Archivists
Appraise, edit, and direct safekeeping of permanent records and historically valuable documents. Participate in research activities based on archival materials.
- Median pay
- $64,550
- Doing it now
- 10,300
- By 2035
- Up 3.4%
- Usually needs
- Master's degree
a year
across the country
1,100 openings a year
to get in
What the work involves
- Create and maintain accessible, retrievable computer archives and databases, incorporating current advances in electronic information storage technology.
- Organize archival records and develop classification systems to facilitate access to archival materials.
- Authenticate and appraise historical documents and archival materials.
- Provide reference services and assistance for users needing archival materials.
- Direct activities of workers who assist in arranging, cataloguing, exhibiting, and maintaining collections of valuable materials.
- Prepare archival records, such as document descriptions, to allow easy access to information.
- Preserve records, documents, and objects, copying records to film, videotape, audiotape, disk, or computer formats as necessary.
What to study
The fields of study the Department of Education links to this occupation, most widely taught first.
- HistorySee 1,267 colleges that teach it
- Fine and Studio ArtsSee 1,083 colleges that teach it
- Museology/Museum StudiesSee 21 colleges that teach it
- Library Science and AdministrationSee 12 colleges that teach it
Who it suits
O*NET scores every occupation on six interest dimensions. This one leans hardest on these three.
Organised and precise
Analytical and curious
Helping and teaching
Careers like this one
Where this comes from: the description and the task list are O*NET, which the Department of Labor maintains. Pay, workforce size, outlook and the education normally needed are the Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections programme, 2025 wages and 2025 to 2035 projections. Half of them earn more than $64,550 a year, which means half earn less, and what you would earn depends on where you work and how long you have been doing it. The fields of study come from the National Center for Education Statistics crosswalk.