Archivist salary in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Archivists in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median of $57,930 a year ($27.85 an hour), based on BLS data for 160 workers.
Pay ranges from $47,490 for the lowest-paid 10% to $96,360 for the top 10%. That is 10% lower than the national median of $64,550. Pay here is 2% lower than the Illinois statewide median of $59,340. There are 0.04 archivists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.68). The average (mean) salary is $67,230, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for archivists in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $47,490 | $22.83 |
| 25th percentile | $57,680 | $27.73 |
| Median | $57,930 | $27.85 |
| 75th percentile | $77,620 | $37.32 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $96,360 | $46.33 |
| Average (mean) | $67,230 | $32.32 |
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 | $4,827.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,413.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,228.08 |
| Weekly | $1,114.04 |
| Hourly | $27.85 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Archivist salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $63,630 | 80 |
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 |
See Archivist pay in every state or the Illinois statewide figures.
Related jobs in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Librarians and Media Collections Specialists | $66,250 | $31.85 |
| Library Technician | $47,100 | $22.64 |
| Curator | $63,060 | $30.32 |
| Museum Technicians and Conservators | $58,840 | $28.29 |
| Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary | $37,840 | — |
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $78,390 | — |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $98,970 | — |
| Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $78,000 | — |
| Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education | $43,050 | $20.70 |
| Self-Enrichment Teacher | $45,020 | $21.64 |
| Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School | $79,690 | — |
| Substitute Teachers, Short-Term | $43,460 | $20.90 |
| Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary | $35,760 | — |
| Instructional Coordinator | $77,900 | $37.45 |
More: Educational Instruction and Library Occupations · all salaries in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
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 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The median salary for archivists in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $57,930 a year, or $27.85 an hour. Pay ranges from $47,490 for the lowest-paid 10% to $96,360 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid archivists make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The top 10% of archivists in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn at least $96,360 a year. The top 25% earn $77,620 or more.
What is the starting pay for archivists in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $47,490 a year, and a quarter of archivists earn $57,680 or less.
How many archivists work in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
About 160 archivists are employed in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, not counting the self-employed.