Archivist salary in Rhode Island
Archivists in Rhode Island earn a median of $76,990 a year ($37.01 an hour), based on BLS data for 40 workers.
Pay ranges from $43,140 for the lowest-paid 10% to $116,650 for the top 10%. That is 19% higher than the national median of $64,550. Rhode Island ranks 4th of 38 states for archivists pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 0.08 archivists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.5× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $80,690, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for archivists in Rhode Island
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $43,140 | $20.74 |
| 25th percentile | $69,600 | $33.46 |
| Median | $76,990 | $37.01 |
| 75th percentile | $94,460 | $45.41 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $116,650 | $56.08 |
| Average (mean) | $80,690 | $38.79 |
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 | $6,415.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,207.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,961.15 |
| Weekly | $1,480.58 |
| Hourly | $37.01 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Archivist salary in cities in Rhode Island
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $76,990 | 40 |
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 Rhode Island
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Librarians and Media Collections Specialists | $75,860 | $36.47 |
| Library Technician | $48,740 | $23.43 |
| Curator | $77,930 | $37.47 |
| Museum Technicians and Conservators | $55,470 | $26.67 |
| Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary | $37,220 | — |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $92,610 | — |
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $90,930 | — |
| Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $92,760 | — |
| Substitute Teachers, Short-Term | $45,590 | $21.92 |
| Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education | $36,830 | $17.71 |
| Self-Enrichment Teacher | $41,960 | $20.17 |
| Instructional Coordinator | $63,110 | $30.34 |
| Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School | $84,300 | — |
| Special Education Teachers, Secondary School | $92,990 | — |
More: Educational Instruction and Library Occupations · all salaries in Rhode Island
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 Rhode Island?
The median salary for archivists in Rhode Island is $76,990 a year, or $37.01 an hour. Pay ranges from $43,140 for the lowest-paid 10% to $116,650 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid archivists make in Rhode Island?
The top 10% of archivists in Rhode Island earn at least $116,650 a year. The top 25% earn $94,460 or more.
What is the starting pay for archivists in Rhode Island?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $43,140 a year, and a quarter of archivists earn $69,600 or less.
How many archivists work in Rhode Island?
About 40 archivists are employed in Rhode Island, not counting the self-employed.