Top 15 cities for archivists by average salary
| Bridgeport, CT | $102,880 |
|---|---|
| San Jose, CA | $100,910 |
| Washington, DC | $88,250 |
| Oxnard, CA | $86,110 |
| Boston, MA | $82,700 |
| Providence, RI | $81,520 |
| Seattle, WA | $81,510 |
| Baltimore, MD | $80,960 |
| New York, NY | $80,650 |
| San Francisco, CA | $80,480 |
| Olympia, WA | $78,350 |
| Sacramento, CA | $77,770 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $76,720 |
| Harrisburg, PA | $73,140 |
| Denver, CO | $70,560 |
Map: Archivists salary by metro area
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Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Archivists salary by state
Washington, D.C. pays archivists the most statewide, $93,530 a year on average. Statewide columns cover every employer in the state; city columns cover the metro areas we publish.
| State | Statewide average | Statewide median | Jobs | Metros | Highest city average | Lowest city average |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington, D.C. | $93,530 | $93,040 | 200 | 1 | $88,250 | $88,250 |
| Maryland | $86,880 | $76,440 | 660 | 1 | $80,960 | $80,960 |
| Massachusetts | $81,700 | $78,180 | 270 | 1 | $82,700 | $82,700 |
| Connecticut | $81,360 | $79,790 | 160 | 2 | $102,880 | $62,890 |
| Rhode Island | $80,690 | $76,990 | 40 | 1 | $81,520 | $81,520 |
| Washington | $78,620 | $76,490 | 640 | 3 | $81,510 | $64,980 |
| New York | $78,040 | $73,860 | 960 | 2 | $80,650 | $68,910 |
| California | $77,160 | $70,530 | 1,160 | 7 | $100,910 | $65,990 |
| New Jersey | $74,040 | $67,900 | 70 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Michigan | $69,090 | $63,890 | 160 | 1 | $67,470 | $67,470 |
| Arkansas | $67,940 | $58,560 | 40 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Illinois | $67,020 | $59,340 | 200 | 1 | $67,230 | $67,230 |
| New Hampshire | $66,130 | $61,410 | 50 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Colorado | $64,830 | $59,210 | 70 | 1 | $70,560 | $70,560 |
| Missouri | $64,790 | $60,020 | 150 | 1 | $69,770 | $69,770 |
| Georgia | $64,360 | $59,010 | 150 | 1 | $68,590 | $68,590 |
| Virginia | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1 | $63,740 | $63,740 |
| Oregon | $63,410 | $61,880 | 70 | 1 | $63,880 | $63,880 |
| Pennsylvania | $62,210 | $60,690 | 360 | 3 | $73,140 | $61,040 |
| Alabama | $62,090 | $57,860 | 100 | 1 | $69,340 | $69,340 |
| Louisiana | $60,940 | $59,070 | 50 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Idaho | $60,790 | $58,370 | 30 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Minnesota | $60,130 | $65,740 | 90 | 1 | $60,880 | $60,880 |
| Maine | $59,940 | $56,260 | 60 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Ohio | $59,200 | $58,790 | 150 | 1 | $62,080 | $62,080 |
| Wisconsin | $59,180 | $59,400 | 220 | 2 | $65,570 | $56,390 |
| North Carolina | $58,890 | $55,370 | 130 | 2 | $59,080 | $53,700 |
| Florida | $58,800 | $52,100 | 100 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Utah | $57,610 | $56,660 | 80 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Indiana | $57,370 | $54,220 | 70 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Iowa | $56,790 | $59,010 | 40 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Tennessee | $56,700 | $53,210 | 110 | 1 | $58,740 | $58,740 |
| Kansas | $55,780 | $49,200 | 30 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Texas | $55,360 | $50,160 | 490 | 5 | $64,170 | $38,490 |
| Delaware | $55,250 | $53,890 | 50 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| South Carolina | $55,220 | $52,810 | 60 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Oklahoma | $53,540 | $51,940 | 80 | 1 | $56,370 | $56,370 |
| Kentucky | $51,130 | $48,810 | 40 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Arizona | $48,650 | $47,010 | n/a | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Puerto Rico | $40,710 | $40,900 | 30 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
Archivists salary in every city we cover
Sort by any column. Each city links to its pay range, take-home pay and cost of living.
