Museum Archivist Salary in the United States

How much does a Museum Archivist make in the United States?

As of July 01, 2026, the average salary for a Museum Archivist in the United States is $42,559 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $20.

However, a Museum Archivist's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $51,627
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $39,111 to $47,306
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $35,971
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View as table View as graph 25% $39,111 10% $35,971 90% $51,627 75% $47,306 $42,559 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Museum Archivist Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $47,306 $3,942 $910 $23
Average $42,559 $3,547 $818 $20
25th Percentile $39,111 $3,259 $752 $19
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Key Factors That Influence Museum Archivist Salaries

A Museum Archivist's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Museum Archivist Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Museum Archivist's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $39,129
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $43,278
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $48,185
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $62,235
  • Expert (over 8 years): $71,184
Levels Salary
Banking O... Level Museum Archivist$39,129
Museum Ar... Level Museum Archivist$43,278
Banking O... Level Museum Archivist$48,185
Banking O... Level Museum Archivist$62,235
Banking O... Level Museum Archivist$71,184
$39,129 0 yr
$43,278 < 2 yrs
$48,185 2-4 yrs
$62,235 5-8 yrs
$71,184 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Museum Archivists

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $53,680
  • San Francisco: $53,092
  • Oakland: $51,974

What Skills Can Increase a Museum Archivist's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Customer Service (Mentioned in 4.31% Job Postings): Customer service is the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase. The perception of success of such interactions is dependent on employees "who can adjust themselves to the personality of the guest". Customer service concerns the priority an organization assigns to customer service relative to components such as product innovation and pricing. In this sense, an organization that values good customer service may spend more money in training employees than the average organization or may proactively interview customers for feedback. From the point of view of an overall sales process engineering effort, customer service plays an important role in an organization's ability to generate income and revenue. From that perspective, customer service should be included as part of an overall approach to systematic improvement. One good customer service experience can change the entire perception a customer holds towards the organization.
  • Business Development (Mentioned in 2.62% Job Postings): Business development entails tasks and processes to develop and implement growth opportunities within and between organizations. It is a subset of the fields of business, commerce and organizational theory. Business development is the creation of long-term value for an organization from customers, markets, and relationships. Business development can be taken to mean any activity by either a small or large organization, non-profit or for-profit enterprise which serves the purpose of ‘developing’ the business in some way. In addition, business development activities can be done internally or externally by a business development consultant. External business development can be facilitated through Planning Systems, which are put in place by governments to help small businesses. In addition, reputation building has also proven to help facilitate business development.
  • Debit Card (Mentioned in 1.78% Job Postings): A Debit Card is a card issued by a bank allowing the holder to transfer money electronically to another bank account when making a purchase.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Customer Service 4.31%
Business Development 2.62%
Debit Card 1.78%
What skills can make your compensation higher?
Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Museum Archivist's salary.
  • Succession Planning: Can increase your salary by up to 99%.
  • Program Management: Can increase your salary by up to 35%.
  • Sales Support: Can increase your salary by up to 30%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Succession Planning
$84,693
99%
Program Management
$57,455
35%
Sales Support
$55,327
30%
Commercial Loans
$52,774
24%
Relationship Management
$52,348
23%
Presentation
$52,348
23%
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Museum Archivist Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Museum Archivist roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 110% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Financial Services and Business Services sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 60% above the average. In contrast, Museum Archivist positions in Insurance or Retail & Wholesale typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Museum Archivist as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Museum Archivist

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Financial Services$68,095$33.060%
Business Services$55,327$27.030%

Museum Archivist Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Museum Archivist's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on July 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Museum Archivist

Salaries for a Museum Archivist can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary increased from $37,236 in 2023 to around $37,382 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Museum Archivist salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Museum Archivist Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$37,236
2024
$37,598
2025
$37,382
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $37,236
2024 $37,598
2025 $37,382
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Museum Archivist

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Museum Archivist

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Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

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