Archivists pay in California
In California, the median pay for archivists is $33.91 an hour ($70,530 a year). About 1,160 people work in this job there.
That is 9% higher than the U.S. median ($64,550). California ranks 8th of 38 states and territories for this job’s median pay.
Pay range for archivists in California
| Earns more than | Hourly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|
| 10% of workers | $20.93 | $43,540 |
| 25% of workers | $25.58 | $53,200 |
| Half of workers (median) | $33.91 | $70,530 |
| 75% of workers | $43.83 | $91,170 |
| 90% of workers | $58.75 | $122,190 |
Archivists pay in California metro areas
| Metro area | Median yearly pay | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara | $97,550 | 110 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $78,490 | 60 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | $74,540 | 50 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $74,320 | 180 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $70,630 | 490 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $62,050 | 70 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $62,030 | 50 |
California unemployment rate: 5.1% (August 2026), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Education, experience and outlook for archivists
- Typical education to start: Master's degree (BLS)
- Related work experience most have: 1 to 2 years (O*NET)
- Job outlook: +3.4% over ten years, about as fast as average · about 1,100 openings a year (BLS)
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median yearly pay |
|---|---|
| Computer Occupations, All Other | $134,440 |
| Librarians and Media Collections Specialists | $89,790 |
| Library Technicians | $53,260 |
| Social Science Research Assistants | $60,250 |
| Anthropologists and Archeologists | $72,240 |
| Museum Technicians and Conservators | $61,550 |
| Curators | $78,740 |
Other job titles for this job
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Post a job freeFind jobsCheck pay for any jobSource: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates. Figures are for wage and salary workers and do not include the self-employed. The median is the middle wage: half earn more, half earn less. Other job titles: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license; O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. JAI Bot has modified this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.