Archivist salary in California
Archivists in California earn a median of $70,530 a year ($33.91 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,160 workers.
Pay ranges from $43,540 for the lowest-paid 10% to $122,190 for the top 10%. That is 9% higher than the national median of $64,550. California ranks 8th of 38 states for archivists pay. There are 0.06 archivists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.3× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $77,160, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for archivists in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $43,540 | $20.93 |
| 25th percentile | $53,200 | $25.58 |
| Median | $70,530 | $33.91 |
| 75th percentile | $91,170 | $43.83 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $122,190 | $58.75 |
| Average (mean) | $77,160 | $37.10 |
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 | $5,877.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,938.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,712.69 |
| Weekly | $1,356.35 |
| Hourly | $33.91 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Archivist salary in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $97,550 | 110 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $78,490 | 60 |
| 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 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $62,050 | 70 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $62,030 | 50 |
Highest-paying states for archivists
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $93,040 |
| Connecticut | $79,790 |
| Massachusetts | $78,180 |
| Rhode Island | $76,990 |
| Washington | $76,490 |
| Maryland | $76,440 |
| New York | $73,860 |
| California | $70,530 |
| New Jersey | $67,900 |
| Minnesota | $65,740 |
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Librarians and Media Collections Specialists | $89,790 | $43.17 |
| Library Technician | $53,260 | $25.61 |
| Museum Technicians and Conservators | $61,550 | $29.59 |
| Curator | $78,740 | $37.86 |
| Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary | $46,490 | — |
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $99,650 | — |
| Substitute Teachers, Short-Term | $60,300 | $28.99 |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $101,370 | — |
| Self-Enrichment Teacher | $49,570 | $23.83 |
| Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education | $47,400 | $22.79 |
| Tutor | $45,100 | $21.69 |
| Educational Instruction and Library Workers, All Other | $64,100 | $30.82 |
| Postsecondary Teachers, All Other | $100,690 | — |
| Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $98,950 | — |
More: Educational Instruction and Library Occupations · all salaries in California
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 California?
The median salary for archivists in California is $70,530 a year, or $33.91 an hour. Pay ranges from $43,540 for the lowest-paid 10% to $122,190 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid archivists make in California?
The top 10% of archivists in California earn at least $122,190 a year. The top 25% earn $91,170 or more.
What is the starting pay for archivists in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $43,540 a year, and a quarter of archivists earn $53,200 or less.
How many archivists work in California?
About 1,160 archivists are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.