Curators
Median wage · national
$63,420
Range: $49K – $83K
Employed
12K
Openings/yr
2K
Typically: master's degree
HUMANITIES
Archivists
Archivists earn $64,550 nationally at the median. The middle 50% of workers fall between $50,680 and $83,020. Where you land depends on specialization, employer, and experience.
About Archivists
This page sets out what the federal data says about working as a archivists: what the job pays, how fast it is growing, and what it takes to get in. Most people arrive through a degree in Fine Arts and what it leads to, though it is not the only route.
Appraise, edit, and direct safekeeping of permanent records and historically valuable documents. Participate in research activities based on archival materials.
- Median Wage
- $64,550
- Employed Nationally
- 8K
- Openings / Year
- 1,100
- Entry Education
- Master's degree
- Job Zone
- Zone 5: Extensive Preparation
Also known as:
Accessioning Archivist
Archives Specialist
Archives Technician (Archives Tech)
Archivist
Digital Archivist
How Much Do Archivists Make?
Most archivists take home around $64,550 a year, about what a typical college graduate makes. Half earn somewhere between $50,680 and $83,020, so where you land depends a lot on employer, specialty and city. A solid living in most parts of the country. Source: BLS.
A wage on its own says nothing about whether the degree behind it pays for itself, which is a question of lifetime earnings set against the total cost of getting there.
$64,550
National Median (Annual)
Near the national median for college graduates.
$51K–$83K
Middle 50% Range
25th to 75th percentile. Most workers earn within this band.
Earnings Range
$50,680
Entry-level
$64,550
Median
$83,020
Experienced
What Do Archivists Do?
This is what the job actually looks like on a Tuesday: 5 core activities and 5 skills the work depends on. Read it before the salary, because pay matters less than whether you would want to spend your days doing this. Source: O*NET.
What You'll Do
- 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.
Core Skills Employers Look For
Reading Comprehension
Active Listening
Writing
Speaking
Active Learning
Who Thrives Here
C
Conventional
Success depends on precision and structured processes, where detail-oriented people who work consistently within established systems perform best.
I
Investigative
This career demands analytical thinking: researching problems, interpreting data, and applying logical reasoning to find practical solutions.
S
Social
Working closely with people, teaching, advising, or helping others navigate challenges is a defining feature of this career's daily work.
Where Do Archivists Work?
What the physical and mental conditions of this job actually look like day to day, based on O*NET Work Context data collected from people working in this occupation.
Work Setting
Mixed
Split between indoor and outdoor or field settings.
Physical Demands
Light
Mix of sitting and movement throughout the day.
Stress Level
Moderate
Moderate pressure. Regular deadlines exist but are generally manageable with experience.
What Is the Job Outlook for Archivists?
Through 2035 the BLS expects this field to change by +3.4%, meaning it is growing slowly, a little behind the average job. Around 1,100 roles open up each year, which is the number that matters most if you are starting out. Source: BLS.
Growth rates are only meaningful next to other occupations, and the full list of careers with their projected growth puts this one in context.
↗ +3.4%
10-Year Growth (2025–2035)
About as fast as average.
1,100
Annual Openings
New positions plus replacements for retirees and career-changers.
8K
Currently Employed
Total US employment as of BLS May 2025.
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2025–2035 and Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025.
Where the Jobs Are
The five states below employ the most Archivists professionals nationwide. State-level wages can differ significantly from the $64,550 national median. Research your specific market before committing to a program.
| # | State | Jobs | Median Wage | vs. National |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 1,160 | $70,530 | +9.3% |
| 2 | New York | 960 | $73,860 | +14.4% |
| 3 | Maryland | 660 | $76,440 | +18.4% |
| 4 | Washington | 640 | $76,490 | +18.5% |
| 5 | Texas | 490 | $50,160 | -22.3% |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Employment figures rounded. Read our methodology →
How to Get Here
To get hired here you will usually need a master's degree. The 6 programs below are the most common routes in, ordered by how many people actually graduate from each one.
The next most common path is a History program and the colleges offering it, which suits a different kind of applicant.
Typical Entry Education
Master's degree
Job Zone
Zone 5: Extensive Preparation
Extensive education (usually a master's or doctoral degree) plus years of field experience is required to qualify for most positions.
