Roughly 79 percent of archivists now handle born-digital records in some capacity, a shift that has rewritten hiring expectations across government agencies, universities, and corporate archives alike. Employers increasingly screen for digital preservation fluency alongside traditional appraisal and arrangement skills, which means the credential pathway matters more than it used to.

Most professionals need six to eight years from the start of a bachelor's degree to enter the field as a certified archivist. That timeline includes a master's degree, often an archival studies degree or an MLIS with an archival concentration, plus a practicum or internship. Salaries vary widely by state and employer type, and the Certified Archivist credential, while optional, is showing up in a growing share of job postings. Below, we break down every step of the process, from choosing the right graduate program to earning certification and landing your first role.

What Does an Archivist Do? Daily Work Across Settings

Archivists are the custodians of primary source materials, from handwritten letters and government treaties to digital photographs and corporate emails. Their core responsibilities center on five interconnected functions: appraising which records have lasting value, arranging those materials into logical groupings, describing them through finding aids and metadata, preserving them against deterioration or data loss, and providing access so researchers, administrators, and the public can actually use them.

What makes this profession distinctive is that no two workdays look the same, especially once you factor in the setting.

A Typical Day Across Four Settings

• University special collections: You might spend the morning processing a newly donated collection of faculty papers, creating a finding aid that respects the original order in which the materials were kept. In the afternoon, you could assist a graduate student researching Civil War correspondence or prepare fragile documents for a classroom visit.
• Government archives: Daily tasks often revolve around records retention schedules, ensuring that agencies comply with legal requirements for preserving (or disposing of) public records. You may also respond to Freedom of Information Act requests or manage large-scale digitization of census data.
• Corporate records management: Here the focus shifts to risk mitigation and regulatory compliance. An archivist at a pharmaceutical company, for example, might oversee the lifecycle of clinical trial documentation, balancing accessibility with confidentiality.
• Museum archives: Your work supports exhibitions, loans, and provenance research. A typical day could involve cataloging photographic negatives from a donor, coordinating with curators on an upcoming exhibit, or verifying the chain of ownership for an artifact.

Archivist vs. Librarian: A Common Point of Confusion

Prospective students often wonder how archivists differ from librarians. The distinction comes down to the nature of the materials and how they are organized. Librarians typically manage published works (books, journals, databases) and organize them by subject using standardized classification systems like the Dewey Decimal or Library of Congress systems. Archivists, by contrast, manage unique or original materials and organize them according to provenance, meaning they preserve the context of who created the records and why, rather than sorting items by topic. If you are weighing multiple paths, exploring careers in library science can help you see where archival work fits within the broader field.

The Growing Digital Component

If you picture archivists working exclusively with dusty boxes in a basement, the reality in 2026 may surprise you. Born-digital records (emails, social media posts, website snapshots, electronic health records) now make up a significant and growing share of archival collections. Many archivist roles involve leading digitization projects that convert analog materials into searchable digital formats, managing digital preservation systems that guard against file format obsolescence, and applying metadata standards so digital objects remain findable decades from now.

This digital shift means that technical fluency is no longer optional. Pursuing an archival studies degree with coursework in digital curation can give you a strong foundation. Whether you work in a university vault or a corporate server room, understanding digital workflows is central to the modern archivist's role.

Step-by-Step Guide to Becoming an Archivist

How long does it take to become an archivist? Most professionals need roughly 6 to 8 years from the start of their bachelor's degree to entering the workforce as a credentialed archivist. The timeline depends on whether you study full time, pursue certification, and how quickly you secure practicum placements. Below is the standard credentialing sequence at a glance.

Education Requirements: Degrees, Coursework, and Program Costs

The path to becoming an archivist is more flexible than many prospective students expect, especially at the undergraduate level. What matters most is the graduate degree you pursue and the skills you build along the way.

Undergraduate Foundation: More Flexible Than You Think

There is no single "right" bachelor's degree for aspiring archivists. History, English, political science, and other humanities fields have traditionally served as strong foundations, but they are far from the only options. As archives increasingly manage born-digital materials, candidates with STEM backgrounds in computer science, data science, or information technology bring highly sought-after skills to the field. If you are considering an archival career after completing a degree in business, communications, or the sciences, you do not need a second bachelor's. Graduate programs in archival studies and library science accept students from a wide range of academic backgrounds.

