ZipRecruiter

Log In

1

Contract Museum Conservation Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Brown County

Museum Director

Green Bay, WI

$95K/yr

... conservation of relevant and significant objects of art, history, and science from or used in ... discipline; participates in contract negotiations. Plans long-range goals, objectives ...

Brown County, WI

Museum Director

Green Bay, WI · On-site

$95K/yr

... conservation of relevant and significant objects of art, history, and science from or used in ... discipline; participates in contract negotiations. Plans long-range goals, objectives ...

Studio Museum in Harlem

Registrar

New York, NY · On-site

$77K - $82K/yr

Job Summary The Studio Museum in Harlem seeks a collaborative and detail-oriented Registrar to ... supporting conservation, storage solutions, and policy implementation. This position will work ...

Norman Rockwell Museum

Registrar

Stockbridge, MA · On-site

$75K - $80K/yr

... conservation needs, as well as the physical movement of any works in the Museum's care. The ... Familiarity with managing temporary/traveling exhibitions, loan contracts, budget preparation and ...

Norman Rockwell Museum

Registrar

Stockbridge, MA · On-site

... conservation needs, as well as the physical movement of any works in the Museum's care. The ... Familiarity with managing temporary/traveling exhibitions, loan contracts, budget preparation and ...

next page

Showing results 1-20

All JobsContract Museum Conservation Jobs

Contract Museum Conservation information

See salary details

$12

$20

$33

How much do contract museum conservation jobs pay per hour?

As of Jun 10, 2026, the average hourly pay for contract museum conservation in the United States is $20.78, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $16.35 and $22.60 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Contract Museum Conservator, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Contract Museum Conservator, you need a solid background in conservation science, art history, and hands-on experience with artifact preservation, typically supported by a relevant degree or certification in conservation. Familiarity with tools like microscopes, spectrometers, and specialized conservation software is essential for assessing and treating diverse materials. Attention to detail, problem-solving abilities, and strong communication skills set exceptional conservators apart, especially when collaborating with museum staff or clients. These competencies ensure the effective preservation of cultural heritage, adherence to ethical standards, and successful project outcomes within defined timeframes.

What is the difference between Contract Museum Conservation vs Contract Art Conservation?

AspectContract Museum ConservationContract Art Conservation
CredentialsTypically requires conservation certifications, degrees in conservation or related fieldsSimilar credentials, often requiring art conservation certifications and specialized training
Work EnvironmentMuseums, cultural institutions, conservation labsArt galleries, private collections, conservation labs
Employer & IndustryMuseums, cultural heritage organizationsArt collectors, galleries, private clients
Search & Comparison IntentPeople comparing roles in cultural heritage preservationIndividuals interested in art-specific conservation work

Contract Museum Conservation and Contract Art Conservation share similar credentials and work environments, both focusing on preserving cultural or artistic assets. The main difference lies in their focus: museum conservation emphasizes heritage preservation within institutions, while art conservation centers on individual artworks, often in private settings.

What are contract museum conservators?

Contract museum conservators are professionals who work on a temporary or project basis to preserve and restore objects, artworks, and artifacts in museums. Unlike staff conservators, they are hired for specific projects or periods, providing specialized expertise for conservation tasks such as assessment, cleaning, stabilization, and repair. They often work independently or with conservation firms and may serve multiple institutions. Their work is vital in ensuring the long-term preservation of cultural heritage items according to ethical and scientific standards.

What are some typical challenges faced by contract museum conservators when working on short-term projects?

Contract museum conservators often face challenges such as quickly adapting to new institutional protocols, handling diverse collections within limited timeframes, and balancing the need for thorough documentation with project deadlines. Because contracts are often project-based, conservators may need to coordinate closely with curators, registrars, and other staff to ensure conservation treatments align with exhibit schedules and institutional priorities. Flexibility, strong communication skills, and efficient project management are key to overcoming these challenges and ensuring successful outcomes.
More about Contract Museum Conservation jobs
What cities are hiring for Contract Museum Conservation jobs? Cities with the most Contract Museum Conservation job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Museum Conservation jobs? The most popular types of Museum Conservation jobs are:
What states have the most Contract Museum Conservation jobs? States with the most job openings for Contract Museum Conservation jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Contract Museum Conservation jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Contract Museum Conservation jobs are:
Contract Museum Conservation jobs near you
Infographic showing various Contract Museum Conservation job openings in the United States as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 50% Full Time, and 50% Contract. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $43,215 per year, or $20.8 per hour.
Museum Specialist IS-1016-12

