Creative & Education San Diego, CA Pop. 1,386,932

Archivist Salary in San Diego, California

The median archivist salary in San Diego, CA is $83,269 per year, which is 42.0% above the national median and 2.9% above the California state average.

City Median
$83,269
vs State Avg
+$2,346
vs National
+$24,629
Cost of Living
142%

Archivist Pay in San Diego: What to Expect (2026)

San Diego offers a median archivist salary of $83,269, which is $2,346 above the California state average of $80,923. Compared to the national median of $58,640, San Diego pays above average for this role.

However, San Diego's cost of living index is 142%, significantly above the national average. After adjusting for local costs, the $83,269 salary has an effective purchasing power of approximately $58,640. Housing, transportation, and food costs in San Diego should be factored into any relocation or job-change decision.

The salary range for archivists in San Diego spans from $51,120 at the 10th percentile to $133,480 at the 90th percentile — a $82,360 spread. Entry-level professionals start around $53,960, while senior archivists with 8+ years of experience can earn up to $124,960. As a major metro area with a population of 1,386,932, San Diego typically offers more job opportunities and employer competition, which can drive salaries higher.

Archivist Salary in San Diego by Experience

In San Diego, an entry-level archivist earns around $53,960, while experienced professionals earn up to $124,960 per year. The local cost of living index is 142% of the national average.

Entry Level (0-2 yrs)
$53,960
+$15,960 vs national
Mid Level (3-7 yrs)
$85,200
+$25,200 vs national
Senior Level (8+ yrs)
$124,960
+$36,960 vs national

Salary Percentiles in San Diego, CA

Percentile San Diego
10th Percentile $51,120
25th Percentile $65,320
Median (50th) $83,269
75th Percentile $107,920
90th Percentile $133,480

Archivist Salary in Other California Cities

San Francisco, CA
$106,725
Pop. 873,965
San Jose, CA
$98,515
Pop. 1,013,240
Los Angeles, CA
$85,614
Pop. 3,898,747
Sacramento, CA
$69,195
Pop. 524,943

How to Become a Archivist in San Diego

Education

Most archivist positions require a master's degree. San Diego and the surrounding California 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 San Diego may vary based on local industry and population growth.

Find Archivist Jobs in San Diego

Browse open archivist positions in San Diego, CA:

Indeed → LinkedIn → ZipRecruiter → Glassdoor →

Frequently Asked Questions: Archivist Salary in San Diego

How much does a Archivist make in San Diego, CA? ▼
The median archivist salary in San Diego, California is $83,269 per year, which is 42.0% above the national median of $58,640. Salaries range from $51,120 (10th percentile) to $133,480 (90th percentile).
How much does a Archivist make per hour in San Diego? ▼
Based on the median annual salary of $83,269, a archivist in San Diego earns approximately $40 per hour assuming a standard 2,080-hour work year.
How does San Diego compare to the California state average for archivist pay? ▼
San Diego's median archivist salary of $83,269 is 2.9% above the California state average of $80,923. The local cost of living index is 142% of the national average.
What is the cost of living in San Diego, CA? ▼
San Diego has a cost of living index of 142% compared to the national average. This means a archivist salary of $83,269 in San Diego has less purchasing power than the same salary in an average-cost city.
What qualifications do I need to become a archivist in San Diego? ▼
Most archivist positions in San Diego 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.