Archivists
Appraise, edit, and direct safekeeping of permanent records and historically valuable documents. Participate in research activities based on archival materials.
Also called: Accessioning Archivist · Archivist · Digital Archivist · Film Archivist · Museum Archivist · Records Manager
Median pay (national)
$61,570
$39,330–$104,780 (10th–90th)
Employed (US)
7,050
BLS OEWS, May 2024
Outlook 2024–34
+3.8%
~1,100 openings/yr
Typical entry
Master's degree
What the numbers say
Refit analysis ·Pay for archivists shows an unusually wide range: the top 10% earn $104,780 versus $39,330 at the bottom 10% — 2.7x. The median of $61,570 leaves roughly 70% of headroom to the 90th percentile, which is where seniority, specialization, and the skills below tend to pay off.
Refit analysis ·Employment is projected to change +3.8% from 2024 to 2034 — about as fast as the 3% all-occupation average. Even so, BLS projects about 1,100 openings a year, mostly to replace workers who retire or change careers.
Refit analysis ·Where you work moves the number a lot. Across the 40 states with released data, District of Columbia pays the most for this role (median $92,100, +50% vs the national median), while Louisiana sits lowest at $35,550 — a 159% spread for the same job title.
Refit analysis ·O*NET rates Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Writing as the highest-importance skills here — so a resume aimed at this role should lead with evidence of those, not a generic skills list. On the tools side, O*NET flags Archivists' Toolkit, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software, Microsoft Outlook as in-demand technologies for this role.
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Top skills employers ask for
Ranked by O*NET importance for this occupation.
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Writing
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
- Active Learning
- Monitoring
- Learning Strategies
- Mathematics
- Science
What they actually do
Core O*NET tasks for this role.
- Organize archival records and develop classification systems to facilitate access to archival materials.
- Provide reference services and assistance for users needing archival materials.
- Prepare archival records, such as document descriptions, to allow easy access to information.
- Create and maintain accessible, retrievable computer archives and databases, incorporating current advances in electronic information storage technology.
- Establish and administer policy guidelines concerning public access and use of materials.
- Direct activities of workers who assist in arranging, cataloguing, exhibiting, and maintaining collections of valuable materials.
- Preserve records, documents, and objects, copying records to film, videotape, audiotape, disk, or computer formats as necessary.
- Research and record the origins and historical significance of archival materials.
- Locate new materials and direct their acquisition and display.
- Authenticate and appraise historical documents and archival materials.
Tools & technology
- Archivists' Toolkit
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Adobe Creative Cloud software
- Adobe Illustrator
- Adobe InDesign
- Adobe Photoshop
- Extensible markup language XML
- Hypertext markup language HTML
- Adlib Information Systems Adlib Archive
- Adobe Premiere Pro
- Apple Final Cut Pro
- Archon
- Corel Paint Shop Pro
- Database software
Knowledge areas
- History and Archeology
- English Language
- Customer and Personal Service
- Computers and Electronics
- Administration and Management
- Administrative
- Education and Training
- Law and Government