Conservator
Also known as: building conservation officer
About this occupation
Conservators organise and valorise works of art, buildings, books and furniture. They work in a wide range of areas such as creating and implementing new collections of art, preserving heritage buildings by applying restoration techniques as well as foreseeing the conservation of literary works, films, and valuable objects.
Essential skills and knowledge
- apply strategic thinking
- assess object condition
- assess conservation needs
- create solutions to problems
- meet deadlines
- diagnose conservation issues
- coordinate operational activities
- create collection conservation plan
- ensure safety of exhibition
- structure information
- provide conservation advice
- cope with challenging demands
Typical tasks and preparation
From the related US occupation profile Document Management Specialists (O*NET 15-1299.03). Linked by an official crosswalk: related, not identical; details vary by country.
- Assist in determining document management policies to facilitate efficient, legal, and secure access to electronic content.
- Assist in the development of document or content classification taxonomies to facilitate information capture, search, and retrieval.
- Implement electronic document processing, retrieval, and distribution systems in collaboration with other information technology specialists.
- Identify and classify documents or other electronic content according to characteristics such as security level, function, and metadata.
- Develop, document, or maintain standards, best practices, or system usage procedures.
- Assist in the assessment, acquisition, or deployment of new electronic document management systems.
- Typical education (US)
- Bachelor's Degree
- Preparation
- Job Zone 4 of 5
- Interests
- Conventional, Investigative, Enterprising
Top skills: Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Writing, Critical Thinking, Monitoring, Complex Problem Solving
US median pay: US$116,580 a year (2025), 435,370 employed. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Subjects this work relies on
How important each subject's knowledge is in the job itself, rated by people doing it (1 to 5).
- English or Literature in EnglishO*NET: English LanguageVery important (3.9)
- Business Studies or EntrepreneurshipO*NET: Administration and ManagementVery important (3.9)
- Computer StudiesO*NET: Computers and ElectronicsVery important (3.8)
- Government and PoliticsO*NET: Law and GovernmentImportant (3.5)
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Preparation needed
Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
- Most common education (US)
- Bachelor's Degree
- Education
- Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
- Experience
- A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
- Training
- Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
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- Information Security Analysts
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.