How to become a registrars, restorer or interpreter and other occupations related to museum and art galleries
Official title: Registrars, restorers, interpreters and other occupations related to museum and art galleries
Also called: Zoo interpreter, Museum registrar, Park interpreter, Museum cataloguer, Museum preparator, Museum technician, Museum interpreter, Nature interpreter, Cataloguer - museum, Aquarium interpreter, Heritage interpreter, Art gallery registrar
Registrars, restorers, interpreters and workers in other occupations related to museums and art galleries classify and catalogue museum artifacts and gallery works of art, construct and install exhibits and displays, restore, maintain and store museum and gallery collections, frame artwork, and perform other functions in support of curatorial and conservation activities. They are employed in museums and galleries. Picture framers and taxidermists may also be employed in retail settings or may be self-employed. This unit group also includes museum and other interpreters who conduct guided tours. They are employed by art galleries, museums, parks, aquariums, zoos, interpretive centres, botanical gardens, cultural centres, nature sanctuaries, historic and heritage sites, and other locations.
Main tasks
- Conservation and restoration technicians
- Assist in the restoration and conservation of artifacts under the direction of a conservator
- Preparators and picture framers
- Construct displays and dioramas, build models, install artifacts in displays and prepare artifacts for storage and shipping
- Fabricate custom frames, measure and cut mats, mat enhancements and glass, and mount paintings, photographs and other art work
- Museum interpreters
- Conduct tours of museums, gallery exhibitions and historical, heritage and other sites, answer inquiries and provide information concerning exhibits or sites
- Curatorial assistants, museum extension officers, museology technicians and museum registrars and cataloguers
How to become one
Registrars, cataloguers and interpreters may require a university degree in a field related to museum and gallery work. For other occupations in this unit group, completion of a college program in museum technology or conservation technology or completion of other technical or on-the-job training programs related to the work are required.
Ways in
- University: Arts & Humanities degrees, Offered by 18 universities in Canada
Pay · Outlook
- Median pay: $40,034 a year The middle half earn $34,613 to $46,878.
- About 9,400 people worked in this job in 2023, and about 10,900 are projected by 2033. (+16%)
- Projected labour market to 2033: moderate risk of surplus.
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Questions people ask
How do I become a registrars, restorer or interpreter and other occupations related to museum and art galleries?
Registrars, cataloguers and interpreters may require a university degree in a field related to museum and gallery work. For other occupations in this unit group, completion of a college program in museum technology or conservation technology or completion of other technical or on-the-job training programs related to the work are required.
How much does a registrars, restorer or interpreter and other occupations related to museum and art galleries earn in Canada?
Median full-time pay is $40,034 a year (Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank)). The middle half earn $34,613 to $46,878.
Is a registrars, restorer or interpreter and other occupations related to museum and art galleries a growing career in Canada?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 16% by 2033, from about 9,400 to about 10,900 people (Employment and Social Development Canada).
Do you need a degree to become a registrars, restorer or interpreter and other occupations related to museum and art galleries?
Not always. 48% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Arts & Humanities degrees.
Sources
- Statistics Canada: Census 2021: employment by occupation, gender and education (98-10-0449) (2021 Census), Statistics Canada Open Licence, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Statistics Canada: National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 (Version 1.0), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Employment and Social Development Canada: Canadian Occupational Projection System (COPS) (2024 to 2033), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank): Wages by occupation (2025 (revised 2025-11-19)), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
Updated 2026-10-03