Career roadmap
How to become an Archivist
Median annual wage for Archivists (25-4011) — BLS OEWS, May 2023.
What you would actually do
The tasks that make up the work of an Archivist, weighted by how central each one is to the job.
- Organize informational materials.
- Help patrons use library or archival resources.
- Develop policies or procedures for archives, museums or libraries.
- Develop library or archival databases.
- Direct activities of subordinates.
- Prepare materials for preservation, storage, or display.
- Evaluate characteristics of archival or historical objects.
- Order instructional or library materials or equipment.
The skills that actually carry the job
Scored on how much the work depends on each one — not a wishlist, a measurement.
- Reading Comprehension4.1/5
- Active Listening3.9/5
- Writing3.9/5
- Speaking3.5/5
- Critical Thinking3.4/5
- Active Learning3.4/5
- Complex Problem Solving3.3/5
- Service Orientation3.1/5
- Judgment and Decision Making3.1/5
- Monitoring3.0/5
Would this suit you?
Every occupation leans on a particular mix of interests. Here is the mix measured for an Archivist — and our free 2-minute Career Match scores you on the same six.
- Conventional6.0/7
Ordering, checking, following a precise procedure accurately
- Investigative4.6/7
Investigating, diagnosing, reasoning through problems with evidence
- Social3.1/7
Helping, teaching, caring for and working directly with people
- Artistic3.0/7
Creating, expressing, working without a fixed procedure
- Realistic2.8/7
Hands-on, practical, working with tools, machines or the body
- Enterprising1.9/7
Persuading, leading, selling, taking commercial risk
Interest profiles from the O*NET 29.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Used under CC BY 4.0.
