Archaeological field conservators often do not know how much other field conservators are paid. The lack of transparency puts all conservators at a disadvantage in salary negotiations. If the market rate is mysterious, conservators can't know whether they are being offered a fair rate, can't refer to common practices for expenses reimbursement, and can't advocate for more equitable field conservation compensation in general.
In 2010, Susanne Davis and Claudia Chemello conducted a survey to determine how archaeological field conservators were compensated. The picture was bleak. Thirteen years later, has the picture changed? To find out, we need updated data, and that means… yes, another survey. If you have worked as a field conservator between 2018 and 2022, please consider taking the Archaeological Heritage Network's anonymous archaeological field conservation compensation survey at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/DZHQHH5. The survey should take 10 – 15 minutes. The analyzed results will be made available to the conservation profession, with the goal of aiding salary transparency.
Respondents do not need to be members of AIC and can be located in any country. Please publicize the survey among your colleagues.
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Julie Unruh
Editor, AHN
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