Museum Specialist IS-1016-12

National Museum of Asian Art

Washington, DC

$102K - $133K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement

Posted 11 days ago

Job description

Description
OPEN DATE: May 29, 2026                
CLOSING DATE: June 29, 2026               
POSITION TYPE: Trust Fund
APPOINTMENT TYPE: Indefinite   
SCHEDULE: Full Time
DUTY LOCATION: Washington, DC 

Position sensitivity and risk:
Non-Sensitive / Moderate Risk
Open to all qualified applicants

What are Trust Fund Positions?
Trust Fund positions are unique to the Smithsonian. They are paid for from a variety of sources, including the Smithsonian endowment, revenue from our business activities, donations, grants and contracts. Trust employees are not part of the civil service, nor does trust fund employment lead to Federal status. The salary ranges for trust positions are generally the same as for federal positions and in many cases trust and federal employees work side by side. Trust employees have their own benefit program, which may include Health, Dental & Vision Insurance, Life Insurance, Transit/Commuter Benefits, Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance, Annual and Sick Leave, Family Friendly Leave, 403b Retirement Plan, Discounts for Smithsonian Memberships, Museum Stores and Restaurants, Credit Union, Smithsonian Early Enrichment Center (Child Care), Flexible Spending Account (Health & Dependent Care). 
 
Conditions of Employment
  • Pass Pre-employment Background Check and Subsequent Background Investigation for position designated.
  • Complete a Probationary Period.
  • Maintain a Bank Account for Direct Deposit/Electronic Transfer.
  • The position is open to all candidates eligible to work in the United States.  Proof of eligibility to work in U.S. is not required to apply.
  • Applicants must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement. 

OVERVIEW
The Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art opened in 1923 as America’s first national art museum and the first Asian art museum in the United States. It now stewards on of the world’s most important collections of Asian art, with works dating from antiquity to the present. The museum also hosts an unparalleled collection of 19th- and early 20th-century American art.
Through an ambitious program of collecting, conservation, exhibitions, programming and research, both onsite and online, the museum serves as a global and national resource for understanding the arts and cultures of Asia and their interaction with America, past and present. By presenting the arts and cultures of Asia in their extraordinary richness, the museum furthers cross-cultural understanding and aims to exemplify foundational ideals of curiosity, creativity and respect.
Located on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., the museum is free and open 364 days a year (closed Dec. 25). The Smithsonian is the world’s largest museum, education and research complex and welcomes millions of visitors yearly. For more information about the National Museum of Asian Art, visit asia.si.edu.
The Opportunity
This position serves as an Objects Conservator within the Department of Conservation and Scientific Research with the responsibility to independently plan, coordinate and execute conservation examination, treatment, documentation, and preventative conservation activities in support of the National Museum of Asian Art (NMAA) exhibitions, loans, acquisitions, and long-term collections stewardship priorities. The role functions as a principal technical advisor to curators, registrars, collections management, exhibition staff, and other stakeholders regarding the safe handling, packing, transport, storage, display, and environmental requirements of objects and develops recommendations that mitigate risk and ensure compliance with museum and Smithsonian standards. The incumbent is supervised by the Welch Head, Department of Conservation and Scientific Research. 

