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Art Conservator Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Paisley Park

3D Objects Conservator - Full Time

Chanhassen, MN · On-site

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

Do you thrive in a dynamic museum environment where art, music, and fashion intersect? Paisley Park invites an experienced 3D Objects Conservator to join the Museum Collections team and play a vital ...

Paisley Park

3D Objects Conservator - Full Time

Chanhassen, MN · On-site

$25 - $35/hr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

Do you thrive in a dynamic museum environment where art, music, and fashion intersect? Paisley Park invites an experienced 3D Objects Conservator to join the Museum Collections team and play a vital ...

The Huntington

Conservatory Specialist

San Marino, CA · On-site

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

... art, and botanical collections. Its mission is to support research and promote education in the ... Reports to the Curator of the Conservatory and Tropical Collections. The successful candidate will ...

WISCONSIN CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC

Faculty

Milwaukee, WI · On-site

$33 - $51/hr

  • Retirement

JOB TITLE Wisconsin Conservatory of Music Faculty EMPLOYMENT TYPE Part-time LOCATION WCM Faculty ... Milwaukee Art Museum, the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, the Milwaukee Repertory Theater, and a ...

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Art Conservator information

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$27K

$69.6K

$121.5K

How much do art conservator jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 13, 2026, the average yearly pay for art conservator in the United States is $69,553.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $36,000.00 and $99,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

How much does an art conservator make a year?

The average annual salary for an art conservator in the United States is around $50,000 to $70,000, depending on experience, location, and specialization. Senior conservators or those working in major institutions can earn over $80,000 annually. Many conservators also pursue certifications and advanced training to increase earning potential.

How do you become an art conservator?

To become an art conservator, individuals typically earn a bachelor's degree in art conservation, archaeology, chemistry, or a related field, followed by a master's degree in conservation from an accredited program. Gaining hands-on experience through internships or apprenticeships and obtaining professional certification, such as from the American Institute for Conservation, can enhance job prospects. Strong attention to detail, knowledge of art materials, and skills in scientific analysis are essential for the role.

What is the difference between Art Conservator vs Art Restorer?

AspectArt ConservatorArt Restorer
CredentialsMaster’s degree in conservation or related field, certifications often preferredSimilar credentials, often with specialized training in restoration techniques
Work EnvironmentMuseums, galleries, conservation labs, archivesArt studios, conservation labs, private practices
Primary FocusPreserving and maintaining artworks for long-term stabilityRepairing and restoring artworks to their original appearance
Industry UsageCommonly used in museums, cultural institutions, and conservation organizationsOften used in private restoration projects and art studios

While both Art Conservators and Art Restorers work to preserve artworks, Art Conservators focus on long-term preservation and preventive care, whereas Art Restorers concentrate on repairing and restoring artworks to their original condition. The roles often overlap, but the key difference lies in their primary goals and methods.

Is art conservation a good career?

Art conservators restore and preserve artworks, requiring skills in chemistry, art history, and fine manual work. The profession offers opportunities in museums, galleries, and private collections, but it can be competitive and often requires specialized training and certification. Job stability and salary vary based on experience, location, and employment setting.

What is an art conservator?

Art Conservators are professionals who are trained to preserve, restore, and maintain artworks, historical artifacts, and cultural heritage objects. They use scientific techniques and specialized knowledge to stabilize and repair items, ensuring their longevity and historical integrity. Their work often includes examining objects, assessing damage, performing restoration treatments, and advising on proper storage and display conditions. Art Conservators may specialize in different materials, such as paintings, textiles, sculptures, or paper. Their expertise is crucial for museums, galleries, private collectors, and cultural institutions.

What skills and qualifications are needed to thrive as an art conservator?

To thrive as an Art Conservator, you need expertise in chemistry, fine arts, and art history, often supported by a master's degree in conservation or a related field. Familiarity with scientific analysis tools, conservation lab equipment, and documentation software is typically required. Attention to detail, problem-solving abilities, and strong communication skills distinguish top professionals in this role. These skills and qualities are vital to accurately preserving cultural heritage while safely restoring valuable works of art.

What are some common challenges art conservators face when working on restoration projects?

Art Conservators often encounter challenges such as dealing with deteriorating materials, limited historical documentation, and balancing ethical considerations around preserving original intent versus necessary intervention. Each artwork presents unique problems that require customized treatment plans, careful testing, and sometimes collaboration with historians, scientists, and curators. Additionally, conservators must keep up-to-date with advancements in conservation science to ensure that restoration methods remain effective and reversible, which adds to the complexity and learning involved in the role.
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Art Conservator jobs near you
Infographic showing various Art Conservator job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 75% Full Time, and 25% Part Time. Highlights an 98% In-person, and 2% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $69,553 per year, or $33.4 per hour.

