35
- Typical entry educationBachelor's degreeBLS classification
- Time to trainBachelor’s plus internshipsTypical program length
- U.S. jobs14,000Employment, 2025
What museum technicians do
Museum technicians take care of collections. They pack, move and install objects, build mounts, monitor climate and pests, keep records, and in conservation roles clean and stabilize artifacts.
A bachelor’s degree is typical; conservators often need a master’s. BLS projects about average growth.
Typical duties
- Handle objects
- Install exhibits
- Build mounts
- Pack and ship loans
- Monitor climate
- Keep records
- Clean and stabilize objects
Work environment and schedule
Technicians work in museum galleries, storage and labs.
Schedule: Full time, with busy exhibit changeovers.
A day in the life
- Check climate readings.
- Pack a painting for loan.
- Build a mount.
- Install an exhibit case.
See a full day in the life of a museum technician →
Museum Technician salary
Half of museum technicians earned more than $51,440 and half earned less in May 2025. Pay ranged from about $33,780 for the lowest 10% to $87,530 for the top 10%.
Full museum technician pay scale and hourly rates →
How to become a museum technician
- Earn a bachelor’s
- Intern at museums
- Get hired
- Learn specialties
- Advance
A bachelor’s degree in art, history or museum studies is typical; conservators need a master’s.
Step-by-step guide to becoming a museum technician →
Skills and tools
Technical skills
- Object handling
- Packing and crating
- Mount making
- Condition reporting
- Climate monitoring
People skills
- Care
- Attention to detail
- Teamwork
- Patience
All museum technician skills and tools →
Pros and cons
Pros
- Hands-on with collections
- Varied tasks
- Museum environment
- Steady demand
Cons
- Modest pay
- Heavy lifting
- Competitive jobs
- Deadline crunches
Certifications and licenses
- Museum studies certificate: Helpful.
- Conservation master’s: For conservators.
- Lift certification: Helpful.
- Art handling training: Helpful.
Career path
- Technician: Entry.
- Senior Technician: Lead installs.
- Collections Manager: Manage collections.
- Registrar or Conservator: Specialize.
Learn the job before day one
Our Museum Technician training (10 hours, $89.99) covers the role, 15+ key terms, step-by-step procedures such as handle a museum object safely and write a condition report, safety and how to land your first job.
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Compare: Museum Technician vs. Curator · Museum Technician vs. Archivist · Museum Technician vs. Art Professor · Museum Technician vs. Library Technician
Museum Technician FAQ
Do technicians need a degree?
Usually a bachelor’s.
Is conservation different?
Yes, conservators usually need a master’s.
Is the field growing?
BLS projects about average growth.
How much does a museum technician make?
The median annual wage for museum technicians was $51,440 ($24.73 per hour) in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest 10% earned less than $33,780 and the highest 10% earned more than $87,530.
How long does it take to become a museum technician?
Most people need about Bachelor’s plus internships of training. A bachelor’s degree in art, history or museum studies is typical; conservators need a master’s.
Do you need a degree to be a museum technician?
Usually, yes. BLS lists a bachelor's degree as the typical entry-level education, although skills, certifications and experience can sometimes substitute.
More museum technician questions →
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025, SOC 25-4013 (Museum technicians and conservators).
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS Employment Projections, Table 1.2 (2025–35).
- O*NET OnLine summary for Museum technicians and conservators (U.S. Department of Labor).
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook.
Reviewed by the Career Education Institute Curriculum Team. Pay figures are national estimates; local pay varies. See our editorial policy.