Typically I spend my day providing reference services for researchers or on a processing project. Reference services can be anywhere from meeting with a new on-site researcher or responding to email requests related to our holdings. If I'm not working on reference requests, I'm reviewing an unprocessed collection and preparing it to be released to the public.
CAREER
Archivists
Overview
Salary Median (2020)
$56,760
Projected Job Growth (2019-2029)
+7.9% (as fast as the average)
Most Common Level of Education
Master's degree
Career
Roadtrip Nation Leaders in This Career
What Archivists Do
Appraise, edit, and direct safekeeping of permanent records and historically valuable documents. Participate in research activities based on archival materials.
Other Job Titles Archivists May Have
Archival Records Clerk, Archivist, Film Archivist, Museum Archivist, Museum Registrar, Records Manager, Reference Archivist, State Archivist, University Archivist
How Leaders Describe a Typical Day at Work
Tasks & Responsibilities May Include
- Organize archival records and develop classification systems to facilitate access to archival materials.
- Provide reference services and assistance for users needing archival materials.
- Prepare archival records, such as document descriptions, to allow easy access to information.
- Establish and administer policy guidelines concerning public access and use of materials.
- Research and record the origins and historical significance of archival materials.
Education
Level of Education Attained by Archivists
Most common level of education among people in
this career: Master's degree (37%)
Some college, no degree
Bachelor's degree
Master's degree
Other*
*All other responses combined for clarity.
Majors Related to Career
Educational Paths Suggested by Leaders
Suggested Path
Bachelor
American History (United States)
Graduate
American History (United States)
Additional Skills & Experiences That Can Help You Excel
I believe that hands-on education is required to be successful in most jobs. There is only so much you can learn from a book.
Getting Started
Recommended First Step for:
College Students
Interning, which can be hard financially, but it will be so worth it in the end. It's super hard to find a job if you don't have any experience, so even if you have to work 4 weekend jobs just to intern once or twice a week it will be worth it in the long-run.
This page includes information from theO*NET 26.1 Databaseby the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under theCC BY 4.0license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
