Advertising & Arts
Museum Technician
Museum technicians restore, maintain, or prepare objects in museum collections for storage, research, or exhibition.
-
Entry-level education
Bachelor’s degree
-
Job outlook
What does a Museum Technician do?
Museum technicians restore, maintain, or prepare objects in museum collections for storage, research, or exhibition. They may also construct and arrange museum exhibits. Museum technicians may also be known as museum officers or conservators.
MORE
Work activities
As a museum technician, you would:
- be responsible for the care and safeguarding of objects in the collection
- clean objects and artefacts using appropriate methods and cleaners
- determine if repairs are needed
- choose the safest and most effective method of repair
- install, arrange, assemble, and prepare artifacts for exhibition, ensuring the artefacts' safety
- direct and supervise curatorial and other technical staff in the handling, mounting, care, and storage of objects
- oversee the loan of objects to and from the museum for exhibition or research
- help curators and outside scholars use the museum’s collections
- establish storage and conservation requirements, policies, and procedures
- prepare artefacts for storage and shipping.
MORE
Key skills and interests
To become a museum technician, you would need:
- appropriate technical skills
- patience, with a methodical approach to work
- able to pay attention to detail
- analytical skills
- research skills
- good communication skills.
MORE
Working hours and conditions
Working Hours
You would usually work a standard number of hours per week, probably with some weekend and evening work. Part-time work may be available.
Conditions
You may have to do some lifting and carrying such as moving crates and boxes of exhibits or artefacts.
MORE
How to become an Museum Technician?
Entry Level Education
To become a museum technician, you would usually need an undergraduate degree in a field such as art history, history, or archaeology.
Students interested in further study might undertake a master’s degree in museum studies. Employers may also prefer candidates with knowledge of the museum’s specialty, or previous experience working in museums.
MORE
Job outlook
Employment of museum technicians and conservators is projected to grow somewhat slower than the average for all occupations.
Public interest in science, art, history, and technology should spur some demand for museum technicians and conservators.
MORE
Other occupations in
Advertising & Arts