| Metro area | Average | Median | Hourly | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bridgeport, CT | $102,880 | $119,190 | $49.46 | 80 |
| San Jose, CA | $100,910 | $97,550 | $48.51 | 110 |
| Washington, DC | $88,250 | $84,590 | $42.43 | 670 |
| Oxnard, CA | $86,110 | $74,540 | $41.40 | 50 |
| Boston, MA | $82,700 | $78,220 | $39.76 | 230 |
| Providence, RI | $81,520 | $76,990 | $39.19 | 40 |
| Seattle, WA | $81,510 | $78,530 | $39.19 | 310 |
| Baltimore, MD | $80,960 | $76,440 | $38.92 | 230 |
| New York, NY | $80,650 | $77,450 | $38.77 | 760 |
| San Francisco, CA | $80,480 | $74,320 | $38.69 | 180 |
| Olympia, WA | $78,350 | $77,990 | $37.67 | 100 |
| Sacramento, CA | $77,770 | $78,490 | $37.39 | 60 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $76,720 | $70,630 | $36.88 | 490 |
| Harrisburg, PA | $73,140 | $70,450 | $35.16 | 40 |
| Denver, CO | $70,560 | $59,950 | $33.92 | 40 |
| St. Louis, MO | $69,770 | $63,630 | $33.54 | 80 |
| Montgomery, AL | $69,340 | $63,130 | $33.34 | 60 |
| Rochester, NY | $68,910 | $66,050 | $33.13 | 40 |
| Atlanta, GA | $68,590 | $63,110 | $32.98 | 100 |
| Detroit, MI | $67,470 | $66,830 | $32.44 | 80 |
| San Diego, CA | $67,430 | $62,050 | $32.42 | 70 |
| Chicago, IL | $67,230 | $57,930 | $32.32 | 160 |
| Riverside, CA | $65,990 | $62,030 | $31.72 | 50 |
| Madison, WI | $65,570 | $63,040 | $31.52 | 120 |
| Spokane, WA | $64,980 | $64,430 | $31.24 | 50 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $64,270 | $60,690 | $30.90 | 160 |
| Austin, TX | $64,170 | $60,900 | $30.85 | 80 |
| Portland, OR | $63,880 | $61,880 | $30.71 | 60 |
| Richmond, VA | $63,740 | $65,240 | $30.64 | 60 |
| Dallas, TX | $63,140 | $52,940 | $30.35 | 110 |
| Hartford, CT | $62,890 | $59,440 | $30.24 | 40 |
| Columbus, OH | $62,080 | $59,730 | $29.85 | 30 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $61,040 | $60,520 | $29.35 | 90 |
| Minneapolis, MN | $60,880 | $65,700 | $29.27 | 60 |
| Charlotte, NC | $59,080 | $58,000 | $28.40 | 30 |
| Nashville, TN | $58,740 | $54,590 | $28.24 | 60 |
| Milwaukee, WI | $56,390 | $59,620 | $27.11 | 40 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $56,370 | $52,000 | $27.10 | 40 |
| Raleigh, NC | $53,700 | $52,090 | $25.82 | 50 |
| Houston, TX | $52,890 | $48,370 | $25.43 | 100 |
| San Antonio, TX | $51,400 | $48,670 | $24.71 | 50 |
| Brownsville, TX | $38,490 | $38,260 | $18.51 | 50 |
Related jobs
Archivists salary: questions
Where do archivists make the most money?
In Bridgeport, CT, with an average of $102,880 a year, among the 42 metro areas we cover.
What is the average archivists salary in the U.S.?
$70,640 a year nationwide (BLS OEWS national estimates, May 2025); the median is $64,550, so half of archivists earn more than that and half less.
What salary should archivists ask for?
Start from the figures for your city: the middle half of archivists nationwide earn between $50,680 (25th percentile) and $83,020 (75th percentile). Newer workers usually start near the 25th percentile and experienced ones can ask for the 75th; each city page shows the local range. See how to read salary percentiles.
Which state pays archivists the most?
Washington, D.C., with a statewide average of $93,530 a year (BLS state estimates, May 2025).
Where is archivists pay the lowest?
Brownsville, TX, at $38,490 a year on average. Lower pay often comes with lower prices: check the cost of living on each city page.
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 25-4011.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.