Also called: Museum Instrument Restorer
Preserves historic violins, pianos, horns, and drums in museum collections, deciding when to repair them and when to leave them alone.
A musical instrument conservator examines a 1700s harpsichord, measures cracks in the soundboard, and stabilizes them with glue that can be removed later. They decide with curators whether an old instrument should ever be played again, since playing can damage it.
Approximate.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Master's degree, about 6 years after high school. Instrument-making or repair training plus conservation study.
Ways in: 4-year college, Trade school, Graduate school. Training cost: $60k – $150k.
Majors to look at: Musical Instrument History, Chemistry, Art Conservation.
Growing slowly. A handful of museum jobs; some independent work.
Low risk for 10 years. Hands-on treatment of rare instruments needs human skill and judgment.
Classes: Music (play an instrument), Chemistry, Woodshop.
Official data: O*NET occupation 25-4013.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.