What it pays
Government survey numbers — not estimates, not ads.
Half of all Archivists in the U.S. earn more than $64,550 a year — the middle 80% land between $39,970 and $110,550. About 7,970 people in the U.S. do this work. Figures are for the U.S. occupation group “Archivists”. (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics survey, published 2025.) In India, Professionals earn about ₹38,298 a month on average — around ₹4.6 lakh a year (government PLFS survey via ILOSTAT, occupation-family figure).
$64,550typical pay / year
7,970people in this work
$110,550+top 10% earn
₹4.6 lakha year in India (family avg)
Think you get this job?Six quick questions on how it really works — with a hint and the reason behind every answer.
Test yourself →The work, task by task
These are the real jobs-to-be-done, not a wish list. Each task shows where we found it, and the prompt underneath is written for that exact task.
Keeping the record5
Preserve records and archives
+Preserve the 1970s nitrate film logs, accession files, and born-digital transfer masters by creating…
Preserve records and archives
+Preserve the 1970s nitrate film logs, accession files, and born-digital transfer masters by creating redundant preservation copies, check and record checksums, note any access restrictions, and store the verified masters in the climate-controlled stack by Friday.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft ExcelESCOjob descriptionsWikipedia
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Assess records and archives
+Assess the backlog of donor boxes from the New Wave collection: sample ten percent of folders, record…
Assess records and archives
+Assess the backlog of donor boxes from the New Wave collection: sample ten percent of folders, record condition, identify sensitive personal data, recommend candidates for immediate conservation and a disposition plan for the rest by next Wednesday.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft ExcelESCOWikipedia
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Collect records and archives
+Collect the footage and paper records from the Johnson estate visit today: inventory each item with…
Collect records and archives
+Collect the footage and paper records from the Johnson estate visit today: inventory each item with provenance notes, photograph fragile originals, assign temporary identifiers, and pack materials for safe transit to the archive with chain-of-custody logged.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft OfficeESCOWikipedia
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Acquire and catalog materials
+Acquire the donation of 16mm prints and catalog them by creating descriptive records with title, running…
Acquire and catalog materials
+Acquire the donation of 16mm prints and catalog them by creating descriptive records with title, running time, technical format, condition, and rights statements, then assign permanent accession numbers and add the records to the catalogue this week.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Accessjob descriptionsO*NET
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Organise records and archives
+Catalogue the incoming film donations: verify provenance and rights paperwork, assign archival identifiers,…
Organise records and archives
+Catalogue the incoming film donations: verify provenance and rights paperwork, assign archival identifiers, describe physical condition and digitisation priority, update the accession register, and schedule the highest-risk reels for preservation within four weeks.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft AccessESCOjob descriptionsO*NETWikipedia
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Analysing1
Apply specialized knowledge to records
+Apply specialised provenance and technical knowledge to the silent-era reels: identify original gauge and…
Apply specialized knowledge to records
+Apply specialised provenance and technical knowledge to the silent-era reels: identify original gauge and edge codes, note any lab stamps or cuts, recommend appropriate conservation treatment and digitisation settings, and submit the technical report by Monday.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Officejob descriptionsO*NET
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The daily work13
Provide reference services
+Answer Joan in reference with the 16mm catalog record, list of available viewing copies, access restrictions,…
Provide reference services
+Answer Joan in reference with the 16mm catalog record, list of available viewing copies, access restrictions, and reproduction fees, attach the scanned catalogue card, and copy Felix in collection services by Wednesday so she can schedule the reading room slot.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Outlookjob descriptions
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Participate in professional development and training
+Register for the regional archives workshop on film preservation, add the session roster and learning…
Participate in professional development and training
+Register for the regional archives workshop on film preservation, add the session roster and learning objectives to my training file, notify my manager Sara that I will attend next Tuesday afternoon, and block the time in my calendar.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Outlookjob descriptions
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Direct activities of workers who assist in arranging, cataloguing, exhibiting, and maintaining collections of valuable materials.
+Schedule and assign tasks for the preservation team this quarter: catalog ten nitrate reels, rehouse twenty…
Direct activities of workers who assist in arranging, cataloguing, exhibiting, and maintaining collections of valuable materials.
+Schedule and assign tasks for the preservation team this quarter: catalog ten nitrate reels, rehouse twenty posters, prepare three exhibit cases, and roster two staff for Friday reference desk duty, noting training needs and safety checks.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft ExcelO*NET
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Coordinate educational and public outreach programs, such as tours, workshops, lectures, and classes.
