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Job outlook for museum technicians in the United States
Are museum technician jobs in demand?
Museum technician job and salary trends over time
Museum technician jobs over time
Museum technician job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 889 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 968 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 1,070 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 1,063 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 997 | 0.00% |
Average museum technician salary over time
Museum technician salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $40,953 | $19.69 | +2.9% |
| 2025 | $39,806 | $19.14 | +3.3% |
| 2024 | $38,543 | $18.53 | +5.8% |
| 2023 | $36,438 | $17.52 | +1.6% |
| 2022 | $35,873 | $17.25 | --0.7% |
Museum technician jobs by state
Most common states for museum technicians
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 152 | 11% |
| 2 | Alaska | 739,795 | 83 | 11% |
| 3 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 533 | 8% |
| 4 | Delaware | 961,939 | 74 | 8% |
| 5 | Vermont | 623,657 | 52 | 8% |
| 6 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 380 | 7% |
| 7 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 215 | 7% |
| 8 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 93 | 7% |
| 9 | Illinois | 12,802,023 | 722 | 6% |
| 10 | North Carolina | 10,273,419 | 632 | 6% |
| 11 | Georgia | 10,429,379 | 591 | 6% |
| 12 | Missouri | 6,113,532 | 385 | 6% |
| 13 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 359 | 6% |
| 14 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 227 | 6% |
| 15 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 112 | 6% |
| 16 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 487 | 5% |
| 17 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 325 | 5% |
| 18 | Kansas | 2,913,123 | 146 | 5% |
| 19 | West Virginia | 1,815,857 | 92 | 5% |
| 20 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 53 | 5% |
Most common cities for museum technicians
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rock Island | 1 | 3% | $40,494 |
| 2 | Detroit | 1 | 0% | $36,683 |
Museum Technician job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of museum technician experts
Southern University at New Orleans
Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis
What general advice would you give to a Museum Technician?
Sally Shelton: The world of museums, libraries, galleries, and archives is wide-ranging and rapidly evolving. 21st-century skills are very much needed as we find new ways to manage our science, history, and heritage resources, in terms of both object care and information management. In addition, we are more aware than ever before of the complex issues surrounding objects removed from their country or culture of origin, and of the need for museums to be proactive and responsible in dealing with these issues. For example, to mention a few, provenance research and repatriation expertise have never been more important than they are now. Digital heritage issues and born-digital materials need a different and rapidly changing level of care and management, in ways that are different from the care and management of tangible materials. At the same time, tangible objects and records also need care, and there is no substitute for hard-copy records. Museums are also strengthening their roles as keepers of intangible heritage: the documentation of the cultures and contexts that give objects their significance and meaning. So the 21st-century museum professional needs to be attuned to community and cultural concerns just as much as they are to physical and digital management of resources. Finally, funding will most likely always be a concern for the survival of our institutions. Keeping them relevant, valuable, and important to their communities and audiences without compromising their core values will always be the balance that we need to find. Grantwriting, creating marketable programs, and finding other sources of funding should be dynamic parts of managing the institution.
What Museum Technician skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Sally Shelton: If you have the opportunity prior to or just after graduation, take some time to become familiar with a museum beyond just visiting, whether that's through volunteering, doing a museum-based project as part of a class, or leading a program. Learning how museums work, and how much goes on behind the scenes, will help you decide what aspects of museum work you'd like to explore. What you see in exhibits and public programs is just the tip of the iceberg. You may discover that you want to work with collections and research, or that you have a talent for teaching and public outreach, or that you have the vision to design meaningful exhibits. Look at museums in your field of interest, but don't limit yourself to that. People working in museums come from many different backgrounds, fields of expertise, skills, and talents. Knowing something about how museums work and what they do can help you decide what further education and training you may want to pursue as part of getting into this field. One of the most important things to do at the beginning is to proactively build networks in the field. Joining professional associations gives you access to meetings, webinars, workshops, and other positive experiences that can help you keep up with evolving standards and best practices in the field. You also meet people at all ages and stages of life and experience, and there is much to share and learn on both sides. The size of the institution you work in does not matter nearly as much as the professionalism of it.
What type of skills will young Museum Technicians need?
Dr. Haitham Eid Ph.D.: Young graduates need to demonstrate their ability to think critically, solve complex problems, and be a self-starter. Also, having a collaborative and adaptive mindset can be very helpful in today's COVID-19 environment. Of course, improving the candidate's digital skills (e.g. learning new software and managing social media platforms) can significantly enhance their job prospects. Above all else, however, is having a positive attitude and making personal connections with potential employers. One must have both in order to land a job, especially in the museum sector.
Lois Silverman Ph.D.
Professor of Museum Studies, Public Scholar of Museum EducationIndiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis
Museum Studies Program, IU School of Liberal Arts
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Museum Technicians to find work opportunities?
Lois Silverman Ph.D.: Geographically speaking, there, of course, tend to be more museums and cultural organizations in cities and metro areas, but museums exist in every region and state. Willingness to relocate is an advantage, while some jobs might allow remote, virtual work. Stay connected with former internship mentors, colleagues, you know, and institutions where you have volunteered or could begin doing so; personal connections often unadvertised net opportunities. Your first museum job may not be your "dream" job, but getting launched in the field is critical.
I also advise museum studies graduates to cast their nets wide and think creatively about where their museum skills and talents are relevant. Museum work today takes place in many settings and industries, including community and social agencies, corporate collections, educational foundations, consulting companies, and technology firms, to name a few. When you see a connection that speaks to you, make the case! You might innovate your way into a rewarding opportunity.