The Master's Degree: Your Core Credential

Most archivist positions require a master's degree, and you have two main routes to choose from:

• ALA-accredited MLIS with an archival concentration: Programs accredited by the American Library Association that offer specialization tracks in archives and records management. This is the most common path and the one most employers recognize.
• Standalone archival studies MA: A smaller number of programs offer a master's degree focused exclusively on archival science, sometimes housed in history or information studies departments.

Well-known programs include the University of Michigan School of Information, Simmons University, and the University of Texas at Austin iSchool, each of which offers robust archival coursework alongside digital curation and preservation training. These are examples, not rankings. You can explore accredited MLIS degree programs to compare options based on cost, format, and specialization.

Key Coursework to Expect

Regardless of the program you choose, your graduate studies will likely cover:

• Archival theory and history
• Records management and lifecycle concepts
• Digital curation and preservation
• Metadata standards (Dublin Core, EAD, METS, DACS)
• Appraisal and acquisition of archival materials
• Reference, access, and outreach services

Many programs also include a practicum or fieldwork component, which gives you hands-on experience in a working archive, museum, or special collections department. This practical training is often what helps graduates land their first professional role.

Program Costs and Funding Options

Tuition for a master's program in this field typically ranges from roughly $20,000 to over $60,000, depending on whether the institution is public or private and whether you qualify for in-state rates. That is a significant investment, but several funding strategies can bring costs down considerably:

• Graduate assistantships: Many programs offer assistantships that include tuition waivers and a modest stipend in exchange for part-time work within the library or archives.
• SAA scholarships: The Society of American Archivists awards multiple scholarships each year for students enrolled in archival education programs.
• State-funded programs: Public universities, especially those in states with strong library systems, frequently offer lower tuition and state-funded financial aid packages.

Before committing to a program, compare net costs after aid, not just sticker prices. Students focused on affordability should review the cheapest library science degree online options, since a program that seems more expensive on paper may actually offer stronger funding packages that lower your out-of-pocket expense.

Career Changers: What You Should Know

If you are transitioning from another field, the good news is straightforward: you almost certainly do not need a second bachelor's degree. Graduate admissions committees in library and information science programs regularly admit students from non-traditional backgrounds. In fact, subject expertise in areas like law, medicine, government, or technology can be a genuine advantage, because archives exist in every sector and employers value domain knowledge alongside archival training. Pursuing an online mlis records management concentration can complement your existing career experience, while the master's program itself provides the archival theory and technical skills you need.

Questions to Ask Yourself

Certified Archivist (ACA) Credential: Is It Worth It?

The Certified Archivist (CA) credential, administered by the Academy of Certified Archivists, is the most widely recognized professional certification in the field. It is not legally required to work as an archivist anywhere in the United States, but a growing number of government agencies, universities, and large cultural institutions list it as preferred or required in job postings. If you are weighing whether the investment is worthwhile, here is what you need to know.

Who Is Eligible to Sit for the Exam?

The Academy of Certified Archivists offers multiple pathways to eligibility.¹ The most common route combines a graduate degree (typically an MLIS with an archival concentration or a masters in archival science) with professional archival experience. However, an alternative pathway allows candidates with a combination of undergraduate education and more extensive work experience to qualify. Full details on each pathway are published on the Academy of Certified Archivists website, and requirements can shift from year to year, so check the current guidelines before you apply.

Exam Format and Cost

The certification exam consists of 100 multiple-choice questions delivered virtually over a three-hour window.² Questions span eight tested domains that cover the full scope of archival practice, from selection and appraisal to access, outreach, and professional ethics.³ There is no penalty for guessing, and the platform allows you to flag questions for later review.⁴ The application fee is $125, and candidates who pass owe $75 in annual membership dues to maintain their credential. Certification is valid for five years, after which you must recertify through a combination of continuing education and professional activity on a five-year cycle.²

Pass-rate data is not consistently published by the Academy, so prospective test-takers should plan thorough preparation using the official exam guide rather than relying on anecdotal estimates.

Does Certification Affect Your Salary?

