51101 – Conservators and curators
This occupation is on IRCC's Express Entry high-wage list (median wage at least 1.3 times the average median wage). From November 3, 2026, 12 months of qualifying Canadian work experience in it can add 20 CRS points, or a qualifying job offer in it can earn 50 points. Only the higher of the two counts, not both.
Lead statement
Conservators restore and conserve artifacts belonging to museums, galleries and owners of cultural property.
Main duties
- Examine artifacts, determine their condition, suggest methods for treating them and recommend preventive conservation techniques to their owners
- Restore and conserve paintings, photographs, books, papers, sculptures, furniture, pottery or other museum and art gallery artifacts as per particular field of specialization
- Provide advice on display and storage of museum and gallery artifacts to ensure proper maintenance and preservation
- Explore new conservation and restoration techniques
- Provide consultation to museums, art galleries or private individuals
- Supervise conservation technicians and other museum technicians.
- Recommend the acquisition of paintings, photographs, sculptures, documents and other museum and art gallery artifacts
- Conduct research into objects' methods of construction techniques, structure and materials to understand its physical and chemical makeup
- Develop storylines and themes and organize displays and exhibitions
- Coordinate the storage of collections and the setting up of displays and exhibitions
- Oversee the conservation, display and circulation of collections
- Supervise curatorial assistants and other museum technicians.
Employment requirements
- Conservators may be accredited by the Canadian Association of Professional Conservators.
- Conservators require a master's degree in art conservation orcompletion of a two-year college program in conservation technology and several years of experience in conservation work.
- Curators require a master's or bachelor's degree in museology, art history or a field related to their specific area of work.
Example job titles
conservator - museum · ceramics and glass conservator · fine art and polychrome conservator · historical artifact conservator · paintings conservator · textile conservator · library and archives conservator · book conservator · art gallery conservator · curator · museum curator · science and technology curator · library curator · assistant museum curator
Wages (per hour)
| Province / territory | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | $23.54 | $36.36 | $54.74 |
| Nova Scotia | $24.53 | $35.67 | $53.20 |
| Quebec | $26.30 | $38.57 | $52.91 |
| Ontario | $24.95 | $34.28 | $45.64 |
| Saskatchewan | $31.05 | $39.46 | $53.44 |
| Alberta | $23.93 | $38.06 | $55.06 |
| British Columbia | $25.08 | $36.17 | $44.74 |
Source: Job Bank wages, 2025 release (ESDC). Low and high are the 10th and 90th percentiles.
Occupation details: ESDC OaSIS 2025, based on NOC 2021.