Planit : Job Profiles : Museum Technician Culture and Heritage

Museum technicians do practical work setting up exhibitions and displays. They also pack, unpack and prepare objects for transporting.

The Work

You could be:

building display stands and units
carrying out carpentry, lighting and maintenance work on display areas
hanging paintings or handling old or fragile valuable objects
moving exhibits to new sites in the museum when needed
packing objects or materials to send to other places
unpacking objects or materials sent from other museums
making sure that equipment is maintained, serviced or repaired
setting up special displays and exhibitions, including any audio-visual equipment
making sure that materials are stored safely.

Pay

The figures below are only a guide. Actual pay rates vary, depending on:

where you work
the size of company or organisation you work for
the demand for the job.

Starting salaries for museum technicians with appropriate qualifications range from about £16,000 to £19,000 a year. For senior positions this could rise to around £26,000 a year.

Conditions

Your duties will vary greatly depending on the size and type of the museum you work in.
Most work is indoors; however, if you work in a museum with industrial, farming or heritage themes much of the work may be outside.
You may have to learn how to lift heavy or fragile, valuable objects.
You usually work a 35-hour week. This may include evenings and weekends.
The job is likely to involve physical work and possibly working on ladders.

Workforce Employment Status

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Useful Subjects

Getting In

Most entrants have some subjects at Standard grade or National 4 or 5 as well as a National Certificate (NC), National Qualification (NQ) or Scottish Vocational Qualification (SVQ). This is usually in a craft or technical subject such as carpentry, painting or engineering.
Entry to museum work is very competitive.
If you do temporary or voluntary work in a museum, this may lead to a full time job.
You must be prepared to do some heavy lifting.
For many posts you will need experience of setting up audio visual equipment such as plasma, LCD projectors, lighting and sound.
You must be fit, as you will be on your feet a lot.
For some posts you will need a driving licence.

Workforce Education Levels (UK)

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Job Outlook Scotland

Employment

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Job Outlook Scotland and UK

Scotland

2026

6566

3.7 %

RISE

2031

6806

United Kingdom

2026

68850

1.9 %

RISE

2031

70164

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What Does it Take?

You need to be:

flexible and adaptable
careful, accurate and methodical
reliable
able to carry out instructions
able to work to deadlines.

You need to have:

the ability to work alone or as part of a team
good communication skills
an eye for shape, colour and design
basic computer or IT skills
good hand skills and practical abilities.

Training

Training is normally on the job with an experienced member of staff.
Some museums provide training for SVQs in subjects relevant to museum work.
You will need to keep up to date with developments in the industry.

Getting On

With experience, you may be able to move into more specialised work such as helping museum conservators and restorers.
Most job opportunities are in the larger museums in towns and cities.
Promoted posts are limited. You may have to move to another area.

More Information

According to the Museums Galleries Scotland website, there are over 400 museums and galleries in Scotland. They vary in size from the National Museum of Scotland, with many employees, to small local museums and galleries.

The Creative and Cultural Skills website has a careers section called Creative Choices which covers careers information, jobs and opportunities in the heritage and culture sector, including archive work.

Contacts

The following organisations may be able to provide further information.

Historic Environment Scotland (HES)
Tel: 0131 668 8600
Website: http://www.historicenvironment.scot
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/historicenvscotland

Historic Environment Scotland is the new lead public body for the country's historic environment. It brings together Historic Scotland and the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historic Monumnents of Scotland.

Institute of Conservation (ICON)
Tel: 020 3142 6799
E-mail: admin@icon.org.uk
Website: http://www.icon.org.uk
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Institute-of-Conservation/367081813346500

Museum Jobs: cultural sector recruitment
Website: http://www.museumjobs.com

Museums Association
Tel: 020 7566 7800
E-mail: info@museumsassociation.org
Website: https://www.museumsassociation.org/home
X: @MuseumsAssoc
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MuseumsAssoc

Museums Galleries Scotland
Tel: 0131 550 4100
E-mail: admin@museumsgalleriesscotland.org.uk
Website: http://www.museumsgalleriesscotland.org.uk/
X: @MuseumsGalScot

National Trust for Scotland (NTS)
Tel: 0131 385 7490
Website: http://www.nts.org.uk
X: @N_T_S
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NationalTrustforScotland

Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland (RCAHMS)
Tel: 0131 662 1456
Website: http://www.rcahms.gov.uk

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Planit

Museum Technician

The Work

Pay

Conditions

Useful Subjects

Getting In

Job Outlook Scotland

Job Outlook Scotland and UK

What Does it Take?

Training

Getting On

More Information

Contacts

Career Area

Career Sectors

Culture and Heritage

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