Reliable, large-scale data isolating a salary premium for certified archivists versus non-certified archivists is limited. That said, anecdotal evidence from professional surveys and hiring patterns suggests that holding the CA can make you more competitive for higher-paying positions, particularly in federal agencies (such as the National Archives) and research universities where the credential is listed as a hiring preference. In competitive applicant pools, certification signals a verified baseline of knowledge that can tip the scales in your favor. For broader context on earning potential, see our overview of library science salary data.

The Digital Archives Specialist (DAS) Certificate

If your career goals lean toward digital preservation, born-digital collections, or electronic records management, consider pairing the CA with the Digital Archives Specialist (DAS) certificate offered by the Society of American Archivists. The DAS is a coursework-based credential rather than an exam, and it focuses on technical competencies such as digital forensics, metadata standards, and repository management. Holding both credentials positions you for the growing number of roles that blend traditional archival principles with digital infrastructure skills.

Bottom Line

The CA is not a gatekeeping requirement for most entry-level positions, and early-career archivists may want to accumulate hands-on experience before investing in the exam. For mid-career professionals, career changers, or anyone targeting government and academic employers, the credential adds a measurable competitive edge. At $125 for the exam and $75 per year to maintain, the financial barrier is relatively low compared to the potential payoff in hiring preference and professional credibility.

Essential Archival Software, Standards, and Technical Skills

Employers expect archivists to work fluently with a mix of collection management platforms, metadata standards, digital preservation tools, and digitization technologies. The table below organizes the most important tools and standards into practical categories and notes which ones appear most frequently in job postings. If you are planning a career change into archival work or building your first professional toolkit, prioritize the items marked as commonly required.

Archivist Salary by State, Experience Level, and Employer Type

Archivist salaries vary significantly depending on where you work, how many years of experience you bring, and which sector employs you. Understanding these differences can help you target your job search and set realistic expectations as you plan your career.

National Salary by Experience Level

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2024 data), the national median annual wage for archivists is $59,910.¹ Here is how pay breaks down across the wage distribution, which roughly corresponds to experience level:

• Entry-level (10th percentile): $37,720 per year, typical for new graduates or those in part-time or assistant archivist roles.¹
• Early career (25th percentile): $46,450, representing professionals with a few years of experience or those working in smaller institutions.¹
• Mid-career (median): $59,910, the midpoint for archivists nationally.¹
• Senior (75th percentile): $79,190, common among archivists with significant tenure, supervisory duties, or specialized expertise in digital preservation.¹
• Top earners (90th percentile): $103,000, reflecting leadership positions such as head archivist or director of archival services at large institutions.¹

The gap between entry-level and senior pay is substantial. Moving from the 25th percentile to the 75th percentile represents a jump of roughly $32,700, which underscores the value of gaining specialized skills, earning certifications like the Certified Archivist credential, and accumulating years of focused experience.

How Much Do Archivists Make by State?

Geography plays a major role in archivist compensation. The following table lists the highest-paying states and districts for archivists based on median annual wages.¹

The District of Columbia leads the list by a wide margin, largely because of the concentration of federal agencies, national museums, and institutions like the National Archives and Records Administration. Maryland's proximity to D.C. helps explain its second-place ranking, as many archivists in the region work for federal employers or federal contractors. States like Massachusetts and New York benefit from dense networks of universities, historical societies, and cultural institutions that drive demand for skilled archivists.

Keep in mind that high median wages often correspond with higher costs of living. A $70,000 salary in California, for example, stretches differently than the same figure in a lower-cost state. Weigh compensation against local housing, transportation, and tax burdens when comparing offers. For a broader look at how pay compares across the information professions, see our overview of library science salary by state.

Salary by Employer Type

The type of organization you work for also shapes your earning potential. Based on BLS industry-level data, here is how the major employer categories generally compare:

• Federal government: Typically the highest-paying sector for archivists, with wages well above the national median. Federal positions often include generous benefits packages, structured pay scales (General Schedule or GS grades), and regular step increases.
• State government: Salaries tend to fall near or slightly below the national median, though benefits and job stability can be strong.
• Colleges and universities: Academic archivists earn wages that vary widely depending on institution size and whether the school is public or private. Positions at large research universities tend to pay more competitively.
• Museums, historical sites, and similar institutions: These roles can be rewarding in terms of the collections you manage, but they often pay at the lower end of the spectrum, particularly at smaller or nonprofit organizations.