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The incumbent, under the supervision of the Welch Head of Conservation and Scientific Research, performs the following:
Conservation
• Develop and carry out routine to complex conservation treatments on a variety of collection objects in every state of condition, including highly complex and delicate procedures on fragile and irreplaceable objects. 
• Conservation work involves gathering contextual information, identifying and analyzing conservation needs, developing treatment recommendations, procedures, and implementation.
• Examines objects to identify composition, method of manufacture, authenticity, and condition; evidence of previous repair, and the nature and extent of treatment needed for the preservation.
• Responsible for exercising initiative and good judgement in seeking, interpreting, adapting guidelines to best fit conservation treatment and collections care stewardship in a deadline oriented, changing environment that demands flexibility, social awareness and diplomacy. 
• Responsible for applying preventive conservation principles as they relate to the care and stewardship of NMAA’s collection, executing conservation treatment when required, conducting materials testing and workshops on conservation and collections care.
• Prepare and analyze samples, interpret scientific analyses, and collaborate with internal and external conservators and scientific research staff.
• Prepare written records on the examination of objects, including reports, comprehensive technical documentation, treatment records, and photographs.
• Undertakes research to develop and adapt new methods and techniques to address unique or unforeseen preservation challenges.
Collections and Exhibition Support
• Collaborate with exhibition conservator, curatorial, collections management, and exhibition teams to ensure safe handling, storage, display, and transport of objects. 
• Assess objects for loans and exhibitions, prepare condition reports, and recommend environmental and handling requirements, as well as advises on materials used for transporting and storing objects. 
• Provide conservation guidance for exhibition planning including coordinating and performing conservation treatments for objects related to exhibitions, loans, and acquisitions. 
• Serves as expert advising on materials, packing, transport, and environmental controls for collections and as a courier ensuring the safe transport and installation of objects.
• Examines collections to assess condition and suitability for loan or exhibition, and performs or coordinates conservation treatments with staff, partner institutions, or external conservators and contractors.
• Contribute to collections care planning, including storage improvements and long-term stewardship initiatives. 
• Identifies long-term object storage projects and performs periodic surveys of NMAA collections to determine if storage or environmental conditions need to be modified.
• Advises collections managers and other staff on the care of the collections, including preventive conservation strategies such as proper handling, storage, and environment.
• Participate in internships and fellowships, including reviewing applications, mentoring participants, and evaluating outcomes. 

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
To qualify for this position you must have one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-11 level in the Federal service or comparable experience outside the Federal government.
Specialized experience is defined as:
• Experience conducting conservation examinations, treatment, and documentation of museum objects.
• Knowledge of museum conservation standards, ethics, and methodologies.
• Experience advising on object handling, storage, exhibition, and transport.
• Demonstrated ability to apply scientific principles (chemistry, physics, or materials science) to conservation challenges.
• Experience preparing technical reports and maintaining detailed conservation records.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with curators, collections staff, and other stakeholders.
Knowledge, skills, and abilities:
• Knowledge of conservation ethics, principles, and professional standards.
• Knowledge of analytical and laboratory techniques used in conservation science.
• Ability to develop and implement conservation treatment plans for a wide range of materials.
• Ability to assess risks and recommend preservation strategies for exhibitions and loans.
• Strong written communication skills for technical reporting and documentation.
• Ability to communicate complex conservation concepts to diverse audiences.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and adapt to changing priorities.
Additional information
• Work involves concurrent conservation activities in a dynamic, deadline driven environment.
• Objects vary widely in material, structure, condition, and cultural context, requiring adaptable and sensitive approaches.
• Work directly impacts the preservation, accessibility, and research value of the museum’s collections.
 
Education completed outside the United States must be deemed equivalent to higher education programs of U.S. Institutions by an organization that specializes in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials. This documentation is the responsibility of the applicant and should be included as part of your application package.
 
Any false statement in your application may result in rejection of your application and may also result in termination after employment begins.
  
Join us in "Inspiring Generations through Knowledge and Discovery."
 
Resumes should include a description of your paid and non-paid work experience that is related to this job; starting and ending dates of job (month and year); and average number of hours worked per week.  
What To Expect Next: Once the vacancy announcement closes, a review of your resume will be compared against the qualification and experience requirements related to this job. After review of applicant resumes is complete, qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring manager.
 
Relocation expenses are not paid.
The Smithsonian Institution provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation should contact nmaa-hr@si.edu. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.  To learn more, please review the Smithsonian’s Accommodation Procedures. 
 
The Smithsonian Institution is an Equal Opportunity Employer. To review The Smithsonian's EEO program information, please click the following: https://www.si.edu/oeo  Â