### Bureau of Labor Statistics U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Archivists, Curators, and Museum Workers Summary
                        
            
                                                        
                                                                
                        
            
            
            
                            
                                                
                                                
                                                
                                                
            						
							
				                                                
                                            




            			curators museum technicians and conservators imageArchivists, curators, and museum workers maintain and display art.							
						Quick Facts:     Archivists, Curators, and Museum Workers2023     Median Pay
            						$57,120     per year
										$27.46     per hourTypical Entry-Level Education
                                    See How to Become OneWork Experience in a Related Occupation
                                    NoneOn-the-job Training
                                    NoneNumber of Jobs, 2022
                                    37,700Job Outlook, 2022-32
                                    10% (Much faster than average)Employment Change, 2022-32
                                    3,700What Archivists, Curators, and Museum Workers Do
                                                
                        
                        
Archivists and curators oversee institutions’ collections, such as of historical items or of artwork. Museum technicians and conservators prepare and restore items in those collections.
            
                        Work Environment
                        
Archivists, curators, museum technicians, and conservators work in museums, historical sites, governments, colleges and universities, corporations, and other institutions. Most work full time.
            
                                                How to Become an Archivist, Curator, or Museum Worker
                                                
                        
Archivists, curators, and conservators typically need a master’s degree in a field related to their position. Museum technicians typically need a bachelor’s degree. Experience gained through an internship or by volunteering in archives or museums is helpful.
            
                        Pay
                        												                            																				    														The median annual wage for archivists, curators, and museum workers was $57,120 in May 2023.									                                					
						
            
                        Job Outlook
                        						
												Overall employment							of archivists, curators, and museum workers is projected to grow							 10 percent from 2022 to 2032, much faster than the average for all occupations.
						About 5,000 openings for archivists, curators, and museum workers are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
            			
            			 Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
						State & Area Data
                       Explore resources for employment and wages by state and area for archivists, curators, and museum workers.
            
            
						
                        Similar Occupations
                        
                                                    Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of archivists, curators, and museum workers with similar occupations.
            
            
                        More Information, Including Links to O*NET
                        
                                               
                        Learn more about archivists, curators, and museum workers by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.
 What Archivists, Curators, and Museum Workers Do 
            

