Museum Technicians and Conservators salary in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA
Museum Technicians and Conservators in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA metro area earn a median of $51,170 a year ($24.60 an hour), based on BLS data for 40 workers.
Pay ranges from $42,350 for the lowest-paid 10% to $86,060 for the top 10%. That is 1% lower than the national median of $51,440. Pay here is 17% lower than the California statewide median of $61,550. There are 0.22 museum technicians and conservators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 2.7× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $58,660, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for museum technicians and conservators in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $42,350 | $20.36 |
| 25th percentile | $49,010 | $23.56 |
| Median | $51,170 | $24.60 |
| 75th percentile | $65,250 | $31.37 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $86,060 | $41.38 |
| Average (mean) | $58,660 | $28.20 |
Half of museum technicians and conservators earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $4,264.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,132.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,968.08 |
| Weekly | $984.04 |
| Hourly | $24.60 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $51,170 salary, see how much house you can afford in California at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Museum Technicians and Conservators salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $75,100 | 30 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $75,020 | 420 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $62,290 | 40 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $61,040 | 80 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $60,540 | 60 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $60,510 | n/a |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $56,590 | 180 |
| Fresno, CA | $37,290 | 50 |
Highest-paying states for museum technicians and conservators
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Maryland | $76,900 |
| District of Columbia | $76,110 |
| New York | $74,550 |
| Connecticut | $62,030 |
| California | $61,550 |
| Alaska | $60,840 |
| Washington | $59,610 |
| Massachusetts | $58,530 |
| Illinois | $56,720 |
| New Mexico | $56,670 |
See Museum Technicians and Conservators pay in every state or the California statewide figures.
Related jobs in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Library Technician | $56,160 | $27.00 |
| Librarians and Media Collections Specialists | $94,380 | $45.37 |
| Curator | $71,380 | $34.32 |
| Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary | $46,540 | — |
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $101,030 | — |
| Postsecondary Teachers, All Other | $71,200 | — |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $102,840 | — |
| Self-Enrichment Teacher | $47,300 | $22.74 |
| Educational Instruction and Library Workers, All Other | $48,930 | $23.52 |
| Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary | $50,310 | — |
| Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education | $48,130 | $23.14 |
| Substitute Teachers, Short-Term | $62,310 | $29.96 |
| Instructional Coordinator | $95,790 | $46.05 |
| Tutor | $39,130 | $18.81 |
More: Educational Instruction and Library Occupations · all salaries in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 25-4013. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a museum technicians and conservators make in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA?
The median salary for museum technicians and conservators in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA metro area is $51,170 a year, or $24.60 an hour. Pay ranges from $42,350 for the lowest-paid 10% to $86,060 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid museum technicians and conservators make in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA?
The top 10% of museum technicians and conservators in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA metro area earn at least $86,060 a year. The top 25% earn $65,250 or more.
What is the starting pay for museum technicians and conservators in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $42,350 a year, and a quarter of museum technicians and conservators earn $49,010 or less.
How many museum technicians and conservators work in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA?
About 40 museum technicians and conservators are employed in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.