Archival Assistant Salary in the United States

How much does an Archival Assistant make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for an Archival Assistant in the United States is $54,073 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $26.

However, an Archival Assistant's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $69,465
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $47,631 to $62,130
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $41,765

Key Factors That Influence Archival Assistant Salaries

An Archival Assistant'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, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Archival Assistant Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Archival Assistant'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): $37,851
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $42,252
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $54,520
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $60,832
  • Expert (over 8 years): $88,021
Levels Salary
Library A... Level Archival Assistant$37,851
Library A... Level Archival Assistant$42,252
Archival ... Level Archival Assistant$54,520
Library A... Level Archival Assistant$60,832
Library S... Level Archival Assistant$88,021

How Do Archival Assistant Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Archival Assistants. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $59,870.
  • California: $59,643.
  • Massachusetts: $58,848.

Top Paying Cities for Archival Assistants

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: $68,202
  • San Francisco: $67,456
  • Oakland: $66,034

What Skills Can Increase an Archival Assistant's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Customer Service (Mentioned in 28.16% 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.
  • Service Desk (Mentioned in 1.65% Job Postings): A service desk is the single point of contact between the service provider and users for everyday activities. Goal of a service desk is to provide resolutions for user requests as efficiently as possible.
  • Library Science (Mentioned in 1.37% Job Postings): Is an academic discipline that is sometimes referred to as information studies. This field focuses on how to classify and use data or objects and emphasizes the importance of preserving knowledge and promoting literacy.
Skills Demand Percentage
Customer Service 28.16%
Service Desk 1.65%
Library Science 1.37%

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 an Archival Assistant's salary.

  • Collaboration: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
  • Leadership: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
  • Presentation: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Collaboration $57,317
6%
Leadership $57,317
6%
Presentation $57,317
6%

Archival Assistant Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Archival Assistant roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 22% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Construction and Insurance sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 12% above the average. In contrast, Archival Assistant positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit or Internet typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Archival Assistant as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for an Archival Assistant

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Construction$60,562$29.012%
Insurance$58,940$28.09%
Business Services$58,399$28.08%
Energy & Utilities$57,317$28.06%
Healthcare$56,236$27.04%

How Education impacts an Archival Assistant's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Archival Assistants enter the field with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Archival Assistant with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate is between $53,634 and $57,882).

Archival Assistant Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Archival Assistant
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.8%
High School 16.9%
Associates 12.9%
Bachelors 52.2%
Masters 17.3%
Doctorate 0.0%

Archival Assistant Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Archival Assistant'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 September 01, 2026
$47,631
Average $54,073/year
$62,130
$3,969
Average $4,506/month
$5,177
$916
Average $1,040/week
$1,195
$23
Average $26/hour
$30
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $62,130 $5,177 $1,195 $30
Average $54,073 $4,506 $1,040 $26
25th Percentile $47,631 $3,969 $916 $23

Most common benefits for Archival Assistant

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Archival Assistant

Here are companies hiring for Archival Assistant and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Archival Assistant

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Archival Assistant?

The Construction industry offers the highest average compensation for Archival Assistant roles, with salaries approximately 12% above the market median.

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.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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