Archivists
Educational Instruction and Library
Most of the day goes to judging which records belong in a permanent collection, then arranging them and writing descriptions so others can find what they need. Classification systems and computer databases keep materials retrievable, and copies may be made onto film, tape, or disk so originals last. Users come with research questions; you help them locate sources, set access rules, and record where items came from and why they matter. Some roles include directing staff who catalogue, exhibit, or care for collections. People who prefer careful reading, orderly systems, and clear rules about who may use materials tend to fit.
Typical education: Master’s Degree
Annual Median Wage in Field (2025)
$64'550
Median Wage Market Position
$64'550
What you might do
- Sort historical records so they can be found
- Point researchers to the right boxes and files
- Write descriptions that make documents searchable
- Keep computer archives current and retrievable
- Decide who may see or use the materials
- Copy fragile papers onto film or digital media
Skills that matter
- Organizing records into classification systems
- Guiding researchers through archival collections
- Writing descriptions that aid retrieval
- Deciding who may access which materials
- Tracing the origins of archival holdings
- Copying records to film or disk
AI & the future of this role
Digitization, metadata tagging, and routine search support may absorb much desk work. Appraisal judgment, physical preservation choices, and trusted custody of unique materials still matter, though overall demand for purely clerical archival tasks looks softer.
Does Archivists fit your values?
Take the free LostInCareer assessment to see personalized matches based on your core values—not just a personality label.
Related careers
Includes O*NET® 30.3 Database information by USDOL/ETA under CC BY 4.0; modified by LostInCareer. Wage/outlook from BLS. Attribution details