			Curators and museum techniciansMuseum technicians often prepare materials for display.			
Archivists appraise, process, catalog, and preserve permanent records and historically valuable documents. Curators oversee collections of artwork and historical items and may conduct public service activities for an institution. Museum technicians and conservators prepare and restore objects and documents in museum collections and exhibits.
Duties
Archivists typically do the following:
Authenticate and appraise historical documents and archival materials
Preserve and maintain documents and objects
Create and manage a system to maintain and preserve electronic records
Organize and classify archival materials
Safeguard records by creating film and digital copies
Direct workers to help arrange, exhibit, and maintain collections
Set and administer policy guidelines concerning public access to materials
Find and acquire new materials for their archivesCurators, museum technicians, and conservators typically do the following:
Acquire, store, and exhibit collections
Select the theme and design of exhibits
Design, organize, and conduct tours and workshops for the public
Attend meetings and civic events to promote their institution
Clean objects such as ancient tools, coins, and statues
Direct and supervise curatorial, technical, and student staff
Plan and conduct special research projects***Archivists*** preserve important or historically significant documents and records. They coordinate educational and public outreach programs, such as tours, lectures, and classes. They also may work with researchers on topics and items relevant to their collections.
Some archivists specialize in a particular era of history so that they can have a better understanding of the records from that period. Archivists typically work with specific forms of documentation, such as manuscripts, electronic records, websites, photographs, maps, motion pictures, or sound recordings.
***Curators***, who also may be *museum directors,*lead the acquisition, storage, and exhibition of collections. They negotiate and authorize the purchase, sale, exchange, and loan of collections. They also may research, authenticate, evaluate, and categorize the items in a collection.
Curators often perform administrative tasks and help manage their institution’s research projects and related educational programs. They may represent their institution in the media, at public events, and at professional conferences.
In large institutions, some curators may specialize in a particular field, such as botany, art, or history. For example, a large natural history museum might employ separate curators for its collections of birds, fish, and mammals.
In small institutions, one curator may be responsible for many tasks, from taking care of collections to directing the affairs of the museum.
***Museum technicians***, who may be known as *preparators*, *registrars,*or*collections specialists,* care for and safeguard objects in museum collections and exhibitions.
Preparators focus on readying items in museum collections for display or storage. For example, they might make frames and mats for artwork or fit mounts to support objects. They also help to create exhibits, such as by building exhibit cases, installing items, and ensuring proper lighting. And they transport items and prepare them for shipping.
Registrars and collections specialists oversee the logistics of acquisitions, insurance policies, risk management, and loaning of objects to and from the museum for exhibition or research. They keep detailed records of the conditions and locations of the objects that are on display, in storage, or being transported to another museum. They also maintain and store any documentation associated with the objects.
These workers also may answer questions from the public and help curators and outside scholars use the museum’s collections.
***Conservators***handle, preserve, treat, and keep records of artifacts, specimens, and works of art. They may perform substantial historical, scientific, and archeological research. They document their findings and treat items in order to minimize deterioration or restore them to their original state. Conservators usually specialize in a particular material or group of objects, such as documents and books, paintings, or textiles.
Some conservators use x rays, chemical testing, microscopes, special lights, and other laboratory equipment and techniques to examine objects, determine their condition, and decide on the best way to preserve them. They also may participate in outreach programs, research topics in their specialty, and write articles for scholarly journals.
 Work Environment
			Curators and museum techniciansSome archivists coordinate educational and public outreach programs.			

	    
				
	
	    	    		Archivists, curators, and museum workers held about 37,700 jobs in 2022. Employment in the detailed occupations that make up archivists, curators, and museum workers was distributed as follows:
    	    	
    	Museum technicians and conservators
                14,400Curators
                13,900Archivists
                9,400The largest employers of archivists, curators, and museum workers were as follows:
        Museums, historical sites, and similar institutions
                37%Government
                22Educational services; state, local, and private
                16Self-employed workers
                9Religious, grantmaking, civic, professional, and similar organizations
                5Depending on the size of the institution and the position archivists, curators, and museum workers hold, these workers may spend time either at a desk or with the public, providing reference assistance and educational services. Museum workers who restore and set up exhibits or work with bulky, heavy record containers may have to lift objects, climb ladders and scaffolding, and stretch to reach items.
Work Schedules
Most archivists, curators, museum technicians, and conservators work full time.
Archivists in government agencies and corporations generally work during regular business hours. Curators in large institutions may travel extensively to evaluate potential additions to the collection, organize exhibits, and conduct research. For curators in small institutions, however, travel may be rare. Museum technicians may need to work evenings and weekends if their institutions are open to the public during those times.
 How to Become an Archivist, Curator, or Museum Worker

