Archivist Salary Guide
Archivists in Education, E‑learning & Research collect, preserve, organize, and provide access to historical records and special collections. They appraise materials, manage physical and digital archives, implement metadata and preservation standards, support research and teaching, and often develop outreach and digitization projects.
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What is the average Archivist salary?
Entry Level
$40,000 - $55,000
Mid Level
$55,000 - $75,000
Senior Level
$75,000 - $100,000+
How does Archivist salary grow with experience?
Archivist salary by location
What factors affect a Archivist's salary?
- Education and certifications (MA, MLIS/MLS, archival credentials)
- Technical skills (digital preservation, metadata schemas, DAM systems)
- Type of employer (university/research institution, government, nonprofit, private sector)
- Leadership/management responsibilities and project scope
- Location and cost of living
How to compare Archivist pay figures
The generated ranges in this guide have not been independently source-verified. Check the underlying occupation, location and data period before using a range as a market benchmark. Keep the original source alongside any figure you save. A page updated recently can still contain wages measured in an earlier year, and a broad occupational category may cover several different job titles.
Compare the work as well as the title
Read a vacancy's responsibilities, required experience, working hours and location before placing it beside another role. Two positions called Archivist can have different scope. Record the duties you would own, the team or customers you would support, and any supervisory expectations. Use those details to decide whether a comparison is relevant instead of assuming that a matching title means matching pay.
Keep compensation definitions consistent
Confirm the currency and whether a figure is hourly, monthly or annual. Check the paid hours before converting between periods. Separate guaranteed base pay from bonuses, commissions, overtime, equity and benefits. Ask which parts are guaranteed and which depend on targets, company results or vesting conditions. Compare the same components across offers; a total-compensation figure and a base-salary figure answer different questions.
Identify the statistic too. A median divides the measured workforce into two equal halves. A percentile describes a point in that distribution; it does not automatically describe an entry-level or senior employee. Do not turn national survey percentiles into a personal experience-based pay prediction. Use local, role-relevant evidence when it is available and record any mismatch in coverage.
Build a comparison you can check later
For each job listing, survey or offer, save the role, responsibilities, location, currency, pay period, compensation components, source link and date checked. Mark missing information as unknown. Keep the employer's stated range separate from any expectation you calculate yourself. If the figures differ, first check their definitions and scope rather than averaging incompatible numbers into a new estimate.
When discussing an offer, prepare clear examples of the responsibilities and results you can support with your experience. Ask the recruiter about the role's level, the approved range and how the package is structured. Keep those answers with your comparison so you can assess the offer using confirmed information. This guide gives you questions to investigate; the employer's written terms establish the actual package being offered.
Read the salary source and comparison checklistFrequently Asked Questions About Archivist Salaries
What is the average salary for an archivist in the U.S.?
In the U.S., archivist salaries typically range from about $40,000 at entry level to $100,000+ for senior roles; the overall median is often in the $55,000–$70,000 range depending on sector and location.
How does location affect archivist pay?
Location strongly affects pay: major hubs like the Bay Area, New York, and Washington, D.C. generally offer higher salaries (often 10–40% above national ranges) due to cost of living and institutional budgets.
What qualifications raise an archivist's salary?
Advanced degrees (MA/MLIS/MLS), professional credentials (e.g., ACA, CA), specialized technical skills (digital preservation, metadata standards), and supervisory experience typically increase pay.
Can archivists in education and research expect progression?
Yes — archivists often progress from assistant or technician roles to archivist, senior archivist, and archive manager/director positions, with predictable salary increases as responsibilities and leadership grow.
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