Archivist salary in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
Archivists in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area earn a median of $97,550 a year ($46.90 an hour), based on BLS data for 110 workers.
Pay ranges from $60,310 for the lowest-paid 10% to $144,810 for the top 10%. That is 51% higher than the national median of $64,550. Pay here is 38% higher than the California statewide median of $70,530. There are 0.10 archivists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.9× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $100,910, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for archivists in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $60,310 | $29.00 |
| 25th percentile | $80,460 | $38.68 |
| Median | $97,550 | $46.90 |
| 75th percentile | $122,030 | $58.67 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $144,810 | $69.62 |
| Average (mean) | $100,910 | $48.51 |
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 | $8,129.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,064.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,751.92 |
| Weekly | $1,875.96 |
| Hourly | $46.90 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $97,550 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $62,050 | 70 |
| 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 Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Librarians and Media Collections Specialists | $103,240 | $49.64 |
| Library Technician | $62,550 | $30.07 |
| Museum Technicians and Conservators | $62,290 | $29.95 |
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $102,860 | — |
| Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary | $49,010 | — |
| Self-Enrichment Teacher | $58,330 | $28.04 |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $108,230 | — |
| Substitute Teachers, Short-Term | $72,330 | $34.78 |
| Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education | $51,190 | $24.61 |
| Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $105,030 | — |
| Postsecondary Teachers, All Other | $94,690 | — |
| Educational Instruction and Library Workers, All Other | $79,270 | $38.11 |
| Tutor | $50,350 | $24.21 |
| Teachers and Instructors, All Other | $77,720 | — |
More: Educational Instruction and Library Occupations · all salaries in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, 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 Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA?
The median salary for archivists in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area is $97,550 a year, or $46.90 an hour. Pay ranges from $60,310 for the lowest-paid 10% to $144,810 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid archivists make in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA?
The top 10% of archivists in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area earn at least $144,810 a year. The top 25% earn $122,030 or more.
What is the starting pay for archivists in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $60,310 a year, and a quarter of archivists earn $80,460 or less.
How many archivists work in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA?
About 110 archivists are employed in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.