If maximizing salary is a priority, targeting federal positions or roles in high-paying metro areas is a practical strategy. However, many archivists find that factors like collection type, institutional mission, and work-life balance weigh just as heavily as the paycheck. As you evaluate mlis degree jobs, consider the full picture: salary, benefits, professional development support, and the kind of materials you will spend your days preserving.

Archivist Salary at a Glance: Entry-Level to Senior

Where you fall on the archivist pay scale depends largely on experience, employer type, and geographic location. The range below reflects the full national distribution reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Early-career archivists typically cluster near the lower percentiles, while senior professionals in federal agencies or major research universities push toward the top of the curve.

Career Paths: Digital Archives, Records Management, and Beyond

Archival work has branched well beyond the traditional image of dusty storage rooms and acid-free folders. In 2026, professionals trained in archival science can pursue a range of specialization tracks, each with distinct day-to-day responsibilities, skill requirements, and employer types. Understanding these paths early helps you tailor your education and build a portfolio that matches the roles you actually want.

Specialization Tracks at a Glance

• Digital archivist: Manages born-digital and digitized collections, handles file migration, metadata creation, and long-term digital preservation.
• Records manager: Oversees an organization's active and inactive records across their full lifecycle, ensuring regulatory compliance and efficient retrieval.
• Digital asset manager: Curates media files (images, video, audio) for corporations, museums, or media companies, focusing on rights management and brand consistency.
• Preservation specialist: Concentrates on the physical and digital conservation of materials, from paper repair to emulation strategies for obsolete file formats.
• Archival consultant: Works independently or through a firm to help organizations assess, organize, and preserve collections they lack in-house expertise to manage.

The Digital Archivist Career Path in Detail

Digital archivists are in growing demand at university libraries, government agencies, media organizations, and tech companies. Beyond core archival coursework, the role calls for comfort with programming languages such as Python, experience with relational databases and SQL, and familiarity with web archiving tools like Archive-It. Knowledge of metadata schemas (Dublin Core, PREMIS, METS) and digital repository platforms (ArchivesSpace, DSpace, Fedora) is expected in most job postings. Candidates who combine an masters in archival science with a certificate or minor in data science or information technology tend to stand out in applicant pools. Gaining library science skills in areas like metadata standards and digital curation during your degree program gives you a competitive edge.

Career-Change Pathways

Archival work is surprisingly accessible to professionals pivoting from other fields. IT specialists who already understand storage infrastructure, network security, and database management can transition into digital preservation roles by adding archival theory coursework. Paralegals experienced in document management and regulatory compliance are well positioned for legal records management in law firms, courts, and corporate legal departments. Librarians looking to add an archival specialization can often do so with a handful of targeted electives or a post-master's certificate, since the MLIS already covers much of the foundational knowledge.

How Archival Roles Differ from (and Overlap with) Related Positions

The archivist vs. librarian distinction often confuses newcomers. Librarians typically facilitate access to published materials for a broad public, while archivists preserve unique, often unpublished primary sources and manage their provenance and original order. Records managers focus on organizational compliance and information governance rather than historical preservation. Digital asset managers share metadata skills with archivists but center their work on active commercial content rather than long-term cultural heritage MLIS online collections.

These roles do overlap. A digital archivist at a media company, for instance, may handle tasks that look a lot like digital asset management. A records manager in a government archive may collaborate closely with archivists on retention schedules. Recognizing the overlaps lets you move laterally across specializations as your career evolves.

Leadership Roles on the Horizon

With experience, archivists can advance into positions that shape institutional strategy. Head of special collections roles oversee entire archival departments at research universities. Chief records officers set information governance policy for large organizations. Digital preservation program directors manage budgets, staff, and technology roadmaps for multi-year preservation initiatives. These leadership tracks typically require at least seven to ten years of progressively responsible experience, along with demonstrated skills in project management, grant writing, and stakeholder communication.

Job Outlook and Hiring Tips for Aspiring Archivists

The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 6 percent employment growth for archivists, curators, and museum workers from 2024 to 2034, adding roughly 2,300 new positions over the decade.¹ That rate is about as fast as the average for all occupations, and the field is expected to generate approximately 4,800 annual openings, primarily driven by replacement needs as experienced professionals retire or move into other roles.¹ While those numbers suggest steady demand, the reality on the ground is more nuanced.

