Archivists pay range in Chicago
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $47,490 a year or less, while the top 10% make $96,360 or more. The middle half of archivists in Chicago earn between $57,680 and $77,620.
- $47K10th
- $58K25th
- $58KMedian
- $78K75th
- $96K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $67,230 | $5,602 | $32.32 |
| Median | $57,930 | $4,828 | $27.85 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $57,680 | $4,807 | $27.73 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $77,620 | $6,468 | $37.32 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Archivists pay in Chicago vs. Illinois and the U.S.
Archivists in Chicago earn about the same as the Illinois average ($67,020) and 5% less than the U.S. average ($70,640). At the median the gap is -10% against the U.S. median of $64,550.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $67,230 | $57,930 | $47,490 | $96,360 | 160 |
| Illinois | $67,020 | $59,340 | $47,500 | $96,360 | 200 |
| United States | $70,640 | $64,550 | $39,970 | $110,550 | 7,970 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Archivists salary after taxes in Chicago
On the average salary of $67,230, a single filer in Chicago takes home about $52,939 a year, or $4,412 a month and $2,036 every two weeks. Taxes take 21% of gross pay.
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in IN | $54,139 | $4,512 |
| Working in IL | $52,939 | $4,412 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Chicago a good place for archivists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Chicago area are 4% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 103.6), so the average $67,230 buys what about $64,897 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Chicago ($54,720). A typical home costs $353,998, or 5.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Archivists salary in nearby metro areas
- Milwaukee, WI$56,390
- Madison, WI$65,570
- Detroit, MI$67,470
- St. Louis, MO$69,770
- Columbus, OH$62,080
- Minneapolis, MN$60,880
Highest-paying cities for archivists
Bridgeport, CT pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($102,880).
- Bridgeport, CT$102,880
- San Jose, CA$100,910
- Washington, DC$88,250
- Oxnard, CA$86,110
- Boston, MA$82,700
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Archivists salary in Chicago: questions
How much do archivists make an hour in Chicago?
$32.32 an hour on average, and $27.85 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level archivists salary in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $47,490 a year and the 25th percentile is $57,680, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the archivists take-home pay in Chicago?
About $52,939 a year ($4,412 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $67,230.
Do archivists earn more in Chicago than elsewhere?
The average here is 5% less than the U.S. average for this job ($70,640).
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; area Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (16980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 6.8%.
- 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.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.68, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.68).
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