SOC 25-4013 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Museum Technicians and Conservators — California
California · 9 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in California comes to $61,550 a year, ahead of the national median of $51,440 by 19.7%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in California comes to $61,550 a year, ahead of the national median of $51,440 by 19.7%. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $49,600 and $75,960. The lowest tenth earn under $39,660, while the highest tenth earn more than $86,200.
Employment stands at 1,610, or 0.1 jobs per thousand held locally. Among the 45 states with published data for this occupation, California ranks 5th by median wage. Santa Cruz leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $75,100. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 461st of 793 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $39,660 | −22.9% |
| 25th | $49,600 | −3.6% |
| Median (50th) | $61,550 | +19.7% |
| 75th | $75,960 | +47.7% |
| 90th | $86,200 | +67.6% |
| Mean | $64,000 | +24.4% |
Highest-paying metro areas in California
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Santa Cruz | $75,100 | 30 | |
| 2 | San Francisco | $75,020 | 420 | |
| 3 | San Jose | $62,290 | 40 | |
| 4 | Riverside | $61,040 | 80 | |
| 5 | Sacramento | $60,540 | 60 | |
| 6 | Los Angeles | $60,510 | — | |
| 7 | San Diego | $56,590 | 180 | |
| 8 | Santa Maria | $51,170 | 40 | |
| 9 | Fresno | $37,290 | 50 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in California run 10.7% above the national average, so the median of $61,550 buys what $55,601 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 8.1% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$61,550as reported by BLSLocal price level
110.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$55,601US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $61,550 a year, 19.7% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $39,660 to $86,200 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 1,610 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 5th of 45 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Santa Cruz, at $75,100.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Museum Technicians and Conservators in California?
The median annual wage is $61,550, or $29.59 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $51,440, so pay in California is 19.7% higher. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in California earns more than $86,200 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $39,660 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Santa Cruz, at $75,100 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 1,610 jobs in this occupation in California. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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