Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
Master's degree
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These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
Based on skills, knowledge, and work activities, these occupations are the closest match to your current career.
Explore the states and metropolitan areas offering the strongest combination of salary, employment, demand, and long-term opportunity.
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Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Archivists work in a specialized field focused on organizing, preserving, and managing collections of information and records. This career combines strong attention to detail with skills in computers and information technology, project management, and writing and reading. Professionals in this field also rely on critical and analytical thinking, creativity and innovation, and strong speaking and listening abilities. Nationally, archivists earn a median annual salary of $61,570, with employment of about 9,000 and a projected employment growth rate of 3.8%. There are an estimated 1,000 annual openings, which reflects both new positions and replacement needs. The role typically requires a master’s degree, along with strengths in leadership, customer service, and science. For students, career changers, and experienced professionals who enjoy working with information, documentation, and organized systems, archivist roles can offer a focused career path with clear expectations for education and skill development across multiple states and metro areas.
Archivists have a national median annual salary of $61,570, offering a solid earnings baseline across the occupation. Pay varies meaningfully by location. Among states, Massachusetts stands out with a median salary of $78,180, followed by Washington at $76,490 and New York at $73,860. California also offers a higher median salary of $70,530 compared with the national figure, while Colorado is closer to the national level at $59,210. At the metro level, salary differences are even more pronounced. Archivists in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area earn a median of $97,550, the highest among the listed metros. Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV also reports a relatively high median salary of $84,590, with New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ at $77,450 and Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH at $78,220. These variations highlight the importance of geographic choice in shaping earning potential within this field.
Archivists have national employment of about 9,000, with projected employment growth of 3.8%. This projected growth applies consistently across the listed top states and metro areas, indicating a stable, modestly expanding field rather than rapid contraction or rapid expansion. The occupation is expected to generate about 1,000 annual openings nationwide. These openings reflect both new roles created by growth and opportunities arising when current workers change occupations or retire. For prospective and current professionals, this means that while the total employment base is relatively small, there is a regular flow of positions becoming available over time. The combination of a clearly defined growth rate and steady annual openings can help job seekers plan their education and job search strategies, particularly when combined with information about higher-opportunity states and metro areas where salaries and employment levels are stronger.
Location plays a significant role in archivist career opportunities. Among states, California has the highest employment at 1,160 archivists and a median salary of $70,530, with an opportunity score of 67.38, the highest among the listed states. New York also has relatively high employment at 960 and a median salary of $73,860, paired with an opportunity score of 65.78. Massachusetts offers the highest median salary among the top states at $78,180, with an opportunity score of 65.87, making it a strong option for pay-focused candidates. Washington shows a median salary of $76,490 and employment of 640, while Colorado has smaller employment at 70 and a median salary of $59,210. At the metro level, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA leads with an opportunity score of 77.42 and a median salary of $97,550. New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ closely follows with an opportunity score of 77.27 and employment of 760. Other notable metros include San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA; Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV; and Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH, all combining solid salaries with measurable employment.
Archivists typically need a master’s degree, which sets a clear educational benchmark for entering this field. This advanced education supports the development of the wide-ranging skills associated with archivist roles. Core strengths include computers and information technology, which are important for managing collections and records, and project management, which helps in coordinating archival tasks and initiatives. Strong writing and reading skills, along with speaking and listening, support communication with colleagues, stakeholders, and users of archival materials. The occupation also draws on critical and analytical thinking, creativity and innovation, and being detail oriented, all of which are valuable when organizing and evaluating information. Leadership and customer service skills further contribute to effectiveness in archival settings, and a foundation in science can also be beneficial. For students and career changers, focusing education and training on these areas can align well with the expectations for archivist positions.
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