Archivist salary in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
Archivists in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earn a median of $62,050 a year ($29.83 an hour), based on BLS data for 70 workers.
Pay ranges from $46,210 for the lowest-paid 10% to $92,500 for the top 10%. That is 4% lower than the national median of $64,550. Pay here is 12% lower than the California statewide median of $70,530. There are 0.05 archivists per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $67,430, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for archivists in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $46,210 | $22.21 |
| 25th percentile | $48,390 | $23.26 |
| Median | $62,050 | $29.83 |
| 75th percentile | $73,290 | $35.24 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $92,500 | $44.47 |
| Average (mean) | $67,430 | $32.42 |
Half of archivists earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $5,170.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,585.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,386.54 |
| Weekly | $1,193.27 |
| Hourly | $29.83 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $62,050 salary, see how much house you can afford in California at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Archivist salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $97,550 | 110 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $78,490 | 60 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $74,540 | 50 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $74,320 | 180 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $70,630 | 490 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $62,030 | 50 |
Highest-paying states for archivists
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $93,040 |
| Connecticut | $79,790 |
| Massachusetts | $78,180 |
| Rhode Island | $76,990 |
| Washington | $76,490 |
| Maryland | $76,440 |
| New York | $73,860 |
| California | $70,530 |
| New Jersey | $67,900 |
| Minnesota | $65,740 |
See Archivist pay in every state or the California statewide figures.
Related jobs in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Librarians and Media Collections Specialists | $84,810 | $40.78 |
| Library Technician | $54,920 | $26.40 |
| Museum Technicians and Conservators | $56,590 | $27.21 |
| Curator | $75,800 | $36.44 |
| Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary | $46,440 | — |
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $97,000 | — |
| Substitute Teachers, Short-Term | $59,860 | $28.78 |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $102,810 | — |
| Self-Enrichment Teacher | $48,640 | $23.38 |
| Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education | $44,940 | $21.61 |
| Postsecondary Teachers, All Other | $101,820 | — |
| Tutor | $47,050 | $22.62 |
| Educational Instruction and Library Workers, All Other | $62,230 | $29.92 |
| Teachers and Instructors, All Other | $80,460 | — |
More: Educational Instruction and Library Occupations · all salaries in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 25-4011. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a archivist make in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA?
The median salary for archivists in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $62,050 a year, or $29.83 an hour. Pay ranges from $46,210 for the lowest-paid 10% to $92,500 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid archivists make in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA?
The top 10% of archivists in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earn at least $92,500 a year. The top 25% earn $73,290 or more.
What is the starting pay for archivists in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $46,210 a year, and a quarter of archivists earn $48,390 or less.
How many archivists work in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA?
About 70 archivists are employed in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.