Archivist salary in Richmond, VA
Archivists in the Richmond, VA metro area earn a median of $65,240 a year ($31.37 an hour), based on BLS data for 60 workers.
Pay ranges from $26,540 for the lowest-paid 10% to $78,780 for the top 10%. That is 1% higher than the national median of $64,550. There are 0.08 archivists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.6× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $63,740, close to the median.
Pay range for archivists in Richmond, VA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $26,540 | $12.76 |
| 25th percentile | $55,150 | $26.51 |
| Median | $65,240 | $31.37 |
| 75th percentile | $75,280 | $36.19 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $78,780 | $37.88 |
| Average (mean) | $63,740 | $30.64 |
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 | $5,436.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,718.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,509.23 |
| Weekly | $1,254.62 |
| Hourly | $31.37 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Richmond, VA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Librarians and Media Collections Specialists | $77,430 | $37.23 |
| Library Technician | $40,510 | $19.48 |
| Curator | $66,650 | $32.04 |
| Museum Technicians and Conservators | $52,190 | $25.09 |
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,290 | — |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $62,000 | — |
| Substitute Teachers, Short-Term | $35,230 | $16.94 |
| Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary | $37,050 | — |
| Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $61,350 | — |
| Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education | $35,980 | $17.30 |
| Self-Enrichment Teacher | $45,280 | $21.77 |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | $101,080 | — |
| Special Education Teachers, Secondary School | $61,120 | — |
| Instructional Coordinator | $81,850 | $39.35 |
More: Educational Instruction and Library Occupations · all salaries in Richmond, VA
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 Richmond, VA?
The median salary for archivists in the Richmond, VA metro area is $65,240 a year, or $31.37 an hour. Pay ranges from $26,540 for the lowest-paid 10% to $78,780 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid archivists make in Richmond, VA?
The top 10% of archivists in the Richmond, VA metro area earn at least $78,780 a year. The top 25% earn $75,280 or more.
What is the starting pay for archivists in Richmond, VA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $26,540 a year, and a quarter of archivists earn $55,150 or less.
How many archivists work in Richmond, VA?
About 60 archivists are employed in the Richmond, VA metro area, not counting the self-employed.