Education & Library
Archivists
Also called: Accessioning Archivist, Archivist, Digital Archivist, Film Archivist
US median pay
$64,550
per year, 2025
Job growth 2025–35
+3.4%
about average or slower
Openings a year (US)
1,100
10,300 employed
Typical entry education
Master's degree
Preparation 5/5 · Extensive preparation
What this job is
Appraise, edit, and direct safekeeping of permanent records and historically valuable documents. Participate in research activities based on archival materials.
What they do day to day
- 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- Authenticate and appraise historical documents and archival materials.
Skills and knowledge that matter most
Skills
- Complex Problem Solving3.2/5
- Service Orientation3.1/5
- Judgment and Decision Making3.1/5
- Time Management2.9/5
- Systems Evaluation2.9/5
- Systems Analysis2.9/5
- Instructing2.9/5
- Coordination2.9/5
Knowledge
- History and Archeology4.3/5
- English Language4.0/5
- Customer and Personal Service3.9/5
- Computers and Electronics3.8/5
- Administration and Management3.7/5
- Administrative3.5/5
Importance rated by people working in the job (1 = not important, 5 = extremely important).
Education and preparation
Preparation level 5 of 5 — Extensive preparation. Usually a graduate degree (master's, PhD, MD, JD) and extensive experience.
Typical entry education (BLS): Master's degree.
Highest education of people in this job:
- Master's degree84%
Who this job suits
Mostly Conventional
Organising data, details and procedures
Investigative
Ideas, research and solving problems
Based on the Holland (RIASEC) interest profile for this occupation.