Salary guide
Book Conservator
- Average salary
- £22,000 – £40,000
- Working hours
- 37.5 hours/week
HeritageArchives
- The British Library holds over 170 million items
Other names this job is known by
- Book Restorer
- Paper Conservator
Key responsibilities
- Assess and restore damaged books and manuscripts
- Use scientific techniques to analyse materials
- Repair bindings, pages, and covers
- Document conservation processes
- Advise on storage and display conditions
Skills and qualifications required
- Degree or postgraduate qualification in conservation, art history, or chemistry
- Experience in book or paper conservation
- Manual dexterity
- Attention to detail
- Membership of ICON (Institute of Conservation)
Promotional job opportunities from this role
- Senior Conservator
- Head of Conservation
- Museum roles
- Academic research
How to get the job
- Study conservation, art history, or chemistry
- Complete a degree or postgraduate qualification in conservation
- Gain experience through internships or volunteering
- Apply for entry-level roles
- Progress with experience and further training
Learn to grow in this role
Practical Job Near Me guides chosen for people in this kind of job.
- Career Growth2 min read
Starting Your Job Search With a Plan
A clear weekly plan beats endless scrolling and helps you track real progress.
- Career Growth2 min read
How to Read a Job Description Properly
Learn to spot must-haves, nice-to-haves, and red flags before you spend an hour on an application.
- CVs & Applications2 min read
CV Structure Recruiters Scan in Seconds
Put the right information where busy recruiters look first—top third, clear headings, scannable bullets.