Also called: Heritage Scientist, Museum Scientist
Uses chemistry to study and protect famous paintings, sculptures, and artifacts.
You aim X-rays and lasers at a 500-year-old painting to discover hidden sketches underneath or identify fake pigments, then advise conservators on how to clean it safely.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Doctorate (PhD), about 9 years after high school. PhD in chemistry or materials science; jobs are at major museums like the Met or Getty.
Ways in: 4-year college, Graduate school. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Chemistry, Materials Science, Art History.
Growing about average. BLS does not project this specialty separately; rating estimated from related occupations.
Low risk for 10 years. AI helps read X-ray scans of paintings; hands-on study of masterpieces with museum conservators stays human.
Classes: AP Chemistry, AP Art History, Studio art.
Official data: O*NET occupation 19-2031.
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.