Museum Technicians
Overview
Introduction
Museum technicians, also known as registrars, are skilled craftworkers who, using detailed plans supplied by designers and architects, build and set up various kinds of museum displays and fixtures. The role of museum technician varies depending on the needs of the employing museum and the skills of the technician. For example, a museum technician may work as an electrician, a carpenter, or an audiovisual equipment specialist. Planetarium technicians operate and maintain the complex sound and projection equipment u...
Quick Facts
Median Salary
Employment Prospects
Minimum Education Level
Experience
Skills
Personality Traits
Earnings
Because of the great variety of museums, including variety in size, budgets, and exhibition demands, there is a wide salary range among museum technicians. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the median annual earnings for museum technicians and conservators were $43,020 in May 2018. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $25,430 and the highest 10 percent earned more than $74,840 ...
Work Environment
Museum technicians typically work 40 hours per week. The work of a museum technician is often creative and demanding. One must be in good shape and flexible, both physically and emotionally, to meet continual challenges. At times the work can be physically strenuous, but this varies depending on the nature of each assignment. More often, projects require only moderate lifting and carrying (up t...
Outlook
Employment for technicians who work at museums, historical sites, and similar institutions will grow faster than the average for all occupations through 2028, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. The public's growing interest in science, art, history, and technology will contribute to good employment opportunities for museum technicians. Competition for jobs will be keen, however, as ther...