Human edge, growing

Museum technicians and conservators

Restore, maintain, or prepare objects in museum collections for storage, research, or exhibit. May work with specimens such as fossils, skeletal parts, or botanicals; or artifacts, textiles, or art. May identify and record objects or install and arrange them in exhibits. Includes book or document conservators.

AI Resistance Index 71 of 99

More resilient than most: more resilient than 71% of the 831 careers we score. AI exposure is moderate (the Bureau of Labor Statistics rates it moderate), and US jobs are projected to change by +3.6% by 2035, faster than average. The work leans on creative vision and physical dexterity.

AI struggles with much of this work, and US employers are expected to hire more people into it than average.

Median pay (2025): $51,440
Job growth to 2035: +3.6%
Openings a year: 1,600
People doing it (2025): 14,000
Usual route in: Bachelor's degree

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Where people already use AI for this work

Arrange displays or decorations
Inspect characteristics or conditions of materials or products
Advise others on educational or vocational matters

From Microsoft Research, Working with AI (2025).

Work AI rarely helps with

Build structures
Maintain operational records
Supervise personnel activities

What the work looks like

Determine whether objects need repair and choose the safest and most effective method of repair.
Specialize in particular materials or types of object, such as documents and books, paintings, decorative arts, textiles, metals, or architectural materials.
Recommend preservation procedures, such as control of temperature and humidity, to curatorial and building staff.
Install, arrange, assemble, and prepare artifacts for exhibition, ensuring the artifacts' safety, reporting their status and condition, and identifying and correcting any problems with the set up.
Study object documentation or conduct standard chemical and physical tests to ascertain the object's age, composition, original appearance, need for treatment or restoration, and appropriate preservation method.

From O*NET 31.0, US Department of Labor.

Careers using similar strengths, with a stronger outlook

Aerospace engineering and operations technologists and techniciansGrows with AI, Index 77, +11.9%
Forensic science techniciansHuman edge, growing, Index 87, +13.3%
Orthotists and prosthetistsHuman edge, growing, Index 96, +12.9%
Medical equipment repairersHuman edge, growing, Index 92, +12.6%

Also known as: Conservator, Objects Conservator, Paintings Conservator, Preparator, Conservation Technician (Conservation Tech), Exhibit Technician (Exhibit Tech), Museum Registrar, Museum Technician (Museum Tech).

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Sources: US Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2025 to 2035; O*NET 31.0; Microsoft Research (2025); Anthropic Economic Index (2026); Eloundou and colleagues (Science, 2024); Felten, Raj and Seamans (2023). How we score. Updated 12 October 2026.