Conservator/Senior Conservator of Paintings

Colonial Williamsburg

Williamsburg, VA • On-site

$59K - $89K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 29 days ago

Colonial Williamsburg rating

5.3

Company rating: 5.3 out of 10

Based on 17 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

24th of 29 rated museums

Job description

Who We Are
Founded in 1926, the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation is a private, not-for-profit educational, historic, and cultural institution that owns and operates one of the largest and best-known museum complexes in the world. Our mission is "that the future may learn from the past" through preserving and restoring 18th-century Williamsburg, Virginia's colonial capital. We engage, inform, and inspire people to learn about this historic capital, the events that occurred here, and the diverse peoples who helped shape a new nation.
Today, Colonial Williamsburg is the largest living history museum in the U.S. The Historic Area is the 301-acre restored colonial capital with 88 original buildings and 525 buildings reconstructed to how they appeared in the 18th century through extensive archaeological, architectural, and documentary research. The Historic Area is staffed by highly trained, historically dressed interpreters and expert tradespeople who bring the 18th century to life. The Foundation also owns and operates two world-class museums, the DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum, and the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum, The Bob and Marion Wilson Teacher Institute, and a renowned research library, the John D Rockefeller Jr Library.
Additionally, Colonial Williamsburg is home to five world class accommodations at the Williamsburg Inn, Williamsburg Lodge Autograph Collection, the Griffin Hotel, the Williamsburg Woodlands Hotels and Suites and the unique Colonial Houses in the Historical Area. Visitors may also indulge in food and drink at our many on site restaurants and taverns that blend a historically inspired dining experience with today's evolved tastes. Each year over 5 million people visit Williamsburg and another 20 million engage with us digitally.
About the Position
The Conservator of Paintings is responsible for enhancing the protection and preservation of Colonial Williamsburg's cultural assets by supervising the operation of the paintings conservation laboratory. Primary functions include proposing and carrying out conservation treatments and researching and developing new approaches to conservation treatment. Condition assessments and treatments are carried out in accordance with exhibition objectives and research priorities. Additionally, the Conservator of Paintings oversees the conservation treatments and career development of laboratory staff as well as conservation technicians, interns, and volunteers.
***Must reside in or be ready to relocate to Virginia***
Essential Functions:
  1. Examines paintings and other painted media from the collections and, in consultation with curatorial staff, prepares written treatment proposals, performs treatments, and prepares treatment reports complete with photo-documentation. Performs, requests, and/or interprets instrumental analysis as needed to facilitate understanding of technology of the object, its conservation history, and current condition. All using recognized techniques in compliance with the Code of Ethics of the American Institute for Conservation.
  2. Works with curatorial, archive, and library staff to determine examination and treatment priorities based on object needs, exhibition schedules, and loan requirements; and to ensure ability to meet established deadlines.
  3. Provides conservation training for other Foundation staff as needed.
  4. Conducts and documents conservation assessments of objects as requested; includes paintings being considered for accession and deaccession. Works to prepare streamlined survey reports for exhibition and treatment prioritization.
  5. Manages day-to-day operation of paintings lab including treatment time management, ordering supplies and materials, handling documentation and other paperwork, and maintaining lab space and equipment.
  6. Researches and develops new approaches to treatment as needed and appropriate.
  7. Maintains awareness of state-of-the-art techniques in the conservation field and carries out research and related projects to test new materials, applications or methodologies as other responsibilities allow.
  8. Supervises and instructs laboratory staff, interns and volunteers as circumstances require. Specific responsibilities include training, observing and inspecting work, offering feedback and conducting performance appraisals.
  9. Works collaboratively with Museums, Preservation and Historic Resources division staff and, upon request, assists other conservators on assigned projects; offers suggestions when appropriate.
  10. Prepares and delivers public and professional lectures, demonstrations, and training sessions on conservation theory and techniques. Publishes new research as other responsibilities allow.
  11. Gives public tours in labs, exhibition buildings, and museum galleries.
  12. Provides information to and responds to inquiries from the public, Foundation staff and staff of other institutions.

Required Education and Experience:
  1. Graduate degree in conservation plus seven years conservation experience in recognized institutions - or the equivalent technical education and experience.
  2. Demonstrable history of proposed, completed and documented conservation treatments.

Qualifications:
  1. Excellent communication skills, both oral and written, including professional presentations.
  2. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.
  3. Detailed knowledge of traditional decorative, fine, and folk arts.
  4. Ability to establish priorities, meet deadlines and work under pressure.
  5. Detailed knowledge of conservation materials and experience in applying state-of-the-art conservation methodologies.
  6. Highly developed hand skills.
  7. Scientific knowledge to enable undertaking in-depth examination and analysis of objects, performing treatments and producing and following necessary literature and reports.

Preferred Qualifications:
  1. Supervisory and administrative experience.
  2. Membership in a professional conservation organization.
  3. History of publication pertinent to the area of specialization.

Compensation Disclaimer: The compensation listed below for this position represents the anticipated hiring range and is provided in accordance with Virginia pay transparency requirements. Actual compensation will be determined based on factors such as the selected candidate's skills, qualifications, experience, education, certifications, internal equity, and the specific requirements of the role.
Range: $59,600 to $89,400
Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.
For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.

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