Degree Programs That Lead Here
| # | Program | Graduates/yr | 4yr Median | Colleges |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fine Arts | 36,332 | $41,367 | 1,458 |
| 2 | History | 31,255 | $50,680 | 1,474 |
| 3 | Library Science and Administration | 6,224 | $36,949 | 84 |
| 4 | Museology/Museum Studies | 892 | $36,787 | 95 |
| 5 | Historic Preservation and Conservation | 423 | $49,728 | 80 |
| 6 | Digital Humanities and Textual Studies | 54 | — | 18 |
Top Colleges for Aspiring Archivists
Colleges offering the degree programs that lead to this career, ranked by UCD Score. A strong program plus solid outcomes is a good place to begin your search.
| # | College | UCD Score | Net Price | Salary 10yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United States Naval Academy Annapolis, MD | 97 | — | — |
| 2 | United States Air Force Academy USAF Academy, CO | 96 | — | — |
| 3 | United States Military Academy West Point, NY | 96 | — | — |
| 4 | Princeton University Princeton, NJ | 94 | $6,128 | $110,066 |
| 5 | CUNY Bernard M Baruch College New York, NY | 93 | $3,033 | $75,971 |
| 6 | University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA | 93 | $12,548 | $82,511 |
Plan Your Path
Once you've sized up Archivists, these tools turn the numbers into a plan. Estimate the real cost of a degree that leads here, weigh the long-term payoff, compare specific colleges side-by-side, and find programs that match your profile.
College ROI Calculator
See if the degree that leads to Archivists pays off. Weighs each college's cost against the earnings graduates see.
College Cost Calculator
Enter a budget and see the colleges whose net price fits, with the out-of-pocket cost and likely loan load for each.
Compare Colleges
Put any 2–4 colleges side-by-side. Admissions, cost, outcomes, and earnings, all on one screen, no tab-hopping.
College Match Quiz
Answer six quick questions and see your best-fit colleges ranked by budget, field of study, and what matters most to you.
Archivists Pros & Cons
The data on Archivists shows 1 measurable strengths and 1 real trade-offs. All points are drawn from BLS wage data, employment projections, and IPEDS program completions.
PROS
- Competitive salary $64,550 median wage puts this career near or above the national average for bachelor's degree holders.
CONS
- High education requirement Most employers require a master's degree, typically 6 to 10+ years of higher education before earning full wages. Factor tuition costs into your ROI calculation.
Archivists Frequently Asked Questions
How much do Archivists professionals earn?
Around $64,550 a year for the typical worker, near the national median for full-time workers. The middle 50% of earners fall between $50,680 and $83,020. Treat the national figure as a starting point rather than a promise: employer size, industry and city all move it.
Is Archivists a good career?
Yes, for the right person, but the commitment is significant. The $64,550 median wage reflects years of training most workers invest, and the path to a first career-level role typically spans 8 to 12 or more years. Job growth of +3.4% through 2035 means demand is real. The harder question is whether the education investment at your specific program will pay off. School selection matters enormously at this preparation level.
How long does it take to work as Archivists?
Plan on 8 to 12 or more years of combined education and supervised training before qualifying for career-level roles. A master's degree is the typical minimum credential. Degree programs like Fine Arts are typical entry paths. Early-career pay during this ramp-up period will be meaningfully below the $64,550 national median. Factor that gap into any program ROI calculation.
Is a master's degree worth it to become an Archivists?
It depends heavily on program cost. At $64,550 median, expensive graduate school debt can take 20 or more years to recover. In-state public schools, employer-sponsored programs, or income-driven repayment make the strongest case. School choice (specifically tuition cost and your expected local job market) matters as much as the credential itself.
What is the job outlook for Archivists?
Employment is projected to change by +3.4% through 2035, about as fast as average compared with other occupations. Around 1,100 roles open each year once you count people retiring and moving on, which matters more to someone starting out than the growth rate does. 8K people do this job nationwide today, so it is an established field rather than a niche one. Source: BLS May 2025.
What skills do Archivists professionals need?
Mainly Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Writing, Speaking, and Active Learning. Notice how many of those are habits rather than facts: they come from doing the work, not from a lecture. That is why programs with an internship or co-op requirement put you ahead of people who only studied the theory. Source: O*NET.
Related Findings
-
10 Six-Figure Careers That Do Not Need a Bachelor's Degree
Air traffic controllers earn more than the typical bachelor's-degree career, with an associate degree. The occupations that pay six figures without four years of college.
- No bachelor degree
- High paying careers
- Associate degree
- Trades
- Median wage
-
Does a Master's Degree Pay Off? Barely, on Average
Group every career by the degree it requires and master's-level jobs pay a median of about $91,000, statistically tied with bachelor's-level work. The premium hides in a few fields.
- Master's degree
- Bachelor's degree
- Median wage
- Graduate school
- Career outcomes
-
Growing and Paying $80K Plus: The Careers That Do Both
Only 106 of 393 federal careers both pay a median above $80,000 and grow faster than the typical job. Here is the rare set that clears both bars.
- Career growth
- Median wage
- High-paying careers
- Job outlook
- Career change
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