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Archivist salary
Average archivist salary
$47,145
Understanding Archivist Salaries
The role of an archivist is crucial in maintaining the historical integrity of documents and records. As of October 2025, the average salary for an archivist is approximately $47,145 per year, translating to about $23 per hour. Salary ranges can differ based on various factors, including geographic location, level of experience, and the specific sector of employment.
Factors Influencing Salary
For instance, archivists working in larger metropolitan areas often command higher salaries due to increased demand and cost of living. Those with advanced degrees or specialized skills may also see greater earning potential. Additionally, the field offers varied opportunities across public and private sectors, including museums, government agencies, and corporations.
Growth and Opportunities
As the need for organized information increases, so does the demand for skilled archivists. Exploring job openings can help aspiring professionals find roles that align with their interests and expertise. By staying informed about salary trends and career opportunities, you can strategically navigate your career path in this rewarding field.
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Where can an Archivist earn more?
Archivist salary estimates from across the web
Average archivist salary by state
The highest-paying states for archivists are Alaska, Maryland, and Connecticut. The lowest average archivist salary states are Alabama, Florida, and Washington.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for archivists
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | $74,560 | $35.85 |
| 2 | Maryland | $59,629 | $28.67 |
| 3 | Alaska | $66,270 | $31.86 |
| 4 | New York | $55,483 | $26.67 |
| 5 | Connecticut | $56,515 | $27.17 |
| 6 | Ohio | $52,353 | $25.17 |
| 7 | Michigan | $50,351 | $24.21 |
| 8 | Delaware | $56,068 | $26.96 |
| 9 | Rhode Island | $55,115 | $26.50 |
| 10 | Massachusetts | $53,410 | $25.68 |
| 11 | California | $54,890 | $26.39 |
| 12 | Illinois | $50,695 | $24.37 |
| 13 | West Virginia | $52,366 | $25.18 |
| 14 | North Dakota | $43,367 | $20.85 |
| 15 | New Hampshire | $51,142 | $24.59 |
| 16 | Nevada | $45,869 | $22.05 |
| 17 | Iowa | $45,715 | $21.98 |
| 18 | Vermont | $48,224 | $23.18 |
| 19 | Pennsylvania | $45,832 | $22.03 |
| 20 | Louisiana | $45,191 | $21.73 |
| 21 | Kentucky | $44,388 | $21.34 |
| 22 | Texas | $42,977 | $20.66 |
| 23 | South Dakota | $40,192 | $19.32 |
| 24 | New Jersey | $45,673 | $21.96 |
| 25 | Missouri | $40,498 | $19.47 |
| 26 | Virginia | $41,713 | $20.05 |
| 27 | New Mexico | $43,184 | $20.76 |
| 28 | Nebraska | $39,268 | $18.88 |
| 29 | Kansas | $42,410 | $20.39 |
| 30 | South Carolina | $42,831 | $20.59 |
| 31 | Mississippi | $42,222 | $20.30 |
| 32 | Oklahoma | $38,397 | $18.46 |
| 33 | Hawaii | $44,755 | $21.52 |
| 34 | Colorado | $37,486 | $18.02 |
| 35 | Utah | $37,417 | $17.99 |
| 36 | Tennessee | $39,218 | $18.85 |
| 37 | Georgia | $39,060 | $18.78 |
| 38 | Maine | $38,446 | $18.48 |
| 39 | Montana | $37,031 | $17.80 |
| 40 | Arizona | $39,095 | $18.80 |
| 41 | Arkansas | $37,115 | $17.84 |
| 42 | Alabama | $31,026 | $14.92 |
| 43 | Wisconsin | $36,091 | $17.35 |
| 44 | Washington | $27,952 | $13.44 |
| 45 | North Carolina | $34,995 | $16.82 |
| 46 | Minnesota | $33,865 | $16.28 |
| 47 | Florida | $30,783 | $14.80 |
| 48 | Indiana | $34,923 | $16.79 |
| 49 | Oregon | $27,174 | $13.06 |
| 50 | Wyoming | $27,150 | $13.05 |
| 51 | Idaho | $26,976 | $12.97 |
Highest paying cities for archivists
The highest-paying cities for archivists are Washington, DC, Rockville, MD, and Juneau, AK.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington, DC | $74,576 | $35.85 |
| 2 | Rockville, MD | $58,947 | $28.34 |
| 3 | Juneau, AK | $58,202 | $27.98 |
| 4 | New Haven, CT | $56,476 | $27.15 |
| 5 | New York, NY | $55,574 | $26.72 |
| 6 | Los Angeles, CA | $55,010 | $26.45 |
| 7 | Boston, MA | $53,029 | $25.49 |
| 8 | Chicago, IL | $51,162 | $24.60 |
| 9 | Burlington, VT | $47,334 | $22.76 |
| 10 | Easton, PA | $46,416 | $22.32 |
