How much does an archivist make?
Median yearly pay in the United States: half earn more and half earn less. That is $31.03 an hour or $5,379 a month.
- Hourly
- $31.03
- Average (mean)
- $70,640
- Jobs
- 7,970
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $39,970 | $19.22 | |
| 25th | $50,680 | $24.37 | |
| Median | $64,550 | $31.03 | |
| 75th | $83,020 | $39.91 | |
| 90th | $110,600 | $53.15 |
By state
Median yearly pay.
| 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 |
| Michigan | $63,890 |
| Oregon | $61,880 |
| New Hampshire | $61,410 |
| Pennsylvania | $60,690 |
| Missouri | $60,020 |
| Wisconsin | $59,400 |
| Illinois | $59,340 |
| Colorado | $59,210 |
| Louisiana | $59,070 |
| Georgia | $59,010 |
| Iowa | $59,010 |
| Ohio | $58,790 |
| Arkansas | $58,560 |
| Idaho | $58,370 |
| Alabama | $57,860 |
| Utah | $56,660 |
| Maine | $56,260 |
| North Carolina | $55,370 |
| Indiana | $54,220 |
| Delaware | $53,890 |
| Tennessee | $53,210 |
| South Carolina | $52,810 |
| Florida | $52,100 |
| Oklahoma | $51,940 |
| Texas | $50,160 |
| Kansas | $49,200 |
| Kentucky | $48,810 |
| Arizona | $47,010 |
Highest paying cities
Metro areas, median yearly pay.
| Bridgeport, CT | $119,200 |
| San Jose, CA | $97,550 |
| Washington, DC | $84,590 |
| Seattle, WA | $78,530 |
| Sacramento, CA | $78,490 |
| Boston, MA | $78,220 |
| Olympia, WA | $77,990 |
| New York, NY | $77,450 |
| Providence, RI | $76,990 |
| Baltimore, MD | $76,440 |
| Oxnard, CA | $74,540 |
| San Francisco, CA | $74,320 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $70,630 |
| Harrisburg, PA | $70,450 |
| Detroit, MI | $66,830 |
In other countries
Archivist belongs to the international group "Archivists and curators".
Compare pay in 140 countriesSimilar jobs
- Curator$63,420
- Museum Technician and Conservator$51,440
- Librarian and Media Collections Specialist$68,270
- Library Technician$44,580
Frequently asked questions
How much does an archivist make an hour?
The median hourly pay is $31.03 ($64,550 a year).
How much does an archivist make a month?
About $5,379 a month before tax, based on a median of $64,550 a year.
How much does an archivist make starting out?
The lowest-paid 10% make $39,970 or less a year ($19.22 an hour); the top 10% make $110,600 or more.
Which state pays archivists the most?
District of Columbia, with a median of $93,040 a year, followed by Connecticut ($79,790) and Massachusetts ($78,180).
Which city pays archivists the most?
Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT, with a median of $119,200 a year.
How many archivists are there in the United States?
About 7,970 people work as archivists.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.