Conservators and curators
Occupation · NOC 2021 51101 · Canada
- NOC 2021 code
- 51101
- TEER
- 1
- Positions on positive LMIAs, all lists
- 18
- Median wage, Canada
- C$36.36 per hour
- Job Bank postings, Jan–Sep 2026
- 41
OC<CANCONSERVATORS<AND<CURATORS<<<<<<<<<<<<< 511012<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<4
About this occupation
Conservators restore and conserve artifacts belonging to museums, galleries and owners of cultural property. Curators recommend the acquisition of museum artifacts and gallery works of art and research their artistic history. Conservators and curators are employed in museums, art galleries, archives, libraries, government agencies and universities. Conservators may be self-employed.
Example job titles
- art gallery conservator
- art objects conservator
- conservator - museum
- curator
- historical artifact conservator
- natural history museum curator
Main duties
- This group performs some or all of the following duties:
- Conservators
- Examine artifacts, determine their condition, suggest methods for treating them and recommend preventive conservation techniques to their owners
- Restore and conserve paintings, photographs, books, papers, sculptures, furniture, pottery or other museum and art gallery artifacts as per particular field of specialization
- Provide advice on display and storage of museum and gallery artifacts to ensure proper maintenance and preservation
- Explore new conservation and restoration techniques
- Provide consultation to museums, art galleries or private individuals
- Supervise conservation technicians and other museum technicians.
- Curators
- Recommend the acquisition of paintings, photographs, sculptures, documents and other museum and art gallery artifacts
Employment requirements
- Conservators require a master's degree in art conservation or completion of a two-year college program in conservation technology and several years of experience in conservation work.
- Conservators may be accredited by the Canadian Association of Professional Conservators.
- Curators require a master's or bachelor's degree in museology, art history or a field related to their specific area of work.
Temporary foreign worker positions (LMIA)
Positions on positive LMIAs in ESDC employer lists, by year of the list.
Approved positions by year
Data table
| 2016 | 3 |
| 2017 | 6 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2024 | 3 |
- The Royal Ontario Museum5
- Jane Corkin Gallery Inc.3
- Art Gallery Of Ontario2
- Harbourfront Corporation (1990)1
- Tangled Art+ Disability1
- Vancouver International Sculpture Biennale1
- Assiniboine Park Conservancy1
- University of Alberta1
- The Aga Khan Museum1
- BLACK ARTISTS' NETWORKS IN DIALOGUE1
- University of British Columbia, Faculty Relations1
Work permits
Work permit holders by year the permit took effect, mapped from NOC 2016 where the code has a single NOC 2021 successor (IRCC).
| Year | TFWP permits | IMP permits |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 0 | 5 |
All work permits by year
Data table
| 2019 | 5 |
Permanent residence
Admissions of permanent residents by intended occupation and Express Entry invitations by occupation (IRCC).
- Canadian Experience Class5
Wages
Median wage by province and territory (2025 release). Hourly unless marked per year.
| Area | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | C$23.54 | C$36.36 | C$54.74 |
| Alberta | C$23.93 | C$38.06 | C$55.06 |
| British Columbia | C$25.08 | C$36.17 | C$44.74 |
| Nova Scotia | C$24.53 | C$35.67 | C$53.20 |
| Ontario | C$24.95 | C$34.28 | C$45.64 |
| Quebec | C$26.30 | C$38.57 | C$52.91 |
| Saskatchewan | C$31.05 | C$39.46 | C$53.44 |
- Job Bank postings, Jan–Sep 2026
- 41
- Vacancies advertised
- 43
- Median advertised minimum hourly wage
- C$25.00
Official data, not advice. Visa Atlas publishes figures from government registers and statistics. It does not assess eligibility or give immigration advice; for advice, consult a regulated adviser. Read more