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Archives assistant vs reference archivist

The differences between archives assistants and reference archivists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both an archives assistant and a reference archivist. Additionally, an archives assistant has an average salary of $36,042, which is higher than the $34,626 average annual salary of a reference archivist.

The top three skills for an archives assistant include online database, archival materials and archival collections. The most important skills for a reference archivist are reference services, , and .

Archives assistant vs reference archivist overview

Archives AssistantReference Archivist
Yearly salary$36,042$34,626
Hourly rate$17.33$16.65
Growth rate12%12%
Number of jobs433155
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 71%Master's Degree, 52%
Average age4444
Years of experience44

Archives assistant vs reference archivist salary

Archives assistants and reference archivists have different pay scales, as shown below.

Archives AssistantReference Archivist
Average salary$36,042$34,626
Salary rangeBetween $23,000 And $55,000Between $22,000 And $52,000
Highest paying City--
Highest paying state--
Best paying company--
Best paying industry--

Differences between archives assistant and reference archivist education

There are a few differences between an archives assistant and a reference archivist in terms of educational background:

Archives AssistantReference Archivist
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 71%Master's Degree, 52%
Most common majorHistoryHistory
Most common collegeHarvard UniversityNew York University

Archives assistant vs reference archivist demographics

Here are the differences between archives assistants' and reference archivists' demographics:

Archives AssistantReference Archivist
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 37.9% Female, 62.1%Male, 50.0% Female, 50.0%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 5.2% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 7.3% Asian, 5.1% White, 77.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2%Black or African American, 4.2% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 5.2% Asian, 3.5% White, 81.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2%
LGBT Percentage13%13%

Differences between archives assistant and reference archivist duties and responsibilities

Archives assistant example responsibilities.

  • Manage, evaluate documents as needed, digitizing paper documents for archiving
  • Manage receipt of monographs and serials from cataloging and perform post-cataloging processing.
  • Assist archivists in preserving historical materials, digitizing collections, and data management.
  • Create html playlists of digital media for online access, using Dreamweaver software.
  • Prepare articles for internet publishing and archiving through HTML coding, proofreading and correction of format.
  • Cataloge records utilizing MARC format for bibliographic database.
  • Show more

Reference archivist example responsibilities.

  • Create correspondences/completed FDA forms/maintain submission calendars/review submission documents.
  • Maintain assign fiction and nonfiction collections.

Archives assistant vs reference archivist skills

Common archives assistant skills
  • Online Database, 22%
  • Archival Materials, 13%
  • Archival Collections, 9%
  • Adobe Photoshop, 6%
  • Oral Histories, 5%
  • Digitizing, 4%
Common reference archivist skills
  • Reference Services, 100%

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