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Museum/gallery conservator : Salary and conditions

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  1. Job description
  2. Salary and conditions
  3. Entry requirements
  4. Training
  5. Career development
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Case studies

  • The Institute of Conservation (Icon)  publishes salary guidelines which recommend that the minimum salary for conservators should be £20,895, with average salaries of £21,115 for a newly qualified conservator; £23,443 for those with qualifications and the required experience; £27,351 for those with professional accreditation (PACR) or considerable experience; and £36,971 for senior management positions.
  • Pay scales and terms and conditions vary depending on the employer. For example, national museums appoint on civil service terms and conditions and local authority museums on local government terms and conditions. Self-employed conservators may earn more.
  • Working hours are mainly nine to five, with the possibility of some extra hours when working on site or finishing a project to deadline. 
  • Work is usually studio and laboratory-based with occasional field work. In museums and galleries, supervision of storage and display areas is normal.
  • Many museum conservation staff are employed on short-term contracts or are self-employed freelancers. There may be little continuity of work, as contracts can range from three months up to five years, and terms can vary widely. Some staff are employed on specific independently funded projects.
  • Finding continuous work can be difficult, especially during the early part of a career, and a conservator must be prepared to move to wherever work can be found, which can impact on partner/family relationships. Those who choose to become freelance after working within the public sector need to ensure they have the necessary skills to enable them to run a business.
  • Travel within a working day, absence from home at night and overseas work is occasionally required. Conservators sometimes travel with objects or collections, which can mean up to a week away from home.
 
AGCAS
Written by AGCAS editors
Date: 
May 2011
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