Archivist salary in Illinois
Archivists in Illinois earn a median of $59,340 a year ($28.53 an hour), based on BLS data for 200 workers.
Pay ranges from $47,500 for the lowest-paid 10% to $96,360 for the top 10%. That is 8% lower than the national median of $64,550. Illinois ranks 17th of 38 states for archivists pay. There are 0.03 archivists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.64). The average (mean) salary is $67,020, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for archivists in Illinois
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $47,500 | $22.84 |
| 25th percentile | $54,950 | $26.42 |
| Median | $59,340 | $28.53 |
| 75th percentile | $76,790 | $36.92 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $96,360 | $46.33 |
| Average (mean) | $67,020 | $32.22 |
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 | $4,945 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,472.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,282.31 |
| Weekly | $1,141.15 |
| Hourly | $28.53 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Archivist salary in cities in Illinois
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $63,630 | 80 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $57,930 | 160 |
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 Illinois
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Librarians and Media Collections Specialists | $62,700 | $30.14 |
| Library Technician | $47,120 | $22.66 |
| Curator | $63,060 | $30.32 |
| Museum Technicians and Conservators | $56,720 | $27.27 |
| Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary | $36,990 | — |
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $75,320 | — |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $79,990 | — |
| Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $76,110 | — |
| Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education | $40,910 | $19.67 |
| Substitute Teachers, Short-Term | $39,410 | $18.95 |
| Self-Enrichment Teacher | $44,230 | $21.26 |
| Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School | $77,960 | — |
| Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary | $36,040 | — |
| Instructional Coordinator | $76,050 | $36.56 |
More: Educational Instruction and Library Occupations · all salaries in Illinois
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 Illinois?
The median salary for archivists in Illinois is $59,340 a year, or $28.53 an hour. Pay ranges from $47,500 for the lowest-paid 10% to $96,360 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid archivists make in Illinois?
The top 10% of archivists in Illinois earn at least $96,360 a year. The top 25% earn $76,790 or more.
What is the starting pay for archivists in Illinois?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $47,500 a year, and a quarter of archivists earn $54,950 or less.
How many archivists work in Illinois?
About 200 archivists are employed in Illinois, not counting the self-employed.