Archivist: Career Information

Archivists preserve records and documents that are deemed to have potential value and importance. Archivists usually work for colleges and universities, corporations, governments, museums and other institutions.

There were 6,000 archivists employed in 2008.

To work as an archivist one must generally have a Master's degree in history or library science with courses in archival science.

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An archivist may, if desired, receive voluntary certification from the Academy of Certified Archivists. To become a Certified Archivist one must have a master's degree and a year of experience, and pass a written exam.

Archivists have limited opportunity for promotion because most archives are very small. Those who seek promotion might transfer to a larger institution where those opportunities exist.

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Archivists should expect slower than average job growth through 2018.

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Archivists earned a median annual salary of $46,470 in 2009 (U.S.).

Use the Salary Wizard at Salary.com to find out how much an archivist currently earns in your city.

On a typical day an archivist's tasks might include:

• writing descriptions of documents and records in his or her collection
• cataloging documents and records
• preparing documents and records to be displayed to researchers
• coordinating tours, workshops and lectures about his or her collection
• researching topics relevant to his or her collection

Sources:
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-11 Edition, Archivists, Curators, and Museum Technicians, on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos065.htm (visited January 20, 2011).
Employment and Training Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, O*NET Online, Archivist, on the Internet at http://online.onetcenter.org/link/details/25-4011.00 (visited January 20, 2011).