SOC 25-4011 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Archivists — Boston
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH
Median pay for this occupation in Boston, MA comes to $78,220 a year, ahead of the national median of $64,550 by 21.2%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Boston, MA comes to $78,220 a year, ahead of the national median of $64,550 by 21.2%. Pay ranges from under $53,330 at the tenth percentile to more than $123,590 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $64,680 to $100,440.
Employment stands at 230, or 0.1 jobs per thousand held locally. Of the 687 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 300th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $53,330 | −17.4% |
| 25th | $64,680 | +0.2% |
| Median (50th) | $78,220 | +21.2% |
| 75th | $100,440 | +55.6% |
| 90th | $123,590 | +91.5% |
| Mean | $82,700 | +28.1% |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Boston run 5.8% above the national average, so the median of $78,220 buys what $73,932 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 14.5% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$78,220as reported by BLSLocal price level
105.8US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$73,932US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $78,220 a year, 21.2% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $53,330 to $123,590 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 230 jobs in this occupation.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Archivists in Boston, MA?
The median annual wage is $78,220, or $37.61 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $64,550, so pay in Boston, MA is 21.2% higher. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Boston, MA earns more than $123,590 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $53,330 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 230 jobs in this occupation in Boston, MA. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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