+Plan the autumn outreach program: book three one-hour curator talks, two hands-on film-handling workshops,…
Coordinate educational and public outreach programs, such as tours, workshops, lectures, and classes.
+Plan the autumn outreach program: book three one-hour curator talks, two hands-on film-handling workshops, schedule school tours on Thursdays, prepare promotional text and budget, and confirm AV needs with facilities by August 15.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft ExcelO*NET
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Select and edit documents for publication and display, applying knowledge of subject, literary expression, and presentation techniques.
+Choose and edit ten archival items for the upcoming display: select representative film stills and camera…
Select and edit documents for publication and display, applying knowledge of subject, literary expression, and presentation techniques.
+Choose and edit ten archival items for the upcoming display: select representative film stills and camera notes, crop and retouch scans for legibility, write concise captions linking provenance and significance, and deliver print-ready files by next Monday.
The tools that do the workAdobe PhotoshopO*NET
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Authenticate and appraise historical documents
+Authenticate and appraise the incoming collection of 16mm and 35mm reels plus associated donor paperwork:…
Authenticate and appraise historical documents
+Authenticate and appraise the incoming collection of 16mm and 35mm reels plus associated donor paperwork: record physical condition, verify provenance against donor letters, assess historical significance and replacement value, and draft a formal appraisal memo within ten days.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Accessjob descriptions
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Create metadata and finding aids
+Create metadata and a finding aid for the Higgins Collection: itemise reels and paper records, assign…
Create metadata and finding aids
+Create metadata and a finding aid for the Higgins Collection: itemise reels and paper records, assign identifiers and descriptive elements, map access restrictions and digitisation status, and publish the finding aid on the catalogue by September 1.
The tools that do the workExtensible markup language XMLjob descriptions
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Digitize collections
+Digitize the 16mm and 35mm newsreel cans from Box 12, create checksumed preservation masters and access…
Digitize collections
+Digitize the 16mm and 35mm newsreel cans from Box 12, create checksumed preservation masters and access copies, record technical metadata and rights statements, and place originals back on shelf B3 by Friday with condition notes appended.
The tools that do the workAdobe Creative Cloudjob descriptions
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Assist researchers and the public
+Prepare a researcher packet for Dr. Emily Carter: pull digitized clips from Collection 7, list available…
Assist researchers and the public
+Prepare a researcher packet for Dr. Emily Carter: pull digitized clips from Collection 7, list available viewing formats and copyright restrictions, schedule a supervised viewing on Thursday and include photocopy request form.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Outlookjob descriptions
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Locate records in stacks
+Locate the missing logbook entry and reels for accession 2011-45: search shelf range C2–C6, consult the paper…
Locate records in stacks
+Locate the missing logbook entry and reels for accession 2011-45: search shelf range C2–C6, consult the paper index, note any displaced cans, update the location field and flag items that need rehousing before returning to stack.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Exceljob descriptions
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Clean, repair, and conserve documents
+Stabilise torn programme booklets from Collection 3: surface-clean, mend tears with archival tissue, flatten…
Clean, repair, and conserve documents
+Stabilise torn programme booklets from Collection 3: surface-clean, mend tears with archival tissue, flatten under weight, record treatments and new condition codes, and move items to the conservation tray for the rest of the week.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Officejob descriptions
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Apply archival theory, methods, and appraisal
+Apply appraisal framework to the recent bulk transfer from Studio X: sample series for historical…
Apply archival theory, methods, and appraisal
+Apply appraisal framework to the recent bulk transfer from Studio X: sample series for historical significance, retention value, and redundancy, recommend final accrual decisions and retention periods, and draft a one-page justification for the accessions file.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Accessjob descriptions
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Assist with legal concerns and ethics
+Advise on a donor's request to restrict personal interviews: review donor agreement, check data protection…
Assist with legal concerns and ethics
+Advise on a donor's request to restrict personal interviews: review donor agreement, check data protection obligations, recommend a legally defensible restriction period, and draft an email to Legal and the donor proposing a five-year closed period with review.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Outlookjob descriptions
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Says who?
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The logs, files & records this job keeps
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Related careers
Same family of work — each with its own tasks and prompts.
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Built on public evidence: O*NET®, ESCO, Wikipedia, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, ILOSTAT. All sources & licenses
Built on public evidence: O*NET®, ESCO, Wikipedia, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, ILOSTAT. All sources & licenses