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Boston Career Explorer

Educational Instruction and Library

Archivists

Appraise, edit, and direct safekeeping of permanent records and historically valuable documents. Participate in research activities based on archival materials.

Also called: Accessioning Archivist, Archivist, Digital Archivist, Film Archivist, Museum Archivist, Records Manager

Median pay in Greater Boston
$78,220
$37.61/hr
Jobs in Greater Boston
230
Massachusetts 2024–2034
+5.2%
40 openings a year
Typical U.S. entry requirement
Master's degree

Greater Boston: Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area, May 2025. Growth and openings: Massachusetts statewide projection.

Pay range in Greater Boston

Yearly pay in Greater Boston by percentile
10th25thMedian75th90th
$53,330$64,680$78,220$100,440$123,590

10% of workers earn less than the first figure and 10% earn more than the last.

What you’d do

  • 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.
  • Create and maintain accessible, retrievable computer archives and databases, incorporating current advances in electronic information storage technology.
  • Establish and administer policy guidelines concerning public access and use of materials.
  • Direct activities of workers who assist in arranging, cataloguing, exhibiting, and maintaining collections of valuable materials.

AI and this job

AI exposure: how much of this job’s work AI tools can do or help with, based on national research. It is not a forecast of job loss.

Higher exposure69 of 100

The index averages three national research measures, each shown as a percentile of all jobs:

  • AIOE 62
  • Language-model AIOE 66
  • GPTs-are-GPTs 80

Observed AI use today: Some (Anthropic Economic Index)

AI exposure for archivists is higher than average, and observed AI use is at a moderate level. AI tools can help with sorting records, writing document descriptions, and building searchable databases. Deciding what is worth keeping, helping people find materials, and setting access rules still rely on professional judgment.

Likely to change

  • Writing document descriptions for records
  • Sorting and organizing archival records

Still relies on people

  • Helping users find the materials they need
  • Setting policies on public access and use

Written with AI from the data on this page. Check with a career coach before making a decision.

Next steps from here

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Training near Boston

College and school programs in the Boston metro area that lead to this job, with 2023-24 completions (IPEDS).

15 programs near Boston (plus 11 graduate)

Related occupations

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