Data current as of August 2026 · sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET
Average base salary, Indiana
$51,500 / year
≈ $4,300 per month · $24.76 per hour
BLS May 2025 state data for Indiana · median $48,000
25th percentile
$38,000Average
$51,50075th percentile
$58,500
$38,000Average
$51,50075th percentile
$58,500
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, aged to 2026 using compounded market movement. State selections show BLS state-level figures where published. Actual pay varies with experience, industry, and organization size.
Museum Technicians and Conservators salary by state
Alabama$43,000
Alaska$61,500
Arizona$51,500
Arkansas$44,500
California$66,000
Colorado$58,000
Connecticut$69,000
Delaware$48,000
District of Columbia$81,000
Florida$58,000
Georgia$60,000
Hawaii$46,000
Idaho$46,500
Illinois$62,000
Indiana$51,500
Iowa$57,000
Kansas$49,000
Kentucky$49,500
Louisiana$38,500
Maine$53,000
Maryland$88,000
Massachusetts$64,000
Michigan$46,000
Minnesota$55,500
Missouri$54,500
Montana$46,000
Nebraska$49,000
Nevada$61,500
New Jersey$52,500
New Mexico$57,000
New York$76,500
North Carolina$44,000
Ohio$54,500
Oklahoma$52,000
Oregon$52,000
Pennsylvania$55,000
Rhode Island$67,500
South Carolina$43,500
Tennessee$49,000
Texas$47,500
Utah$42,500
Virginia$60,000
Washington$62,500
Wisconsin$41,500
Wyoming$54,500
About this role
Museum Technicians and Conservators is a professional role within the function in the Educational Instruction and Library job family.
Pay for this title reflects both its level and its scope; see our Title Level and Organization Responsibility guides for how WePayFairly defines them.
What Museum Technicians and Conservatorss do
Typical education: Master's Degree
- 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.
Top skills: Active Listening Speaking Reading Comprehension Writing Critical Thinking Monitoring
Includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (CC BY 4.0).
Museum Technicians and Conservators pay by experience level
Entry level$35,000
Typical starting pay (about the 10th percentile)
Early career$42,500
A few years in (about the 25th percentile)
Experienced$53,000
Mid-career median pay
Senior$70,000
Seasoned professionals (about the 75th percentile)
Top earners$90,500
Highest earners (about the 90th percentile)
Experience tiers are derived from the BLS wage percentile distribution for this occupation, aged to 2026. Actual pay varies by employer, location, and specialization.
Job outlook
+5.4%
projected change in jobs, 2024–2034
1,900
projected openings per year
Growing about as fast as average
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program (2024–2034). Openings include growth and replacement needs.
Museum Technicians and Conservators salary by industry
Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions
5,980 workers
$55,500Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions
5,980 workers
$55,500Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Schools and Hospitals and USPS
3,580 workers
$65,000Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation)
2,080 workers
$73,500Educational Services
1,460 workers
$63,500Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools
1,370 workers
$64,000Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation)
930 workers
$51,500Educational Services, State Government Owned
830 workers
$61,500State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation)
570 workers
$56,500Educational Services, Privately Owned
540 workers
$66,500National sector-level figures, BLS OEWS May 2025, aged to 2026.
How this role compares
Museum Technicians and Conservators pays 33% below the average across 65 roles in the Educational Instruction and Library job family (family average $88,500).
Similar-paying roles in Educational Instruction and Library
Self-Enrichment Teacher$56,500
Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors$68,000
Tutor$50,000
Library Technician$47,000
Archivist$73,000
Careers related to Museum Technicians and Conservators
Related occupations from O*NET OnLine, U.S. Department of Labor.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Museum Technicians and Conservators make?
The average base salary for a Museum Technicians and Conservators in the United States is $59,500 per year, or about $28.61 per hour.
What is the typical salary range?
Pay typically falls between $42,500 and $70,000 per year (25th to 75th percentile) depending on experience, location, industry, and organization size.
How does this compare with other Educational Instruction and Library roles?
The Educational Instruction and Library job family averages $88,500 across 65 roles tracked by WePayFairly.
Need a defensible market price for this role?
WePayFairly data is compiled from published survey sources and maintained by compensation professionals.
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