Archivist salary in the U.S.
Archivists in the U.S. earn a median of $64,550 a year ($31.03 an hour), based on BLS data for 7,970 workers.
Pay ranges from $39,970 for the lowest-paid 10% to $110,550 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $70,640, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for archivists in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $39,970 | $19.22 |
| 25th percentile | $50,680 | $24.37 |
| Median | $64,550 | $31.03 |
| 75th percentile | $83,020 | $39.92 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $110,550 | $53.15 |
| Average (mean) | $70,640 | $33.96 |
Half of archivists earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $5,379.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,689.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,482.69 |
| Weekly | $1,241.35 |
| Hourly | $31.03 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Archivist salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Michigan | $63,890 | 160 |
| Oregon | $61,880 | 70 |
| New Hampshire | $61,410 | 50 |
| Pennsylvania | $60,690 | 360 |
| Missouri | $60,020 | 150 |
| Wisconsin | $59,400 | 220 |
| Illinois | $59,340 | 200 |
| Colorado | $59,210 | 70 |
| Louisiana | $59,070 | 50 |
| Georgia | $59,010 | 150 |
| Iowa | $59,010 | 40 |
| Ohio | $58,790 | 150 |
| Arkansas | $58,560 | 40 |
| Idaho | $58,370 | 30 |
| Alabama | $57,860 | 100 |
| Utah | $56,660 | 80 |
| Maine | $56,260 | 60 |
| North Carolina | $55,370 | 130 |
| Indiana | $54,220 | 70 |
| Delaware | $53,890 | 50 |
| Tennessee | $53,210 | 110 |
| South Carolina | $52,810 | 60 |
| Florida | $52,100 | 100 |
| Oklahoma | $51,940 | 80 |
| Texas | $50,160 | 490 |
| Kansas | $49,200 | 30 |
| Kentucky | $48,810 | 40 |
| Arizona | $47,010 | n/a |
| Puerto Rico | $40,900 | 30 |
Best-paying metro areas for archivists
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $119,190 | 80 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $97,550 | 110 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $84,590 | 670 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $78,530 | 310 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $78,490 | 60 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $78,220 | 230 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $77,990 | 100 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $77,450 | 760 |
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $76,990 | 40 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $76,440 | 230 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $74,540 | 50 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $74,320 | 180 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $70,630 | 490 |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | $70,450 | 40 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $66,830 | 80 |
Metro areas with the most archivists
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 760 | $77,450 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 670 | $84,590 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 490 | $70,630 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 310 | $78,530 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | 230 | $76,440 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 230 | $78,220 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 180 | $74,320 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 160 | $57,930 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 160 | $60,690 |
| Madison, WI | 120 | $63,040 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 110 | $52,940 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 110 | $97,550 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 100 | $63,110 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 100 | $48,370 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | 100 | $77,990 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Librarians and Media Collections Specialists | $68,270 | $32.82 |
| Library Technician | $44,580 | $21.43 |
| Museum Technicians and Conservators | $51,440 | $24.73 |
| Curator | $63,420 | $30.49 |
| 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 | $20.03 |
| Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education | $38,140 | $18.34 |
| Self-Enrichment Teacher | $46,800 | $22.50 |
| Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School | $65,120 | — |
| Instructional Coordinator | $77,440 | $37.23 |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | $107,310 | — |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 25-4011. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a archivist make in the U.S.?
The median salary for archivists in the U.S. is $64,550 a year, or $31.03 an hour. Pay ranges from $39,970 for the lowest-paid 10% to $110,550 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid archivists make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of archivists in the U.S. earn at least $110,550 a year. The top 25% earn $83,020 or more.
What is the starting pay for archivists in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $39,970 a year, and a quarter of archivists earn $50,680 or less.
How many archivists work in the U.S.?
About 7,970 archivists are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.