Salary for art restoration

When it comes to art restoration jobs, rest assured that you’ll get paid in accordance to the experience you have. Restorers are ranked on a scale from one to six with one being the lowest and six being the highest. An average entry-level job pays between $12 to $14 per hour which translates to a salary ranging from $24,000 to $28,000 annually.

The salary for art restoration is not set in stone, but there are some things you can do to help ensure you’re being paid a fair wage.

First, make sure you ask for a salary range when you’re interviewing for a job. The employer should be able to tell you what they’re offering and how that fits into the market. If they can’t give you an answer, or if they give you a range that seems low, it’s probably worth looking into other options.

Second, find out what the average salary for your particular job title is in your area. This will help you determine whether or not the salary offered to you is fair and competitive.

Third, negotiate! If your employer offers something lower than what other companies are paying people with similar experience and credentials, go back to them with your research and ask them if they’d be willing to pay more than their initial offer—or even just meet in the middle somewhere between where they started and where everyone else is landing.

Salary for art restoration

A fine art restorer is responsible for repairing damage to artwork such as paintings, murals, sculptures, ceramics, textiles, paper works, books, and other cultural objects or historical artifacts. The job often requires some research to determine the best course of action to take, particularly with antiques and other valuable works where the original should not be changed in any way.

Fine Art Restorer Duties & Responsibilities

A fine art restorer’s job involves cleaning artwork and preserving it for the future. However, there are many other duties that may be involved in the position as well, such as:

  • Examining, studying and treating artworks
  • Performing conservation treatments to the highest standards
  • Developing and maintaining standards for storing, handling, installing, packing, and shipping of artworks
  • Collaborating with scientists, department colleagues, and others on complex projects
  • Publishing and presenting research
  • Advise curators and other staff on any technical issues related to potential acquisitions and current collections

Fine Art Restorer Salary

You can charge whatever seems fair and reasonable to you if you freelance, and if you’re good enough, your clients should be more than willing to pay your going rate. If you’d rather lock in with an employer, you might want to consider relocating to the District of Columbia if you don’t live in that area already. Fine art restorers are paid more than $61,700. Elsewhere in the country, you can expect to earn in the neighborhood of $40,000. Metropolitan areas such as New York or Philadelphia pay a bit more.

As a benchmark, other museum workers, such as curators and museum technicians, have the following salary range:

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2017

Education, Training & Certification

Education requirements can vary. Do you simply want to carry on your family’s traditional business, or do you want to become a certified restorer to broaden your horizons?

  • Education: University courses can be helpful, and the knowledge you’ll get is often necessary for certification. Many employers may require that you have at least a bachelor’s degree in art conservation or a similar subject area.
  • Coursework: If you decide to study fine art restoration, focus on courses like chemistry, anthropology, studio art, and art history. You can pursue a degree ranging from an associate degree all the way up to a Ph.D.
  • Apprenticeship: It’s common for a student to apprentice under a master conservator after graduation, before jumping into a major restoration project.

Fine Art Restorer Skills & Competencies

In addition to education and training, soft skills like the ones that follow can help you stand out in your job:

  • Passion: A passion for the art to be restored is necessary. Any halfhearted or indifferent attempt at restoration shows.
  • Detail-oriented: Being meticulous, detail-oriented, and patient are also good skills to have.
  • Specific materials skills: Necessary skills vary according to the restoration project, too. Restoring a 19th-century painting requires a chemistry background and an in-depth knowledge of oil paints and canvas while restoring a medieval woven tapestry requires specific knowledge of textiles and historical methods and materials.

Job Outlook

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the outlook for museum staff, such as restorers and curators, over the next decade relative to other occupations and industries is very good, driven by strong public interest in art.

Employment is expected to grow by about 13% over the next ten years, which is faster growth than the average for all occupations between 2016 and 2026. This growth rate compares to the projected 7% growth for all occupations.

Work Environment

Workers in this position typically spend their time in a museum workroom, handling artwork and using solvents, cleaners, and tools to repair and maintain works of art.

Work Schedule

Work as an art restorer is usually full-time, especially if you work for a museum. If you work on a freelance basis you can set your own hours.

Comparing Similar Jobs

People interested in becoming a fine art restorer also consider the following career paths, listed with their median annual salaries:

  • Craft and Fine Artist: $48,960
  • Anthropologists and Archeologist: $62,410
  • Historian: $61,140

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