Museum Technicians and Conservators Salary in Chicago, IL-IN

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN

Median annual salary $46,170 -2.7% vs national
Median hourly $22.20
10th percentile $33,410
90th percentile $63,000
Employed locally 420
National median $47,460

Compare Museum Technicians and Conservators salary & buying power

Type a city below to see how Chicago, IL-IN stacks up on salary and cost of living.

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Museum Technicians and Conservators
in
Chicago, IL-IN
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $33,410
    25th
    $37,660
    50th (median)
    $46,170
    75th
    $59,440
    90th
    $63,000

    Chicago economic context

    Unemployment rate 5.10% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $88,850 2023 • Census ACS
    Museum Technicians and Conservators salary vs area income 52% Median Museum Technicians and Conservators salary is 48% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Museum Technicians and Conservators

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA $75,100
    Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $74,370
    District of Columbia $74,300
    Maryland $72,950
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $72,480
    New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $70,370

    Nearby metros — Museum Technicians and Conservators salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA $75,100
    Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA $58,540
    Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $48,510
    Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD $47,520
    Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN $47,410
    St. Louis, MO-IL $47,120

    Related occupations in Chicago, IL-IN

    OccupationMedian salary
    Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education$75,020
    Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary$36,830
    Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$80,440
    Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$75,690
    Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education$37,460
    Self-Enrichment Teachers$44,770

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Museum Technicians and Conservators make per hour in Chicago?

    The median hourly wage for Museum Technicians and Conservators in Chicago, IL-IN is $22.20, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $46.38 or more per hour.

    Is Chicago above or below average for Museum Technicians and Conservators salaries?

    The median Museum Technicians and Conservators salary in Chicago, IL-IN is 2.7% below the national median of $47,460. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Museum Technicians and Conservators in Chicago?

    Entry-level Museum Technicians and Conservators (10th percentile) earn around $33,410 per year in Chicago, IL-IN. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $37,660.