| 11 | Ames, IA | $44,949 | $21.61 |
| 12 | Houston, TX | $43,853 | $21.08 |
| 13 | Columbia, SC | $42,985 | $20.67 |
| 14 | Albuquerque, NM | $42,605 | $20.48 |
| 15 | Tucson, AZ | $39,210 | $18.85 |
| 16 | Atlanta, GA | $38,900 | $18.70 |
| 17 | Little Rock, AR | $37,300 | $17.93 |
| 18 | Raleigh, NC | $36,267 | $17.44 |
| 19 | West Lafayette, IN | $34,582 | $16.63 |
| 20 | Eden Prairie, MN | $33,709 | $16.21 |
Archivist salary details
An archivist's salary ranges from $23,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $94,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is an archivist's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $94,000 | $7,833 | $45 |
| 75th Percentile | $67,000 | $5,583 | $32 |
| Average | $47,145 | $3,929 | $23 |
| 25th Percentile | $32,000 | $2,667 | $15 |
| 10th Percentile | $23,000 | $1,917 | $11 |
Highest paying archivist jobs
The highest paying types of archivists are digital archivist, processing archivist, and film archivist.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Digital Archivist | $50,746 | $4,229 | $24.40 | 16,449 |
Which companies pay archivists the most?
Archivist salaries at Apple and Harvard University are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average archivist salary at companies like Cornell University and Yale University are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Apple | $151,880 | $73.02 |
| 2 | Harvard University | $119,957 | $57.67 |
| 3 | Cornell University | $86,390 | $41.53 |
| 4 | Yale University | $81,739 | $39.30 |
| 5 | The University of Chicago | $81,037 | $38.96 |
| 6 | Columbia University in the City of New York | $79,124 | $38.04 |
| 7 | Emory University | $73,370 | $35.27 |
| 8 | Sanofi US | $73,107 | $35.15 |
| 9 | Research Foundation of The City University of New York | $72,156 | $34.69 |
| 10 | Emory Healthcare | $71,678 | $34.46 |
| 11 | University of Vermont | $70,518 | $33.90 |
| 12 | Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory | $69,796 | $33.56 |
| 13 | WITNESS | $68,598 | $32.98 |
| 14 | National Park Foundation | $66,835 | $32.13 |
| 15 | TalentBurst | $64,261 | $30.89 |
| 16 | Mayo Clinic | $61,573 | $29.60 |
| 17 | Museum of Chinese in America | $55,029 | $26.46 |
| 18 | The University of New Mexico | $54,106 | $26.01 |
| 19 | Cambria | $52,578 | $25.28 |
| 20 | Mills College | $49,125 | $23.62 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Archivist salary trends
The average archivist salary has risen by $8,314 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average archivist earned $38,831 annually, but today, they earn $47,145 a year. That works out to a 12% change in pay for archivists over the last decade.
Compare archivist salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average archivist salary over time
Compare archivist salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Archivist salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $47,100 | $22.67 | +5.0% |
| 2025 | $44,800 | $21.54 | +3.2% |
| 2024 | $43,400 | $20.86 | +0.9% |
| 2023 | $43,000 | $20.67 | +2.4% |
| 2022 | $41,900 | $20.17 | +0.5% |
Recently added archivist salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clayton State University | Spivey Hall Archivist | Morrow, GA | 06/27/2025 | $83,480 |
| National Older Worker Career Center | Archivist | Tucson, AZ | 06/25/2025 | $58,436 |
| The University of Oklahoma Human Resources | Archivist | Norman, OK | 06/22/2025 | $46,373 |
| Glenview Park District | Archivist | Glenview, IL | 06/21/2025 | $35,479 |
| Boyce Thompson Arboretum | Temporary Historical Archivist | Superior, AZ | 06/19/2025 | $62,610 |
| Diocese of Brooklyn | Archivist | New York, NY | 06/14/2025 | $70,000 |
| City of Cambridge | Archivist, City of Cambridge Historical Commission | Cambridge, MA | 06/10/2025 | $50,866 |
| National Baseball Hall of Fame & Museum | Photo Archivist | Cooperstown, NY | 06/08/2025 | $45,000 |
| Museum of African American History | Archivist | Detroit, MI | 06/03/2025 | $50,000 |
| The University of Chicago | Research Archivist, Temporal Bone Lab | Chicago, IL | 05/27/2025 | $35,479 |
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