			Curators and museum techniciansPrior experience through an internship or by volunteering in archives and museums is helpful in getting a position as an archivist, curator, museum technician, or conservator.			
Archivists, curators, and conservators typically need a master’s degree; museum technicians typically need a bachelor’s degree. Fields of degree may include fine and performing arts, history, or social science. Experience gained through an internship or by volunteering in archives or museums is helpful.
Education
***Archivists.*** Archivists typically need a master’s degree in history, library science, archival studies, political science, or public administration. Students may gain valuable archiving experience through volunteer or internship opportunities.
***Curators.***Curators typically need a master’s degree in art history, history, archaeology, or museum studies. In small museums, curator positions may be available to applicants with a bachelor’s degree. Because curators have administrative and managerial responsibilities, courses in business administration, public relations, marketing, and fundraising are recommended.
***Museum technicians.***Museum technicians typically need a bachelor’s degree in museum studies or a related field, such as archaeology, art history, or history. Some jobs require candidates to have a master’s degree in museum studies. In addition, museum employers may prefer candidates who have knowledge of the museum’s specialty or have experience working in museums.
***Conservators.***Conservators typically need a master’s degree in conservation or a related field. Graduate programs last 2 to 4 years, the latter part of which includes an internship. To qualify for entry into these programs, a student must have a background in archaeology, art history, chemistry, or studio art. Completing a conservation internship as an undergraduate may enhance an applicant’s prospects into a graduate program.
Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations
Although most employers do not require certification, some archivists may choose to earn voluntary certification because it allows them to demonstrate expertise in a particular area.
The Academy of Certified Archivists offers the Certified Archivist credential. To earn certification, candidates usually must have a master’s degree, have professional archival experience, and pass an exam. They must renew their certification periodically by retaking the exam or fulfilling continuing education credits.
Other Experience
To gain experience, candidates may have to work part time, as an intern or as a volunteer, during or after completing their education. Substantial experience in collection management, research, exhibit design, or restoration, as well as database management skills, is necessary for full-time positions.
Advancement
Continuing education is available through meetings, conferences, and workshops sponsored by archival, historical, and museum associations. Some large organizations, such as the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration in Washington, DC, offer in-house training.
Top museum positions are highly sought after. Performing unique research and producing published work are important for advancement in large institutions. In addition, a doctoral degree may be needed for some advanced positions.
Museum workers employed in small institutions may have limited opportunities for promotion. They typically advance by transferring to a larger institution that has supervisory positions.
Important Qualities
***Analytical skills.***Archivists, curators, museum technicians, and conservators must explore minutiae to determine the origin, history, and importance of the objects they work with.
***Customer-service skills.***Archivists, curators, museum technicians, and conservators work regularly with the general public. They must be courteous, friendly, and able to help users find materials.
***Detail oriented.***Archivists and museum technicians must be able to focus on specifics because they use and develop complex databases related to the materials they store and access.
***Organizational skills.***Archivists, curators, museum technicians, and conservators store and easily retrieve records and documents. They must also develop logical systems of storage for the public to use.
 Pay

			



	
 
                                                     
            
    
                Archivists, Curators, and Museum WorkersMedian annual wages, May 2023Archivists, curators, and museum technicians$57,120  Librarians, curators, and archivists$55,460  Total, all occupations$48,060Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
 

	
	



		
	
	
	
The median annual wage for archivists, curators, and museum workers was $57,120 in May 2023. 


The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $34,310, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $100,510.

			
                    	Median annual wages for archivists, curators, and museum workers in May 2023 were as follows:
        Curators
		$61,750Archivists
		59,910Museum technicians and conservators
		48,670In May 2023, the median annual wages for archivists, curators, and museum workers in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:	
        Educational services; state, local, and private
                $62,100Government
                58,010Religious, grantmaking, civic, professional, and similar organizations
                54,960Museums, historical sites, and similar institutions
                52,000Most archivists, curators, museum technicians, and conservators work full time.
Archivists in government agencies and corporations generally work during regular business hours. Curators in large institutions may travel extensively to evaluate potential additions to the collection, organize exhibits, and conduct research. However, for curators in small institutions, travel may be rare. Museum technicians may need to work evenings and weekends if their institutions are open to the public during those times.
 Job Outlook

   
        
    
          
        
    
                Archivists, Curators, and Museum WorkersPercent change in employment, projected 2022-32Archivists, curators, and museum technicians10%  Total, all occupations3%  Librarians, curators, and archivists1%Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program
            
            
			 
	
	
	

			Overall employment				of archivists, curators, and museum workers is projected to grow				 10 percent from 2022 to 2032, much faster than the average for all occupations.
			
