National Occupational Classification, TEER 1
NOC 51101: Conservators and curators
Conservators restore and conserve artifacts belonging to museums, galleries and owners of cultural property. Below are the main duties, all 52 job titles it covers, what it means for Express Entry and what it pays in each province.
Updated
- Official NOC 2021 data
- Job Bank wages
What is NOC 51101?
NOC 51101 is the code for conservators and curators in the National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021. Job titles in this group include art gallery conservator, art objects conservator, conservator - museum and curator. It is a TEER 1 occupation (usually a university degree), so it counts as skilled work for the Federal Skilled Worker Program and the Canadian Experience Class. The Job Bank median wage across Canada is $36.36 an hour.
- NOC code
- 51101
- TEER
- 1: University degree
- Broad category
- Occupations in art, culture, recreation and sport
- Express Entry
- Skilled (TEER 0 to 3)
- Category draws
- None
- Median wage
- $36.36 an hour
Job titles under NOC 51101
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.
Main job titles
- art gallery conservator
- art objects conservator
- conservator - museum
- curator
- historical artifact conservator
- natural history museum curator
All 52 job titles in the NOC index
archaeology curator, archaeology museum curator, architectural conservator, art gallery conservator, art gallery curator, art object curator, art objects conservator, artifact conservator, assistant curator, assistant museum curator, aviation and space museum curator, book conservator, ceramics and glass conservator, conservator - museum, contemporary art curator, contemporary art museum curator, curator, ethnographic objects conservator, ethnology curator, ethnology museum curator, fine art and polychrome conservator, fossil conservator, fossil curator, furniture and wooden objects conservator, herbarium curator, historical artifact conservator, insectarium conservator, insectarium curator, invertebrate zoology curator, invertebrate zoology museum curator, library and archives conservator, library curator, metals conservator, museologist, museum curator, museum objects conservator, natural history museum curator, natural history specimen conservator, natural sciences curator, natural sciences museum curator, ornithology curator, ornithology museum curator, paintings conservator, paper conservator, photograph conservator, photography museum curator, science and technology curator, science and technology museum curator, sculpture conservator, textile conservator, vertebrate zoology curator, vertebrate zoology museum curator.
Also included in this group
- assistant curator
Main duties of NOC 51101
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
- Conduct research into objects' methods of construction techniques, structure and materials to understand its physical and chemical makeup
- Develop storylines and themes and organize displays and exhibitions
- Coordinate the storage of collections and the setting up of displays and exhibitions
- Oversee the conservation, display and circulation of collections
- Supervise curatorial assistants and other museum technicians.
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.
Additional information
- Progression to museum or art gallery management positions is possible with experience.
- Conservators and curators may specialize in a particular type of collection or material, such as furniture, weapons, books, paintings and musical instruments.
Is NOC 51101 eligible for Express Entry?
Yes for the programs that need skilled work: TEER 1 is in the TEER 0 to 3 range IRCC accepts.
| Program or draw | NOC 51101 |
|---|---|
| Federal Skilled Worker Program | Counts as skilled work (TEER 0 to 3) |
| Canadian Experience Class | Counts as skilled work (TEER 0 to 3) |
| Federal Skilled Trades Program | Not a listed trade |
| Occupation category draws (2026) | Not on any occupation list |
| French-language proficiency (category draw) | Open to any occupation with NCLC 7 in French |
Read how TEER categories work and the full list of NOC codes in each 2026 category draw. Category draws also need at least 12 months of full-time work (or the same amount part-time) in one listed occupation within the past 3 years.
How much does NOC 51101 pay?
Job Bank wages for this occupation, per hour. Low and high are, in most cases, the 10th and 90th percentiles, so 8 in 10 workers earn somewhere between them.
| Area | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | $23.54 | $36.36 | $54.74 |
| Nova Scotia | $24.53 | $35.67 | $53.20 |
| Quebec | $26.30 | $38.57 | $52.91 |
| Ontario | $24.95 | $34.28 | $45.64 |
| Saskatchewan | $31.05 | $39.46 | $53.44 |
| Alberta | $23.93 | $38.06 | $55.06 |
| British Columbia | $25.08 | $36.17 | $44.74 |
Source: Job Bank, Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank 2025 wages, revised November 19, 2025), data from 2024 (Small Area Estimation). Wages for job offers in LMIA and provincial programs are compared with these figures, so check the current numbers on Job Bank before you rely on them.
Using NOC 51101 duties on your resume
Canadian resumes do not list NOC codes. Employers read your job titles, what you did and what came of it. The NOC duties are still a useful checklist: if you did these tasks, say so in your own words and add the numbers that prove it.
For Express Entry, the reference letter from your employer should describe the duties you really performed, in line with this lead statement and most of the main duties, without copying the NOC text word for word. The free reference letter generator checks your duties against NOC 51101 as you write.
- Start each bullet with a strong verb and end it with a result: how many, how often, how fast.
- Use the job title your employer used, even if the NOC title is different.
- Keep immigration details such as your NOC code and permit type off the resume.
Turn my duties into a resume Free to start, no card.
Where this information comes from
Occupation codes, titles and descriptions are adapted from Statistics Canada, National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 Version 1.0. This does not constitute an endorsement by Statistics Canada of this product.
Wages come from Job Bank, Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank 2025 wages, revised November 19, 2025). Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada.
Express Entry rules come from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC): the program pages for the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Canadian Experience Class and the Federal Skilled Trades Program, and the category-based selection page as modified on June 22, 2026.
Frequently asked questions
What is the NOC code for a art gallery conservator?
NOC 51101, Conservators and curators, a TEER 1 occupation in NOC 2021.
What TEER is NOC 51101?
TEER 1. Usually a university degree. The TEER is the second digit of the code. See all TEER categories.
Is NOC 51101 eligible for Express Entry?
Yes. As a TEER 1 occupation it counts as skilled work for the Federal Skilled Worker Program and the Canadian Experience Class. You still have to meet every other requirement, and your duties must match the NOC description.
Is NOC 51101 in an Express Entry category-based draw?
No. It is not on any 2026 occupation list. The French-language proficiency category is open to any occupation if you reach NCLC 7 in French. See every category.
How much does NOC 51101 pay in Canada?
The Job Bank median across Canada is $36.36 an hour, with most wages between $23.54 and $54.74. Pay varies by province: see the table above.
Where is the official description?
On the Statistics Canada and ESDC NOC site: search 51101 in NOC 2021 Version 1.0. This page shows the same text, from the open data Statistics Canada publishes.
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More on NOC codes and Canadian resumes
- NOC Code Finder: Describe your duties and get your NOC 2021 code, TEER and Express Entry eligibility. Free.
- NOC Codes Canada: Full List: All 516 NOC 2021 codes with their TEER, duties and wages.
- TEER Categories Explained: What TEER 0 to 5 means, which count for Express Entry, and every job in each one.
- Express Entry Category Draws: NOC Codes: Every NOC code on the 2026 healthcare, STEM, trades, education and other lists.
- Canadian Resume Examples by Job: Real examples for cashiers, caregivers, trades, tech, students and more.
- Newcomer Resume Guide: Turn international experience into a resume Canadian employers understand.