Career comparison
Art, Drama and Music Professor vs. Museum Technician
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Art, drama and music professors earn more at the median ($78,620 vs. $51,440), while museum technicians usually get to work faster (Bachelor’s plus internships of training). Art, drama and music professors teach studio art, music or theater at the college level. Museum technicians handle, install and care for museum objects and exhibits.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Art, Drama and Music Professor | Museum Technician | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $78,620 | $51,440 ($24.73/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $47,570 – $163,350 | $33,780 – $87,530 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +2.2% (slower than average) | +3.6% (about as fast as average) |
| Openings per year | 8,000 | 1,600 |
| Typical entry education | Master's degree | Bachelor's degree |
| Training time | 6–9 years after high school | Bachelor’s plus internships |
| Key credential | MFA | Museum studies certificate |
| Work setting | Faculty work in studios, rehearsal halls, theaters and galleries.. | Technicians work in museum galleries, storage and labs.. |
What each job does
Art, Drama and Music Professor
- Teach studio, performance or theory courses
- Give critiques and lessons
- Direct ensembles or productions
- Create and exhibit work
- Mentor students
Museum Technician
- Handle objects
- Install exhibits
- Build mounts
- Pack and ship loans
- Monitor climate
How they’re similar
Both careers involve creative work, indoor work, and hands-on work. They sit in different fields, education & childcare and arts, media & design, but share transferable skills such as creativity and care.
Which should you choose?
Choose art, drama and music professor if…
- I’m a working artist or musician
- I love teaching
- I give helpful critiques
Choose museum technician if…
- I love museums
- I’m careful with objects
- I like hands-on work
Still torn? Take the Art, Drama and Music Professor fit quiz and the Museum Technician fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, art, drama and music professor or museum technician?
Art, Drama and Music Professors earn more at the median: $78,620 versus $51,440 for museum technicians, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Museum Technicians typically train faster (Bachelor’s plus internships) than art, drama and music professors (6–9 years after high school).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects museum technicians to grow +3.6% from 2025–35, compared with +2.2% for art, drama and music professors.