Provenance Researcher

Traces the ownership history of artworks—including art looted during wars.

A day in the life

Follows a painting's trail through old auction catalogs and Nazi-era records to see whether it was stolen and should be returned to a family.

Pay over a career

Starting

$50k

Typical

$72k

High

$110k

Estimate.

Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.

Training

Master's degree, about 6 years after high school. Master's or PhD in art history; German or French reading skills common.

Ways in: 4-year college, Graduate school. Training cost: $60k – $150k.

Majors to look at: Art History, History.

Outlook

Growing about average (about 4% over 10 years). Estimate.

Will it last? Our AI estimate

Medium risk for 10 years. Digitized archives and AI search speed tracing ownership; judging evidence of looted art stays investigative work.

Start now, in high school

Classes: AP European History, German or French, AP Art History.

• Take the National German or French Exam
• Enter National History Day
• Volunteer at a library archive

Official data: O*NET occupation 25-4012.

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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.