Earnings
Salaries for conservators vary greatly depending on the level of experience, chosen specialty, region, job description, and employer. The median annual wage for archivists, curators, and museum workers, which includes conservators and conservation technicians, was $57,120 in May 2023. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $34,310, and the top 10 percent earned more than $100,510, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.
PayScale.com reports that chief conservators received average salaries of $50,000 in 2024. Earnings ranged from $40,000 to $82,000.
Fringe benefits, including paid vacations, medical and dental insurance, sick leave, and retirement plans, vary according to each employer's policies.
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