Archivist salary in Washington
Archivists in Washington earn a median of $76,490 a year ($36.77 an hour), based on BLS data for 640 workers.
Pay ranges from $52,910 for the lowest-paid 10% to $104,020 for the top 10%. That is 18% higher than the national median of $64,550. Washington ranks 5th of 38 states for archivists pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 0.18 archivists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 3.5× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $78,620, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for archivists in Washington
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $52,910 | $25.44 |
| 25th percentile | $63,500 | $30.53 |
| Median | $76,490 | $36.77 |
| 75th percentile | $92,770 | $44.60 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $104,020 | $50.01 |
| Average (mean) | $78,620 | $37.80 |
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 | $6,374.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,187.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,941.92 |
| Weekly | $1,470.96 |
| Hourly | $36.77 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Archivist salary in cities in Washington
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $78,530 | 310 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $77,990 | 100 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $64,430 | 50 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $61,880 | 60 |
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 Washington
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Librarians and Media Collections Specialists | $100,030 | $48.09 |
| Library Technician | $62,570 | $30.08 |
| Museum Technicians and Conservators | $59,610 | $28.66 |
| Curator | $74,030 | $35.59 |
| Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary | $49,120 | — |
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $102,350 | — |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $102,670 | — |
| Substitute Teachers, Short-Term | $55,740 | $26.80 |
| Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education | $45,660 | $21.95 |
| Self-Enrichment Teacher | $48,020 | $23.09 |
| Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $102,140 | — |
| Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education | $99,960 | — |
| Instructional Coordinator | $97,250 | $46.76 |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | $137,520 | — |
More: Educational Instruction and Library Occupations · all salaries in Washington
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 Washington?
The median salary for archivists in Washington is $76,490 a year, or $36.77 an hour. Pay ranges from $52,910 for the lowest-paid 10% to $104,020 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid archivists make in Washington?
The top 10% of archivists in Washington earn at least $104,020 a year. The top 25% earn $92,770 or more.
What is the starting pay for archivists in Washington?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $52,910 a year, and a quarter of archivists earn $63,500 or less.
How many archivists work in Washington?
About 640 archivists are employed in Washington, not counting the self-employed.