Also called: Rare book conservator, Paper conservator
Repairs and preserves fragile old books, maps, and documents using careful hand techniques and chemistry.
Conservators mend torn pages with Japanese tissue, rebind old books by hand, remove mold, and control humidity and light. Jobs exist at the Library of Congress, big universities, and private studios.
Estimate.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Master's degree, about 7 years after high school. Master's in art conservation (very competitive) or long apprenticeship.
Ways in: Graduate school, Apprenticeship. Training cost: $60k – $150k.
Majors to look at: Art Conservation, Chemistry, Art History.
Growing about average (about 3% over 10 years). BLS projects ~3% growth for librarians and library media specialists.
Low risk for 10 years. AI imaging helps document damage, but mending fragile pages and rebinding books by hand stays human.
Classes: Chemistry, Art or ceramics, AP Art History.
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.