Salary and Outlook

According to the US Department of Labor, there are 8,100 people employed as archivists in the United States. The median annual salary is $56,800. Entry level employees earn approximately $33,180 per year and senior employees earn approximately $98,990 per year.

Estimates do not include other potential benefits such as health insurance, overtime pay, or retirement benefits that may be offered by employers.

Job Duties

• 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.
• Authenticate and appraise historical documents and archival materials.
• Specialize in an area of history or technology, researching topics or items relevant to collections to determine what should be retained or acquired.
• Coordinate educational and public outreach programs, such as tours, workshops, lectures, and classes.
• Select and edit documents for publication and display, applying knowledge of subject, literary expression, and presentation techniques.
• Establish and administer policy guidelines concerning public access and use of materials.
• Research and record the origins and historical significance of archival materials.
• Create and maintain accessible, retrievable computer archives and databases, incorporating current advances in electronic information storage technology.
• Preserve records, documents, and objects, copying records to film, videotape, audiotape, disk, or computer formats as necessary.
• Direct activities of workers who assist in arranging, cataloguing, exhibiting, and maintaining collections of valuable materials.
• Locate new materials and direct their acquisition and display.

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