Museum Technicians and Conservators pay range in Washington
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $44,290 a year or less, while the top 10% make $128,440 or more. The middle half of museum technicians and conservators in Washington earn between $51,440 and $104,770.
- $44K10th
- $51K25th
- $79KMedian
- $105K75th
- $128K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $82,630 | $6,886 | $39.73 |
| Median | $79,230 | $6,602 | $38.09 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $51,440 | $4,287 | $24.73 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $104,770 | $8,731 | $50.37 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Museum Technicians and Conservators pay in Washington vs. Washington, D.C. and the U.S.
Museum technicians and conservators in Washington earn 6% more than the Washington, D.C. average ($78,090) and 44% more than the U.S. average ($57,410). At the median the gap is +54% against the U.S. median of $51,440.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $82,630 | $79,230 | $44,290 | $128,440 | 970 |
| Washington, D.C. | $78,090 | $76,110 | $36,420 | $118,290 | 520 |
| United States | $57,410 | $51,440 | $33,780 | $87,530 | 12,310 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Museum Technicians and Conservators salary after taxes in Washington
On the average salary of $82,630, a single filer in Washington takes home about $62,905 a year, or $5,242 a month and $2,419 every two weeks. Taxes take 24% of gross pay.
The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in WV | $64,065 | $5,339 |
| Working in MD | $63,247 | $5,271 |
| Working in VA | $63,023 | $5,252 |
| Working in DC | $62,905 | $5,242 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Washington a good place for museum technicians and conservators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Washington area are 9% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 108.9), so the average $82,630 buys what about $75,888 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Washington ($71,060). A typical home costs $583,013, or 7.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Museum Technicians and Conservators salary in nearby metro areas
- Baltimore, MD$57,610
- Richmond, VA$56,300
- Philadelphia, PA$55,190
- Pittsburgh, PA$45,670
- Durham, NC$43,190
- Raleigh, NC$43,860
Highest-paying cities for museum technicians and conservators
Washington, DC pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($82,630).
- Washington, DC$82,630
- New York, NY$76,720
- San Francisco, CA$74,400
- Albany, NY$70,470
- Santa Cruz, CA$69,180
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Museum Technicians and Conservators salary in Washington: questions
How much do museum technicians and conservators make an hour in Washington?
$39.73 an hour on average, and $38.09 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level museum technicians and conservators salary in Washington?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $44,290 a year and the 25th percentile is $51,440, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the museum technicians and conservators take-home pay in Washington?
About $62,905 a year ($5,242 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $82,630.
Do museum technicians and conservators earn more in Washington than elsewhere?
The average here is 44% more than the U.S. average for this job ($57,410).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 25-4013; area Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV (47900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.7%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 3.92, this job is 3.9 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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