Archivists Salary in the United States
The median annual wage for archivists in the U.S. is $64,550 ($31.03 per hour), according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, May 2025 estimates.
- Median annual wage
- $64,550
- Mean annual wage
- $70,640
- Median hourly wage
- $31.03
- Employment
- 7,970
7,970 employed
Wage percentiles
| Percentile | Annual wage | Hourly wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $39,970 | $19.22 |
| 25th percentile | $50,680 | $24.37 |
| Median (50th) | $64,550 | $31.03 |
| 75th percentile | $83,020 | $39.92 |
| 90th percentile | $110,550 | $53.15 |
Highest-paying states for archivists
| State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $93,040 | 200 |
| Connecticut | $79,790 | 160 |
| Massachusetts | $78,180 | 270 |
| Rhode Island | $76,990 | 40 |
| Washington | $76,490 | 640 |
| Maryland | $76,440 | 660 |
| New York | $73,860 | 960 |
| California | $70,530 | 1,160 |
| New Jersey | $67,900 | 70 |
| Minnesota | $65,740 | 90 |
Lowest-paying states
- Arizona: $47,010 median annual wage
- Kentucky: $48,810 median annual wage
- Kansas: $49,200 median annual wage
- Texas: $50,160 median annual wage
- Oklahoma: $51,940 median annual wage
About this occupation
Appraise, edit, and direct safekeeping of permanent records and historically valuable documents. Participate in research activities based on archival materials.
Typical tasks
- Research and record the origins and historical significance of archival materials.
- Prepare archival records, such as document descriptions, to allow easy access to information.
- Provide reference services and assistance for users needing archival materials.
- Direct activities of workers who assist in arranging, cataloguing, exhibiting, and maintaining collections of valuable materials.
- Establish and administer policy guidelines concerning public access and use of materials.
- Authenticate and appraise historical documents and archival materials.
Education of the current workforce — typical entry: Master's degree
| Education level | Share of workers |
|---|---|
| Less than high school diploma | 1.2% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 6.6% |
| Some college, no degree | 9.0% |
| Associate's degree | 4.3% |
| Bachelor's degree | 36.1% |
| Master's degree | 35.3% |
| Doctoral or professional degree | 7.4% |
Occupation profile data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor.
Related occupations
- Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary$36,780
- Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education$63,970
- Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$72,040
- Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$64,370
- Substitute Teachers, Short-Term$41,670
- Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education$38,140
- Self-Enrichment Teachers$46,800
- Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School$65,120
About this data
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- CareerOneStop Occupation Profiles — data period 2026-08, retrieved August 14, 2026.
Figures are shown exactly as published by the source or derived by the documented formulas on our methodology page. Where a source suppresses an estimate, we show “—” rather than a substitute value.