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Museum assistant vs conservator

The differences between museum assistants and conservators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a museum assistant and a conservator. Additionally, a conservator has an average salary of $46,396, which is higher than the $40,072 average annual salary of a museum assistant.

The top three skills for a museum assistant include museum exhibits, front desk and museum visitors. The most important skills for a conservator are social security, condition reports, and photographic documentation.

Museum assistant vs conservator overview

Museum AssistantConservator
Yearly salary$40,072$46,396
Hourly rate$19.27$22.31
Growth rate12%12%
Number of jobs52279
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 77%Bachelor's Degree, 65%
Average age4444
Years of experience44

Museum assistant vs conservator salary

Museum assistants and conservators have different pay scales, as shown below.

Museum AssistantConservator
Average salary$40,072$46,396
Salary rangeBetween $23,000 And $67,000Between $25,000 And $86,000
Highest paying City-Anchorage, AK
Highest paying state-Connecticut
Best paying company-The Mariners' Museum and Park
Best paying industry-Non Profits

Differences between museum assistant and conservator education

There are a few differences between a museum assistant and a conservator in terms of educational background:

Museum AssistantConservator
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 77%Bachelor's Degree, 65%
Most common majorFine ArtsFine Arts
Most common collegeHarvard UniversityUniversity of Maryland - College Park

Museum assistant vs conservator demographics

Here are the differences between museum assistants' and conservators' demographics:

Museum AssistantConservator
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 34.5% Female, 65.5%Male, 35.1% Female, 64.9%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 5.3% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 7.4% Asian, 5.1% White, 76.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2%Black or African American, 5.1% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 7.0% Asian, 4.9% White, 77.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.4%
LGBT Percentage13%13%

Differences between museum assistant and conservator duties and responsibilities

Museum assistant example responsibilities.

  • Aid development and implementation of NPS cataloging standards.
  • Participate in re-cataloging projects involving artifact research, condition assessment, and storage planning.
  • Assist in training fellow employees in NPS museum cataloging methodology.
  • Conduct back-room tours in the department of anthropology for invite visitors.
  • Maintain archival museum and fossil preparation records and treatment folders, transferring information to NPS archives catalog system.
  • Research and document descriptions about each artifact.
  • Show more

Conservator example responsibilities.

  • Create initial inventory of finances and physical items own by estate and submit to probate court.
  • Analyze prehistoric and historic cultural artifacts, including data entry for cataloging.
  • Design costumes and usher for mainstage productions.
  • Perform archeological field excavations and laboratory analysis.

Museum assistant vs conservator skills

Common museum assistant skills
  • Museum Exhibits, 17%
  • Front Desk, 8%
  • Museum Visitors, 8%
  • Museum Events, 6%
  • Educational Programs, 6%
  • Press Releases, 4%
Common conservator skills
  • Social Security, 17%
  • Condition Reports, 14%
  • Photographic Documentation, 12%
  • Condition Assessment, 12%
  • Conservation Lab, 11%
  • Conservation Treatments, 10%

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