Archivist Salary in Los Angeles, CA
Archivists in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area earn a median $70,630 a year — 9% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $55,162 take-home, or $4,597 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median archivist salary in Los Angeles, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$6,709
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,379
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,024
- California income tax$2,438
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$918
- Take-home pay$55,162
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 8.00% state
Archivist pay by experience in Los Angeles, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $43,570 | $20.95 | $35,890 | $2,991 |
| 25th percentile | $51,630 | $24.82 | $41,846 | $3,487 |
| Median (50th) | $70,630 | $33.96 | $55,162 | $4,597 |
| 75th percentile | $88,270 | $42.44 | $65,801 | $5,483 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $123,830 | $59.53 | $87,007 | $7,251 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $70,630 buys in Los Angeles, CA
Prices in Los Angeles, CA are 13.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.70× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median archivist's $55,162 take-home pay has the buying power of $48,572 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Los Angeles, CA has 1.5× the national concentration of archivist jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for archivists, adjusted for cost of living
Los Angeles, CA ranks #3 of 3 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington, DC | $84,590 | $64,117 | $58,886 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $77,450 | $59,731 | $53,064 |
| 3 | Los Angeles, CA | $70,630 | $55,162 | $48,572 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 3 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a archivist make in Los Angeles, CA?
The median archivist salary in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area is $70,630 a year, or about $33.96 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $51,630 and $88,270.
What is a archivist’s take-home pay in Los Angeles, CA?
On the median $70,630 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $55,162 a year ($4,597 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,356 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Los Angeles, CA a good place to work as a archivist?
Pay here is 9% above the national median of $64,550. Local prices are 13.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $48,572 would in a typical U.S. city. Los Angeles, CA ranks #3 of 3 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a archivist afford rent in Los Angeles, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Los Angeles, CA is $2,245 a month ($2,755 for two bedrooms) — 49% of a median archivist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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