Archivist salary in District of Columbia
Archivists in District of Columbia earn a median of $93,040 a year ($44.73 an hour), based on BLS data for 200 workers.
Pay ranges from $62,400 for the lowest-paid 10% to $128,610 for the top 10%. That is 44% higher than the national median of $64,550. District of Columbia ranks 1st of 38 states for archivists pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 0.28 archivists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 5.5× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $93,530, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for archivists in District of Columbia
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $62,400 | $30.00 |
| 25th percentile | $76,320 | $36.69 |
| Median | $93,040 | $44.73 |
| 75th percentile | $108,160 | $52.00 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $128,610 | $61.83 |
| Average (mean) | $93,530 | $44.97 |
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 | $7,753.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,876.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,578.46 |
| Weekly | $1,789.23 |
| Hourly | $44.73 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $93,040 salary, see how much house you can afford in District of Columbia at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Archivist salary in cities in District of Columbia
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $84,590 | 670 |
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 District of Columbia
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Librarians and Media Collections Specialists | $96,550 | $46.42 |
| Museum Technicians and Conservators | $76,110 | $36.59 |
| Library Technician | $61,040 | $29.35 |
| Curator | $93,310 | $44.86 |
| Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary | $46,920 | — |
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $96,580 | — |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $82,750 | — |
| Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education | $62,150 | $29.88 |
| Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $79,900 | — |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | $167,520 | — |
| Instructional Coordinator | $105,990 | $50.96 |
| Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary | $102,310 | — |
| Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School | $97,910 | — |
| Teachers and Instructors, All Other | $93,040 | — |
More: Educational Instruction and Library Occupations · all salaries in District of Columbia
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 District of Columbia?
The median salary for archivists in District of Columbia is $93,040 a year, or $44.73 an hour. Pay ranges from $62,400 for the lowest-paid 10% to $128,610 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid archivists make in District of Columbia?
The top 10% of archivists in District of Columbia earn at least $128,610 a year. The top 25% earn $108,160 or more.
What is the starting pay for archivists in District of Columbia?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $62,400 a year, and a quarter of archivists earn $76,320 or less.
How many archivists work in District of Columbia?
About 200 archivists are employed in District of Columbia, not counting the self-employed.