A Competitive Market

Masters in library science programs graduate more candidates each year than the archival field can absorb. The result is a hiring landscape where a relevant degree is necessary but rarely sufficient on its own. Employers increasingly look for candidates who combine formal education with demonstrable hands-on experience, technical fluency, and professional engagement. If you are entering the field through a career change, expect to invest time in building a portfolio of practical work before landing a full-time position.

Hiring Tips That Set You Apart

Four strategies can move your application to the top of the pile:

• Build a digital portfolio: Compile sample finding aids, metadata records, and digitization plans you have created during coursework, internships, or volunteer work. A portfolio lets hiring committees evaluate your skills far more effectively than a resume bullet point.
• Volunteer with local historical societies: Many small organizations need archival help but lack the budget to hire staff. Volunteering gives you real collections experience and a professional reference, and it can sometimes lead directly to paid positions.
• Contribute to open-source archival tools: Projects like ArchivesSpace and Archivematica welcome community contributions. Even modest involvement, such as writing documentation or testing new features, signals technical initiative to prospective employers.
• Network through SAA and regional associations: The Society of American Archivists and groups like the Midwest Archives Conference or the New England Archivists host conferences, webinars, and mentorship programs. Many archivist positions are shared informally through these networks before they appear on public job boards.

Where the Jobs Are

Archival positions are spread across a wider range of employers than many candidates realize. Federal agencies, particularly the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), represent a significant employer with positions at facilities nationwide. State archives and university special collections departments are traditional hiring hubs and often the first places new graduates look. Corporate archives are a growing niche: media companies, financial institutions, and large nonprofits maintain in-house archival programs to manage institutional memory and regulatory records. Cultural heritage organizations, including museums, tribal nations, and community archives, round out the landscape. Candidates interested in the corporate side may also want to explore master's in records management online programs that blend archival theory with compliance-focused coursework. Expanding your geographic flexibility and considering less obvious employer types can dramatically increase the number of opportunities available to you.

Frequently Asked Questions About Becoming an Archivist

Choosing an archival career raises plenty of practical questions about education, earnings, and day-to-day work. Below are concise, fact-based answers to the questions prospective archivists ask most often.

What degree do you need to be an archivist?

Most employers require a master's degree in library and information science (MLIS), archival studies, or history with an archival concentration. An ALA-accredited MLIS with coursework in archival theory, preservation, and digital curation is the most widely accepted credential. Some positions in government or corporate settings may accept a master's in public history or records management instead.

How long does it take to become an archivist?

Plan on roughly six to eight years total. You will need four years for a bachelor's degree, then one and a half to two years for a master's program. Adding a practicum or internship (strongly recommended) can extend the timeline slightly. Career changers who already hold a bachelor's degree can often enter the field within two to three years by completing an MLIS.

Is archivist a good career?

Archival work offers meaningful intellectual engagement, stable demand in government and higher education, and growing opportunities in digital preservation. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects steady growth for archivists through 2032. Salaries are modest compared to some information professions, but benefits, work-life balance, and mission-driven environments attract many professionals to the field.

Do archivists need to be certified?

Certification is not legally required, but earning the Certified Archivist (CA) credential from the Academy of Certified Archivists can strengthen your candidacy, especially in competitive markets. The CA requires a combination of education and professional experience plus a passing score on a standardized exam. Many mid-career archivists pursue certification to demonstrate specialized competence.

What is the difference between an archivist and a librarian?

Archivists manage unique, often unpublished materials such as manuscripts, photographs, and institutional records, preserving their original order and provenance. Librarians typically organize published, mass-produced materials and focus on public access and reader services. Both roles require a master's degree, but archivists take additional coursework in appraisal, arrangement, and description of primary sources.

Can you become an archivist without a history degree?

Yes. While a history background is common, archivists come from many disciplines, including English, political science, art, and information technology. What matters most is completing graduate-level archival coursework and gaining hands-on experience through internships or practicums. A strong understanding of metadata standards and digital tools can be just as valuable as a history background.

How much do entry-level archivists make?

Entry-level archivists in the United States typically earn between $40,000 and $50,000 per year, depending on location, employer type, and sector. Government and university positions often offer higher starting salaries than small nonprofit repositories. Salaries tend to be higher in metropolitan areas and states with a higher cost of living, such as California, New York, and Massachusetts.