			About 5,000 openings for archivists, curators, and museum workers are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
			
			 Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
			Employment
	
			
Demand for archivists is expected to increase as public and private organizations have more information and records that need to be organized and made accessible. In particular, the growing use of electronic records may create jobs for archivists.
Continued public interest in museums and other cultural centers is expected to increase the demand for curators, museum technicians, and conservators.
Archives and museums that receive federal funds may be affected by changes to the federal budget, which in turn might impact employment of archivists, curators, museum technicians, and conservators.
			

                        Employment projections data for     archivists, curators, and museum workers, 2022-32
                Occupational Title
                        SOC Code
                        Employment, 2022
                        Projected Employment, 2032
                        Change, 2022-32
                        Employment by IndustryPercent
                        NumericSOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program**Archivists, curators, and museum technicians**
			25-4010
			37,700
			41,500
			10
			3,700
			Get data**Archivists**
			25-4011
			9,400
			10,200
			8
			800
			Get data**Curators**
			25-4012
			13,900
			15,400
			11
			1,500
			Get data**Museum technicians and conservators**
			25-4013
			14,400
			15,900
			10
			1,400
			Get data
 State & Area Data **Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)** The Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program produces employment and wage estimates annually for over 800 occupations. These estimates are available for the nation as a whole, for individual states, and for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. The link(s) below go to OES data maps for employment and wages by state and area. Archivists
					Curators
					Museum technicians and conservators **Projections Central** Occupational employment projections are developed for all states by Labor Market Information (LMI) or individual state Employment Projections offices. All state projections data are available at www.projectionscentral.com. Information on this site allows projected employment growth for an occupation to be compared among states or to be compared within one state. In addition, states may produce projections for areas; there are links to each state’s websites where these data may be retrieved. **CareerOneStop** CareerOneStop includes hundreds of occupational profiles with data available by state and metro area. There are links in the left-hand side menu to compare occupational employment by state and occupational wages by local area or metro area. There is also a salary info tool to search for wages by zip code.
 Similar Occupations This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of archivists, curators, and museum workers. Occupation
                Job Duties
                ENTRY-LEVEL EDUCATION
                2023     MEDIAN PAY**Anthropologists and Archeologists**
            Anthropologists and archeologists study the origin, development, and behavior of humans.
            Master's degree
            $63,800**Craft and Fine Artists**
            Craft and fine artists use a variety of materials and techniques to create art for sale and exhibition.
            See How to Become One
            $52,910**Historians**
            Historians research, analyze, interpret, and write about the past by studying historical documents and sources.
            Master's degree
            $72,890**Librarians and Library Media Specialists**
            Librarians and library media specialists help people find information and conduct research for personal and professional use.
            Master's degree
            $64,370
 Contacts for More Information
								
For information about archivists and about schools offering courses in archival studies, visit
Society of American Archivists
For more information about archivists and archivist certification, visit
Academy of Certified Archivists
For information about government archivists, visit
Council of State Archivists
U.S. National Archives and Records Administration
For information about museum technicians, registrars, or collections specialists, visit
Association of Registrars and Collections Specialists
For more information about museum careers, including schools offering museum studies and related programs, visit
American Alliance of Museums
For more information about careers and education programs in conservation and preservation for conservators, visit
American Institute for Conservation
For information about job openings as curators, museum technicians, and conservators with the federal government, visit
USAJobs
CareerOneStop
For a career video on archivists, visit
Archivists

                                                
                                                        
                                                                                                    O*NET
                                        ArchivistsCuratorsMuseum Technicians and Conservators
 Suggested citation: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S.  Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Archivists, Curators, and Museum Workers, 
        	 at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/education-training-and-library/curators-museum-technicians-and-conservators.htm (visited *May 21, 2024*).
 **Last Modified Date:**
                        Wednesday, April 17, 2024


**U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics**
Office of Occupational Statistics and Employment Projections 
PSB Suite 2135 
2 Massachusetts Avenue NE  
Washington, DC 20212-0001 Telephone:1-202-691-5700 

www.bls.gov/ooh
Contact OOH