Creative & Education Fort Smith, AR Pop. 89,142

Archivist Salary in Fort Smith, Arkansas

The median archivist salary in Fort Smith, AR is $46,912 per year, which is 20% below the national median and 4.8% below the Arkansas state average.

City Median
$46,912
vs State Avg
$-2,346
vs National
$-11,728
Cost of Living
80%

Archivist Pay in Fort Smith: What to Expect (2026)

Fort Smith offers a median archivist salary of $46,912, which is $2,346 below the Arkansas state average of $49,258. Compared to the national median of $58,640, Fort Smith pays below the national benchmark for this role.

One of Fort Smith's biggest advantages is its low cost of living at 80% of the national average. This means the $46,912 salary stretches further here — equivalent to roughly $58,640 in an average-cost city. This makes Fort Smith an attractive option for archivists seeking strong real-dollar compensation.

The salary range for archivists in Fort Smith spans from $28,800 at the 10th percentile to $75,200 at the 90th percentile — a $46,400 spread. Entry-level professionals start around $30,400, while senior archivists with 8+ years of experience can earn up to $70,400. Fort Smith is a smaller market (pop. 89,142), which may mean fewer openings but also less competition for available positions.

Archivist Salary in Fort Smith by Experience

In Fort Smith, an entry-level archivist earns around $30,400, while experienced professionals earn up to $70,400 per year. The local cost of living index is 80% of the national average.

Entry Level (0-2 yrs)
$30,400
$-7,600 vs national
Mid Level (3-7 yrs)
$48,000
$-12,000 vs national
Senior Level (8+ yrs)
$70,400
$-17,600 vs national

Salary Percentiles in Fort Smith, AR

Percentile Fort Smith
10th Percentile $28,800
25th Percentile $36,800
Median (50th) $46,912
75th Percentile $60,800
90th Percentile $75,200

Archivist Salary in Other Arkansas Cities

Fayetteville, AR
$51,603
Pop. 93,949
Little Rock, AR
$51,017
Pop. 202,591
Springdale, AR
$49,258
Pop. 80,433
Jonesboro, AR
$48,085
Pop. 78,576

How to Become a Archivist in Fort Smith

Education

Most archivist positions require a master's degree. Fort Smith and the surrounding Arkansas area have institutions offering relevant programs.

Key Skills

Archival ScienceCatalogingDigital PreservationResearchDatabase ManagementMetadata

Job Outlook

Nationally, archivist employment is projected to grow 8% over the next decade (faster than average). Demand in Fort Smith may vary based on local industry and population growth.

Find Archivist Jobs in Fort Smith

Browse open archivist positions in Fort Smith, AR:

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Frequently Asked Questions: Archivist Salary in Fort Smith

How much does a Archivist make in Fort Smith, AR? ▼
The median archivist salary in Fort Smith, Arkansas is $46,912 per year, which is 20% below the national median of $58,640. Salaries range from $28,800 (10th percentile) to $75,200 (90th percentile).
How much does a Archivist make per hour in Fort Smith? ▼
Based on the median annual salary of $46,912, a archivist in Fort Smith earns approximately $23 per hour assuming a standard 2,080-hour work year.
How does Fort Smith compare to the Arkansas state average for archivist pay? ▼
Fort Smith's median archivist salary of $46,912 is 4.8% below the Arkansas state average of $49,258. The local cost of living index is 80% of the national average.
What is the cost of living in Fort Smith, AR? ▼
Fort Smith has a cost of living index of 80% compared to the national average. This means a archivist salary of $46,912 in Fort Smith has more purchasing power than the same salary in an average-cost city.
What qualifications do I need to become a archivist in Fort Smith? ▼
Most archivist positions in Fort Smith require a master's degree. Key skills include Archival Science, Cataloging, Digital Preservation, Research. The job market is projected to grow 8% nationally over the next decade.