Museum Technicians and Conservators salary in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
Museum Technicians and Conservators in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area earn a median of $79,230 a year ($38.09 an hour), based on BLS data for 970 workers.
Pay ranges from $44,290 for the lowest-paid 10% to $128,440 for the top 10%. That is 54% higher than the national median of $51,440. Pay here is 4% higher than the District of Columbia statewide median of $76,110. There are 0.31 museum technicians and conservators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 3.9× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $82,630, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for museum technicians and conservators in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $44,290 | $21.29 |
| 25th percentile | $51,440 | $24.73 |
| Median | $79,230 | $38.09 |
| 75th percentile | $104,770 | $50.37 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $128,440 | $61.75 |
| Average (mean) | $82,630 | $39.73 |
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 | $6,602.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,301.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,047.31 |
| Weekly | $1,523.65 |
| Hourly | $38.09 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $79,230 salary, see how much house you can afford in District of Columbia 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Richmond, VA | $52,190 | 40 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $47,150 | 220 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $45,120 | 40 |
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 District of Columbia statewide figures.
Related jobs in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Librarians and Media Collections Specialists | $95,480 | $45.90 |
| Library Technician | $57,290 | $27.54 |
| Archivist | $84,590 | $40.67 |
| Curator | $87,400 | $42.02 |
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $79,470 | — |
| Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary | $46,200 | — |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $80,300 | — |
| Substitute Teachers, Short-Term | $46,470 | $22.34 |
| Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $77,350 | — |
| Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education | $44,660 | $21.47 |
| Self-Enrichment Teacher | $59,760 | $28.73 |
| Instructional Coordinator | $105,220 | $50.59 |
| Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School | $79,880 | — |
| Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary | $58,330 | — |
More: Educational Instruction and Library Occupations · all salaries in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
The median salary for museum technicians and conservators in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area is $79,230 a year, or $38.09 an hour. Pay ranges from $44,290 for the lowest-paid 10% to $128,440 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid museum technicians and conservators make in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
The top 10% of museum technicians and conservators in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area earn at least $128,440 a year. The top 25% earn $104,770 or more.
What is the starting pay for museum technicians and conservators in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $44,290 a year, and a quarter of museum technicians and conservators earn $51,440 or less.
How many museum technicians and conservators work in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
About 970 museum technicians and conservators are employed in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area, not counting the self-employed.