Archivist salary in Wisconsin
Archivists in Wisconsin earn a median of $59,400 a year ($28.56 an hour), based on BLS data for 220 workers.
Pay ranges from $37,440 for the lowest-paid 10% to $84,300 for the top 10%. That is 8% lower than the national median of $64,550. Wisconsin ranks 16th of 38 states for archivists pay. There are 0.07 archivists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.5× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $59,180, close to the median.
Pay range for archivists in Wisconsin
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,440 | $18.00 |
| 25th percentile | $42,730 | $20.54 |
| Median | $59,400 | $28.56 |
| 75th percentile | $71,070 | $34.17 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $84,300 | $40.53 |
| Average (mean) | $59,180 | $28.45 |
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 | $4,950 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,475 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,284.62 |
| Weekly | $1,142.31 |
| Hourly | $28.56 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Archivist salary in cities in Wisconsin
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $65,700 | 60 |
| Madison, WI | $63,040 | 120 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $59,620 | 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 Wisconsin
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Library Technician | $35,000 | $16.83 |
| Librarians and Media Collections Specialists | $66,870 | $32.15 |
| Curator | $64,370 | $30.95 |
| Museum Technicians and Conservators | $38,840 | $18.68 |
| Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary | $37,800 | — |
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,210 | — |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $62,870 | — |
| Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $61,960 | — |
| Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education | $36,160 | $17.39 |
| Substitute Teachers, Short-Term | $43,950 | $21.13 |
| Self-Enrichment Teacher | $37,820 | $18.19 |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | $81,500 | — |
| Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School | $61,520 | — |
| Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary | $47,990 | — |
More: Educational Instruction and Library Occupations · all salaries in Wisconsin
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 Wisconsin?
The median salary for archivists in Wisconsin is $59,400 a year, or $28.56 an hour. Pay ranges from $37,440 for the lowest-paid 10% to $84,300 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid archivists make in Wisconsin?
The top 10% of archivists in Wisconsin earn at least $84,300 a year. The top 25% earn $71,070 or more.
What is the starting pay for archivists in Wisconsin?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $37,440 a year, and a quarter of archivists earn $42,730 or less.
How many archivists work in Wisconsin?
About 220 archivists are employed in Wisconsin, not counting the self-employed.