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Museum technician salary
Average museum technician salary
$40,953
Understanding the Museum Technician Salary
Museum Technicians are essential for the care and preservation of artifacts, and their compensation reflects their expertise. As of October 2025, the average salary of $40,953 per year, or approximately $20 per hour, showcases the value placed on these professionals. Factors influencing this salary include geographic location, years of experience, and the type of institution. For instance, technicians in major metropolitan areas often earn more due to higher living costs.
Average Salaries by State
Pay scales differ significantly by state. States such as California and New York typically offer higher salaries for Museum Technicians, owing to the concentration of major museums and cultural institutions. Researching salary estimates from various sources can provide further insights into potential earnings across different regions.
Career Outlook
The demand for Museum Technicians is projected to grow, particularly as institutions continue to prioritize the conservation of cultural heritage. Pursuing further education or certifications can enhance job prospects and potentially lead to higher salaries. Exploring various job boards for open positions can help technicians find roles that fit their skills and career goals.
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Where can a Museum Technician earn more?
Museum technician salary estimates from across the web
Average museum technician salary by state
The average museum technician salary in Delaware, Rhode Island, and Alaska are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average museum technician salary states are North Carolina, Louisiana, and Wyoming.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for museum technicians
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $51,066 | $24.55 |
| 2 | Delaware | $52,391 | $25.19 |
| 3 | Connecticut | $46,302 | $22.26 |
| 4 | New York | $47,747 | $22.96 |
| 5 | New Hampshire | $49,943 | $24.01 |
| 6 | New Jersey | $46,632 | $22.42 |
| 7 | Rhode Island | $52,280 | $25.13 |
| 8 | Nevada | $47,364 | $22.77 |
| 9 | Vermont | $42,072 | $20.23 |
| 10 | Massachusetts | $45,283 | $21.77 |
| 11 | West Virginia | $40,128 | $19.29 |
| 12 | Illinois | $41,394 | $19.90 |
| 13 | Texas | $47,797 | $22.98 |
| 14 | Iowa | $37,744 | $18.15 |
| 15 | Maryland | $44,844 | $21.56 |
| 16 | Pennsylvania | $42,985 | $20.67 |
| 17 | Kentucky | $36,991 | $17.78 |
| 18 | District of Columbia | $50,120 | $24.10 |
| 19 | Missouri | $36,153 | $17.38 |
| 20 | Ohio | $40,717 | $19.58 |
| 21 | North Dakota | $41,369 | $19.89 |
| 22 | Michigan | $36,503 | $17.55 |
| 23 | Nebraska | $36,952 | $17.77 |
| 24 | Mississippi | $35,233 | $16.94 |
| 25 | Colorado | $34,603 | $16.64 |
| 26 | Kansas | $35,201 | $16.92 |
| 27 | Utah | $34,378 | $16.53 |
| 28 | Maine | $31,496 | $15.14 |
| 29 | South Carolina | $32,399 | $15.58 |
| 30 | Oklahoma | $32,512 | $15.63 |
| 31 | Florida | $31,470 | $15.13 |
| 32 | Minnesota | $32,094 | $15.43 |
| 33 | Georgia | $31,521 | $15.15 |
| 34 | Tennessee | $32,080 | $15.42 |
| 35 | Arizona | $32,885 | $15.81 |
| 36 | Wisconsin | $30,816 | $14.82 |
| 37 | North Carolina | $29,152 | $14.02 |
| 38 | New Mexico | $32,671 | $15.71 |
| 39 | Virginia | $32,846 | $15.79 |
| 40 | Oregon | $33,466 | $16.09 |
| 41 | Arkansas | $30,237 | $14.54 |
| 42 | South Dakota | $30,539 | $14.68 |
| 43 | Indiana | $29,158 | $14.02 |
| 44 | California | $33,531 | $16.12 |
| 45 | Montana | $29,702 | $14.28 |
| 46 | Hawaii | $30,283 | $14.56 |
| 47 | Alabama | $27,551 | $13.25 |
| 48 | Louisiana | $28,669 | $13.78 |
| 49 | Wyoming | $28,066 | $13.49 |
| 50 | Washington | $27,660 | $13.30 |
| 51 | Idaho | $26,409 | $12.70 |
Highest paying cities for museum technicians
The highest-paying cities for museum technicians are Washington, DC, New York, NY, and Suitland, MD.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington, DC | $50,119 | $24.10 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $47,905 | $23.03 |
| 3 | Suitland, MD | $44,355 | $21.32 |
| 4 | Logan, UT | $34,021 | $16.36 |
| 5 | Charlottesville, VA | $32,359 | $15.56 |
Museum technician salary details
A museum technician's salary ranges from $24,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $67,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a museum technician's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $67,000 | $5,583 | $32 |
| 75th Percentile | $53,000 | $4,417 | $25 |
| Average | $40,953 | $3,413 | $20 |
| 25th Percentile | $31,000 | $2,583 | $15 |
| 10th Percentile | $24,000 | $2,000 | $12 |
Highest paying museum technician jobs
The highest paying types of museum technicians are art conservator, art preparator, and book conservator.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Archivist | $47,145 | $3,929 | $22.67 | 449 |
| Museum Educator | $40,399 | $3,367 | $19.42 | 18,481 |
| Technician | $38,045 | $3,170 | $18.29 | 596,842 |
Top companies hiring museum technicians now:
Which companies pay museum technicians the most?
Museum technician salaries at Smithsonian Institution and National Park Foundation are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average museum technician salary at companies like Thomas Jefferson Foundation and Free & Accepted Masons of Florida Most are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Smithsonian Institution | $79,147 | $38.05 |
| 2 | National Park Foundation | $58,174 | $27.97 |
| 3 | Thomas Jefferson Foundation | $52,950 | $25.46 |
| 4 | Free & Accepted Masons of Florida Most | $40,339 | $19.39 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Museum technician salary trends
The average museum technician salary has risen by $6,899 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average museum technician earned $34,054 annually, but today, they earn $40,953 a year. That works out to a 14% change in pay for museum technicians over the last decade.
Compare museum technician salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average museum technician salary over time
Compare museum technician salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Museum technician salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $41,000 | $19.69 | +2.8% |
| 2025 | $39,800 | $19.14 | +3.2% |
| 2024 | $38,500 | $18.53 | +5.5% |
| 2023 | $36,400 | $17.52 | +1.5% |
| 2022 | $35,900 | $17.25 | -0.7% |
Recently added museum technician salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum | Museum Technician | Hyde Park, NY | 06/10/2025 | $40,528 |
| Iron Mountain | Museum Technician/Driver | Nashville, TN | 05/28/2025 | $39,653 |
| Department of The Interior | Museum Technician (Seasonal) | Burnside, KY | 05/23/2025 | $40,342 |
| Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum | Museum Technician | Hyde Park, NY | 03/27/2025 | $40,528 |
| Department of The Interior | Museum Technician (Seasonal) | Gettysburg, PA | 02/22/2025 | $45,142 |
| Iron Mountain | Museum Technician/Driver | Nashville, TN | 02/21/2025 | $39,653 |
| Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum | Museum Technician | Hyde Park, NY | 02/19/2025 | $40,528 |
| Archaeologysouthwest | Student Museum Technician | Tucson, AZ | 02/16/2025 | $35,896 |
| Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum | Museum Technician | Hyde Park, NY | 01/30/2025 | $40,528 |
| Free & Accepted Masons of New York Grand Lodge | Museum Technician | New York, NY | 01/22/2025 | $58,917 |
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