The median annual wage for archivists, curators, and museum workers was $46,710 in May 2015.
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 $25,970, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $83,940.
Median annual wages for archivists, curators, and museum workers in May 2015 were as follows:
Curators
$51,520
Archivists
50,250
Museum technicians and conservators
40,340
In May 2015, 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
$51,190
Government
48,330
Museums, historical sites, and similar institutions
43,000
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. However, for curators in small institutions, travel may be rare. Museum technicians may need to work evenings and weekends, when institutions are open to the public.
Archivists, Curators, and Museum Workers
Median annual wages, May 2015
Archivists, curators, and museum workers
$46,710
Librarians, curators, and archivists
$45,960
Total, all occupations
$36,200
Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment Statistics
