Archivist salary in Kentucky
Archivists in Kentucky earn a median of $48,810 a year ($23.47 an hour), based on BLS data for 40 workers.
Pay ranges from $38,820 for the lowest-paid 10% to $67,610 for the top 10%. That is 24% lower than the national median of $64,550. Kentucky ranks 37th of 38 states for archivists pay. There are 0.02 archivists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.40). The average (mean) salary is $51,130, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for archivists in Kentucky
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $38,820 | $18.67 |
| 25th percentile | $43,500 | $20.92 |
| Median | $48,810 | $23.47 |
| 75th percentile | $60,020 | $28.85 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $67,610 | $32.51 |
| Average (mean) | $51,130 | $24.58 |
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 | $4,067.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,033.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,877.31 |
| Weekly | $938.65 |
| Hourly | $23.47 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
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 Kentucky
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Librarians and Media Collections Specialists | $65,200 | $31.35 |
| Library Technician | $35,700 | $17.16 |
| Curator | $55,460 | $26.67 |
| Museum Technicians and Conservators | $49,940 | $24.01 |
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $60,610 | — |
| Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary | $30,160 | — |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $61,560 | — |
| Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education | $29,780 | $14.32 |
| Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $61,120 | — |
| Postsecondary Teachers, All Other | $67,690 | — |
| Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School | $60,060 | — |
| Instructional Coordinator | $63,640 | $30.59 |
| Special Education Teachers, Secondary School | $60,730 | — |
| Teachers and Instructors, All Other | $58,200 | — |
More: Educational Instruction and Library Occupations · all salaries in Kentucky
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 Kentucky?
The median salary for archivists in Kentucky is $48,810 a year, or $23.47 an hour. Pay ranges from $38,820 for the lowest-paid 10% to $67,610 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid archivists make in Kentucky?
The top 10% of archivists in Kentucky earn at least $67,610 a year. The top 25% earn $60,020 or more.
What is the starting pay for archivists in Kentucky?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $38,820 a year, and a quarter of archivists earn $43,500 or less.
How many archivists work in Kentucky?
About 40 archivists are employed in Kentucky, not counting the self-employed.