Museum and Art Gallery Technicians

(NOC 5212)

in All Art, Culture, Recreation and Sport

This group includes workers who classify and catalogue museum artifacts and gallery works of art, build and install exhibits and displays, restore, maintain and store museum and gallery collections, frame artwork, and perform other functions in support of curatorial and conservation activities. They work for museums and galleries. Picture framers and taxidermists may also work in retail settings or may be self-employed. This group also includes museum and other interpreters who conduct guided tours. They work for art galleries, museums, parks, aquariums, zoos, interpretive centres, botanical gardens, cultural centres, nature sanctuaries, historic and heritage sites, and other locations. Technical museum and gallery workers may specialize in a specific collection.

Job Outlook

Average

Read more

  • Estimate Moderate growth employment change, 2021-2023
  • Estimate 55 openings due to growth and retirements, 2021-2023
  • Estimate High rate of unemployment in 2022

Compared to: All Art, Culture, Recreation and Sport

  • Estimate 840 employment change, 2021-2023
  • Estimate 1495 openings due to growth and retirements, 2021-2023
  • Estimate rate of unemployment not available for these occupation.

While the province has a fair number of museums and historic parks and sites, full-time job ads occur infrequently, as turnover is quite low for this group. Also, some opportunities are low-paying relative to the requirements, which would likely limit potential supply. Demand for this occupation depends in part on public funding.

Hourly Pay

$14.50

Minimum

$18.30

Median

$25.00

Maximum

Annual Pay

$3,633

Minimum

$10,693

Median

$37,649

Maximum

Compared to: All Art, Culture, Recreation and Sport

Hourly Pay

$13.00

Minimum

$21.00

Median

$40.00

Maximum

Annual Pay

$945

Minimum

$11,712

Median

$60,447

Maximum

About the job

Nature of work

This group includes workers who classify and catalogue museum artifacts and gallery works of art, build and install exhibits and displays, restore, maintain and store museum and gallery collections, frame artwork, and perform other functions in support of curatorial and conservation activities. They work for museums and galleries. Picture framers and taxidermists may also work in retail settings or may be self-employed. This group also includes museum and other interpreters who conduct guided tours. They work for art galleries, museums, parks, aquariums, zoos, interpretive centres, botanical gardens, cultural centres, nature sanctuaries, historic and heritage sites, and other locations. Technical museum and gallery workers may specialize in a specific collection.

Job duties

Conservation and restoration technicians:

  • Help restore and conserve artifacts under the direction of a conservator.

Curatorial assistants:

  • Help research, handle, and store artifacts.

Museum interpreters:

  • Conduct tours of museums, gallery exhibitions and historical, heritage and other sites, answer inquiries, and provide information concerning exhibits or sites.

Museum extension officers:

  • Help plan and develop travelling exhibitions and special events.

Museology technicians:

  • Protect and care for cultural artifacts and collections during exhibitions, while in transit, and in storage.

Museum registrars and cataloguers:

  • Classify and assign registration numbers to artifacts and supervise inventory control.

Preparators:

  • Construct displays and dioramas, build models, install artifacts in displays, and prepare artifacts for storage and shipping.

Picture framers:

  • Make custom frames, measure, and cut mats, mat enhancements and glass, and mount paintings, photographs, and artwork.

Taxidermists:

  • Prepare and mount skins of birds or animals for preservation, scientific or display purposes.

Sample job titles

  • archaeological technician
  • art gallery registrar
  • conservation and restoration technician
  • curatorial assistant
  • museum cataloguer
  • museum interpreter
  • museum registrar
  • museum technician
  • park interpreter
  • taxidermist

Skills

  • You should be patient and organized, and have good research skills. Both oral and written communication skills are essential. You must be able to work unsupervised with museum users, and cooperate with co-workers. Good computer skills and knowledge about audiovisual equipment are strongly recommended.

Job requirements

  • Registrars, cataloguers and interpreters may require a university degree in a field related to museum and gallery work.
  • For other jobs in this group, completion of a college program in museum technology or conservation technology or other technical or on-the-job training programs related to the work are required.

Other considerations

  • Work in these jobs is often seasonal as many people become unemployed in the fall. Museum interpreters may require specific scientific or academic credentials for employment by some museums, nature centres or other sites.

By the numbers

Quick look

675

employed in 2016

75.6%

employed full-time

1.5%

self employed

58.5%
Icons/female Created with Sketch.
41.5%
Icons/male Created with Sketch.
28.3

median age

Compared to: All Art, Culture, Recreation and Sport

11,000

employed in 2016

53.3%

employed full-time

29.3%

self employed

55.6%
Icons/female Created with Sketch.
44.4%
Icons/male Created with Sketch.
38.2

median age

Where will I likely work?

31.1%

Halifax

$11,105 median annual income
22.2%

Southern

$8,388 median annual income
22.2%

Cape Breton

$14,704 median annual income
14.8%

North Shore

$10,562 median annual income
9.6%

Annapolis Valley

$12,964 median annual income

Compared to: All NS Occupations

47.0%

Halifax

15.6%

North Shore

12.9%

Annapolis Valley

12.7%

Cape Breton

11.8%

Southern

Top Industries of Employment

67.7%

Arts, entertainment and recreation

9.7%

Public administration

6.5%

Retail trade

3.2%

Information and cultural industries

3.2%

Professional, scientific and technical services

What is the age of Employment?

41.0%

15-24

17.0%

25-34

15.0%

55-64

15.0%

45-54

6.0%

65+

6.0%

35-44

Compared to: All Art, Culture, Recreation and Sport

29.7%

15-24

15.9%

35-44

15.7%

45-54

15.4%

25-34

14.9%

55-64

Top levels of education

42.2%

High school

$7,188 median annual income
23.0%

Bachelor

$14,799 median annual income
17.0%

College Diploma

$11,054 median annual income
5.2%

Less than high school

$5,114 median annual income
5.2%

Trade Certification

$14,342 median annual income

Compared to: All Art, Culture, Recreation and Sport

26.4%

Bachelor

$17,829 median annual income
24.9%

High school

$7,552 median annual income
19.5%

College Diploma

$22,120 median annual income
13.7%

Less than high school

$2,922 median annual income
7.9%

Master

$36,173 median annual income

Education & training

Art Teacher Education

College or University Program

These programs prepare individuals to teach art and art appreciation programs at various educational levels.

Institutions providing this program

NSCAD University

Halifax, NS

Employment requirements & contacts

No regulating bodies were found under this occupation profile

Contacts

Art Gallery of Nova Scotia
Halifax, NS
Nova Scotia Museum
Various, NS
Canadian Museums Association
Ottawa, ON

Additional resources

There are no additional resources for this occupation.