Museum Technicians and Conservators Salary in the United States
The median annual wage for museum technicians and conservators is $51,440, or $24.73 per hour. About 12,310 people work in this occupation nationwide. Wages vary substantially by state — from $76,900 in Maryland to $32,350 in Louisiana.
Wage distribution nationwide
Earnings spread across all U.S. workers in this occupation.
Salary by state
All 45 states with published data, ranked by median annual wage.
| # | State | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maryland | $76,900 | $36.97 | 450 | 2.05 |
| 2 | District of Columbia | $76,110 | $36.59 | 520 | 9.35 |
| 3 | New York | $74,550 | $35.84 | 1,050 | 1.37 |
| 4 | Connecticut | $62,030 | $29.82 | 280 | 2.10 |
| 5 | California | $61,550 | $29.59 | 1,610 | 1.12 |
| 6 | Alaska | $60,840 | $29.25 | 60 | 2.16 |
| 7 | Washington | $59,610 | $28.66 | 280 | 1.01 |
| 8 | Massachusetts | $58,530 | $28.14 | 440 | 1.54 |
| 9 | Illinois | $56,720 | $27.27 | 400 | 0.83 |
| 10 | New Mexico | $56,670 | $27.25 | 100 | 1.45 |
| 11 | Nevada | $56,470 | $27.15 | 70 | 0.60 |
| 12 | Wyoming | $56,420 | $27.13 | 60 | 2.84 |
| 13 | Rhode Island | $55,470 | $26.67 | 70 | 1.73 |
| 14 | Florida | $53,460 | $25.70 | 250 | 0.32 |
| 15 | Virginia | $52,190 | $25.09 | 310 | 0.94 |
| 16 | Colorado | $51,990 | $25.00 | 290 | 1.27 |
| 17 | Iowa | $51,740 | $24.87 | 100 | 0.78 |
| 18 | Minnesota | $50,140 | $24.11 | 170 | 0.72 |
| 19 | Kentucky | $49,940 | $24.01 | 80 | 0.48 |
| 20 | Georgia | $49,270 | $23.69 | 150 | 0.38 |
| 21 | Missouri | $49,170 | $23.64 | 850 | 3.68 |
| 22 | Maine | $48,460 | $23.30 | 60 | 1.15 |
| 23 | Oklahoma | $48,090 | $23.12 | 190 | 1.37 |
| 24 | Ohio | $47,570 | $22.87 | 350 | 0.79 |
| 25 | Pennsylvania | $47,150 | $22.67 | 310 | 0.66 |
| 26 | Arizona | $46,650 | $22.43 | 90 | 0.35 |
| 27 | Indiana | $46,490 | $22.35 | 290 | 1.15 |
| 28 | Kansas | $46,320 | $22.27 | 130 | 1.19 |
| 29 | Texas | $45,880 | $22.06 | 670 | 0.60 |
| 30 | Oregon | $45,820 | $22.03 | 170 | 1.10 |
| 31 | Tennessee | $44,710 | $21.49 | 210 | 0.80 |
| 32 | New Jersey | $43,780 | $21.05 | 110 | 0.31 |
| 33 | Idaho | $43,520 | $20.92 | 40 | 0.65 |
| 34 | Montana | $42,390 | $20.38 | 120 | 3.01 |
| 35 | Nebraska | $41,960 | $20.17 | 60 | 0.80 |
| 36 | Arkansas | $41,280 | $19.84 | 110 | 1.06 |
| 37 | Hawaii | $40,170 | $19.31 | 140 | 2.84 |
| 38 | North Carolina | $39,290 | $18.89 | 450 | 1.14 |
| 39 | Michigan | $39,000 | $18.75 | 340 | 0.98 |
| 40 | Wisconsin | $38,840 | $18.68 | 160 | 0.68 |
| 41 | Alabama | $38,350 | $18.44 | 130 | 0.75 |
| 42 | South Carolina | $38,290 | $18.41 | 90 | 0.50 |
| 43 | Delaware | $38,080 | $18.31 | 60 | 1.69 |
| 44 | Utah | $35,430 | $17.03 | 100 | 0.73 |
| 45 | Louisiana | $32,350 | $15.56 | 200 | 1.30 |
Related occupations
Same job family, ranked by national employment.
Frequently asked questions
How much do museum technicians and conservators make?
The median annual wage for museum technicians and conservators in the United States is $51,440, or $24.73 per hour. Entry-level workers (10th percentile) earn $33,780, and the top 10% earn $87,530.
How many museum technicians and conservators are employed in the U.S.?
About 12,310 people work as museum technicians and conservators nationwide.
Which state pays museum technicians and conservators the most?
Maryland pays the most at a median of $76,900, followed by District of Columbia ($76,110) and New York ($74,550).
Which state pays museum technicians and conservators the least?
Louisiana has the lowest median at $32,350.
Where are museum technicians and conservators jobs most concentrated?
The location quotient measures employment concentration relative to the national average. The highest is District of Columbia at 9.35×.