Archivist Salary
Archivists earn a median $64,550 a year nationally. Educational Instruction and Library Occupations
What archivists do
Appraise, edit, and direct safekeeping of permanent records and historically valuable documents. Participate in research activities based on archival materials.
- Typical education
- Master's degree
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +3.4% (about average)
- Openings per year
- 1,100
- Self-employed
- 7%
Employment of archivists is projected to grow 3.4% from 2025 to 2035, about the same as the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 1,100 openings are expected each year, on average, including jobs left by workers who retire or switch careers.
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Archivist take-home pay calculator
Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.
- Federal income tax$5,566
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,002
- Medicare (1.45%)$936
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$54,046
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Pay by experience
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home (no state tax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $39,970 | $19.22 | $34,296 |
| 25th percentile | $50,680 | $24.37 | $42,901 |
| Median (50th) | $64,550 | $31.03 | $54,046 |
| 75th percentile | $83,020 | $39.91 | $67,235 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $110,550 | $53.15 | $86,602 |
Archivist salary by state
| State | Median | 1-yr change | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $93,040 | +1.0% | $69,344 | $62,400 – $128,610 | 200 |
| Connecticut | $79,790 | +70.7% | $62,149 | $34,500 – $119,190 | 160 |
| Massachusetts | $78,180 | +8.9% | $60,141 | $52,240 – $117,080 | 270 |
| Rhode Island | $76,990 | +3.8% | $60,722 | $43,140 – $116,650 | 40 |
| Washington | $76,490 | +8.7% | $62,641 | $52,910 – $104,020 | 640 |
| Maryland | $76,440 | +1.5% | $59,338 | $52,080 – $131,810 | 660 |
| New York | $73,860 | −1.4% | $57,399 | $48,080 – $115,580 | 960 |
| California | $70,530 | +13.5% | $55,101 | $43,540 – $122,190 | 1,160 |
| New Jersey | $67,900 | +1.2% | $54,394 | $48,930 – $114,390 | 70 |
| Minnesota | $65,740 | +4.0% | $52,055 | $42,380 – $72,140 | 90 |
| Michigan | $63,890 | +19.2% | $51,051 | $39,070 – $110,780 | 160 |
| Oregon | $61,880 | −3.0% | $47,316 | $42,070 – $79,100 | 70 |
| New Hampshire | $61,410 | +1.8% | $51,523 | $38,400 – $93,330 | 50 |
| Pennsylvania | $60,690 | +6.5% | $49,081 | $39,950 – $89,610 | 360 |
| Missouri | $60,020 | +18.9% | $48,522 | $40,950 – $108,080 | 150 |
| Wisconsin | $59,400 | −1.9% | $48,075 | $37,440 – $84,300 | 220 |
| Illinois | $59,340 | −14.7% | $47,067 | $47,500 – $96,360 | 200 |
| Colorado | $59,210 | −1.2% | $47,858 | $37,160 – $106,870 | 70 |
| Louisiana | $59,070 | +66.2% | $48,257 | $37,990 – $85,790 | 50 |
| Georgia | $59,010 | +5.1% | $47,155 | $41,480 – $96,820 | 150 |
| Iowa | $59,010 | — | $48,004 | $27,630 – $79,290 | 40 |
| Ohio | $58,790 | +15.0% | $48,583 | $39,610 – $81,010 | 150 |
| Arkansas | $58,560 | +6.4% | $47,162 | $26,660 – $112,260 | 40 |
| Idaho | $58,370 | — | $47,095 | $38,390 – $78,090 | 30 |
| Alabama | $57,860 | −0.9% | $46,043 | $38,670 – $93,640 | 100 |
| Utah | $56,660 | +10.6% | $46,123 | $48,400 – $73,370 | 80 |
| Maine | $56,260 | +3.9% | $44,769 | $45,090 – $82,110 | 60 |
| North Carolina | $55,370 | +4.7% | $44,969 | $33,280 – $79,990 | 130 |
| Indiana | $54,220 | −5.0% | $44,176 | $43,320 – $75,490 | 70 |
| Delaware | $53,890 | +4.2% | $43,167 | $40,540 – $72,480 | 50 |
| Tennessee | $53,210 | +11.0% | $44,934 | $38,790 – $78,740 | 110 |
| South Carolina | $52,810 | +11.4% | $42,601 | $36,990 – $79,420 | 60 |
| Florida | $52,100 | +13.7% | $44,042 | $35,370 – $82,640 | 100 |
| Oklahoma | $51,940 | +4.2% | $42,122 | $32,170 – $77,250 | 80 |
| Texas | $50,160 | −7.1% | $42,484 | $35,090 – $80,370 | 490 |
| Kansas | $49,200 | +3.6% | $39,767 | $31,200 – $90,060 | 30 |
| Kentucky | $48,810 | +14.4% | $39,808 | $38,820 – $67,610 | 40 |
| Arizona | $47,010 | −3.9% | $38,986 | $31,200 – $66,790 | — |
Related jobs
| Job | Median salary | Education | Growth 2025–35 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Curator | $63,420 | Master's degree | +4.9% |
| Museum Technician and Conservator | $51,440 | Bachelor's degree | +3.6% |
| Librarian and Media Collections Specialist | $68,270 | Master's degree | +2.6% |
| Library Technician | $44,580 | Postsecondary nondegree award | -6.4% |
| Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $64,370 | Bachelor's degree | -0.4% |
| Special Education Teachers, Preschool | $64,830 | Bachelor's degree | +2.4% |
| Career/Technical Education Teachers, Middle School | $65,030 | Bachelor's degree | -0.5% |
| Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School | $65,120 | Bachelor's degree | -0.4% |
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $63,970 | Bachelor's degree | -0.4% |
| Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary | $63,820 | Bachelor's degree | -0.3% |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a archivist make?
The national median salary for archivists is $64,550 a year ($31.03 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $39,970 and the top 10% earn over $110,550. Source: BLS, May 2025.
Which state pays archivists the most?
District of Columbia has the highest median pay at $93,040.
How many archivists are there in the U.S.?
About 7,970 people work as archivists nationwide.