Jobs Similar to Museum Technicians and Conservators
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to museum technicians and conservators, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Painting, Coating, and Decorating Workers, Geological Technicians and Archivists.
Museum Technicians and Conservators: $51,440 median pay · usual preparation: Graduate degree.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Museum Technicians and Conservators) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Painting, Coating, and Decorating Workers | 63% | $41,600−19% | High school |
| 2 | Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians | 61% | $53,350+4% | Bachelor's degree |
| 3 | ArchivistsSame group | 61% | $64,550+25% | Graduate degree |
| 4 | Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers | 61% | $52,540+2% | Training or associate |
| 5 | Materials Scientists | 60% | $117,790+129% | Bachelor's degree |
| 6 | Prepress Technicians and Workers | 60% | $48,690−5% | Training or associate |
| 7 | Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers | 60% | $101,920+98% | Bachelor's degree |
| 8 | Hydrologists | 59% | $96,600+88% | Bachelor's degree |
| 9 | Architectural and Civil Drafters | 59% | $66,150+29% | Training or associate |
| 10 | Nuclear Monitoring Technicians | 59% | $110,240Broader BLS group · not compared | Training or associate |
| 11 | Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers | 59% | $62,750+22% | Training or associate |
| 12 | Materials Engineers | 59% | $112,860+119% | Bachelor's degree |
| 13 | Police Identification and Records Officers | 58% | $93,790Broader BLS group · not compared | Training or associate |
| 14 | Chemists | 58% | $91,240+77% | Bachelor's degree |
| 15 | Molecular and Cellular Biologists | 58% | $98,920Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 16 | Electrical and Electronics Drafters | 58% | $76,870+49% | Training or associate |
| 17 | Surveying and Mapping Technicians | 58% | $54,240+5% | Training or associate |
| 18 | Food Science Technicians | 58% | $52,130+1% | Training or associate |
| 19 | Fiberglass Laminators and Fabricators | 58% | $46,880−9% | High school |
| 20 | Microbiologists | 58% | $87,990+71% | Bachelor's degree |
- 1Painting, Coating, and Decorating Workers
63% similar · $41,600 (−19%) · High school
- 2Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians
61% similar · $53,350 (+4%) · Bachelor's degree
- 3Archivists
61% similar · $64,550 (+25%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 4Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers
61% similar · $52,540 (+2%) · Training or associate
- 5Materials Scientists
60% similar · $117,790 (+129%) · Bachelor's degree
- 6Prepress Technicians and Workers
60% similar · $48,690 (−5%) · Training or associate
- 7Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers
60% similar · $101,920 (+98%) · Bachelor's degree
- 8Hydrologists
59% similar · $96,600 (+88%) · Bachelor's degree
- 9Architectural and Civil Drafters
59% similar · $66,150 (+29%) · Training or associate
- 10Nuclear Monitoring Technicians
59% similar · $110,240 (broader group) · Training or associate
- 11Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers
59% similar · $62,750 (+22%) · Training or associate
- 12Materials Engineers
59% similar · $112,860 (+119%) · Bachelor's degree
- 13Police Identification and Records Officers
58% similar · $93,790 (broader group) · Training or associate
- 14Chemists
58% similar · $91,240 (+77%) · Bachelor's degree
- 15Molecular and Cellular Biologists
58% similar · $98,920 (broader group) · Graduate degree
- 16Electrical and Electronics Drafters
58% similar · $76,870 (+49%) · Training or associate
- 17Surveying and Mapping Technicians
58% similar · $54,240 (+5%) · Training or associate
- 18Food Science Technicians
58% similar · $52,130 (+1%) · Training or associate
- 19Fiberglass Laminators and Fabricators
58% similar · $46,880 (−9%) · High school
- 20Microbiologists
58% similar · $87,990 (+71%) · Bachelor's degree
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than museum technicians and conservators.
Similar jobs that need less preparation
- Painting, Coating, and Decorating Workers63% similar · High school
- Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians61% similar · Bachelor's degree
- Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers61% similar · Training or associate
- Materials Scientists60% similar · Bachelor's degree
- Prepress Technicians and Workers60% similar · Training or associate
- Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers60% similar · Bachelor's degree
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for museum technicians and conservators also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Questions about jobs like museum technicians and conservators
What jobs are most similar to museum technicians and conservators?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Painting, Coating, and Decorating Workers (63% similar), Geological Technicians (61% similar), Archivists (61% similar), Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers (61% similar) and Materials Scientists (60% similar).
Which jobs like museum technicians and conservators pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Materials Scientists ($117,790, +129%; usually a bachelor's degree), Materials Engineers ($112,860, +119%; usually a bachelor's degree) and Geoscientists (Except Hydrologists and Geographers) ($101,920, +98%; usually a bachelor's degree) have the highest BLS median pay compared with museum technicians and conservators ($51,440). Without more preparation than museum technicians and conservators usually need: Materials Scientists, Materials Engineers and Geoscientists (Except Hydrologists and Geographers).
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.