The average salary for a museum conservator in Illinois is around $56,720 per year.
Avg Salary
Museum conservators earn an average yearly salary of $56,720.
Wages typically start from $38,610 and go up to $96,470.
19% below national average Updated in 2025
Museum conservator earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level museum conservator earnings begin at:
$46.38 per hour
$96,470 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level museum conservator earnings begin at:
$32.30 per hour
$67,190 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level museum conservator earnings begin at:
$27.27 per hour
$56,720 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level museum conservator earnings begin at:
$22.82 per hour
$47,460 per year
10th percentile
Starting level museum conservator earnings begin at:
$18.56 per hour
$38,610 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Museum conservator salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Maryland | $76,900 |
| District of Columbia | $76,110 |
| New York | $74,550 |
| Connecticut | $62,030 |
| California | $61,550 |
| Alaska | $60,840 |
| Washington | $59,610 |
| Massachusetts | $58,530 |
| Illinois | $56,720 |
| New Mexico | $56,670 |
| Nevada | $56,470 |
| Wyoming | $56,420 |
| Rhode Island | $55,470 |
| Florida | $53,460 |
| Virginia | $52,190 |
| Colorado | $51,990 |
| Iowa | $51,740 |
| Minnesota | $50,140 |
| Kentucky | $49,940 |
| Georgia | $49,270 |
| Missouri | $49,170 |
| Maine | $48,460 |
| Oklahoma | $48,090 |
| Ohio | $47,570 |
| Pennsylvania | $47,150 |
| Arizona | $46,650 |
| Indiana | $46,490 |
| Kansas | $46,320 |
| Texas | $45,880 |
| Oregon | $45,820 |
| Tennessee | $44,710 |
| New Jersey | $43,780 |
| Idaho | $43,520 |
| Montana | $42,390 |
| Nebraska | $41,960 |
| Arkansas | $41,280 |
| Hawaii | $40,170 |
| North Carolina | $39,290 |
| Michigan | $39,000 |
| Wisconsin | $38,840 |
| Alabama | $38,350 |
| South Carolina | $38,290 |
| Delaware | $38,080 |
| Utah | $35,430 |
| Vermont | $34,780 |
| Louisiana | $32,350 |
| South Dakota | $30,840 |
| Puerto Rico | $28,080 |
How do museum conservator salaries compare to similar careers?
Museum conservators earn about the same as related careers in Illinois. On average, they make less than graphic designers but more than photographers.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Graphic designer salary | $63K |
| Anthropologist salary | $60K |
| Archaeologist salary | $60K |
| Embalmer salary | $62K |
| Illustrator salary | $54K |
| Museum conservator salary | $57K |
| Precious metal worker salary | $55K |
| Jeweler salary | $55K |
| Gem worker salary | $55K |
| Photographer salary | $37K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)