Creative & Education Rockford, IL Pop. 148,655

Archivist Salary in Rockford, Illinois

The median archivist salary in Rockford, IL is $48,085 per year, which is 18% below the national median and 13.7% below the Illinois state average.

City Median
$48,085
vs State Avg
$-7,623
vs National
$-10,555
Cost of Living
82%

Archivist Pay in Rockford: What to Expect (2026)

Rockford offers a median archivist salary of $48,085, which is $7,623 below the Illinois state average of $55,708. Compared to the national median of $58,640, Rockford pays below the national benchmark for this role.

One of Rockford's biggest advantages is its low cost of living at 82% of the national average. This means the $48,085 salary stretches further here — equivalent to roughly $58,640 in an average-cost city. This makes Rockford an attractive option for archivists seeking strong real-dollar compensation.

The salary range for archivists in Rockford spans from $29,520 at the 10th percentile to $77,080 at the 90th percentile — a $47,560 spread. Entry-level professionals start around $31,160, while senior archivists with 8+ years of experience can earn up to $72,160. With a population of 148,655, Rockford is a mid-sized metro with a growing job market.

Archivist Salary in Rockford by Experience

In Rockford, an entry-level archivist earns around $31,160, while experienced professionals earn up to $72,160 per year. The local cost of living index is 82% of the national average.

Entry Level (0-2 yrs)
$31,160
$-6,840 vs national
Mid Level (3-7 yrs)
$49,200
$-10,800 vs national
Senior Level (8+ yrs)
$72,160
$-15,840 vs national

Salary Percentiles in Rockford, IL

Percentile Rockford
10th Percentile $29,520
25th Percentile $37,720
Median (50th) $48,085
75th Percentile $62,320
90th Percentile $77,080

Archivist Salary in Other Illinois Cities

Naperville, IL
$63,331
Pop. 149,540
Chicago, IL
$62,745
Pop. 2,693,976
Aurora, IL
$55,708
Pop. 197,757
Springfield, IL
$49,844
Pop. 114,394

How to Become a Archivist in Rockford

Education

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

Find Archivist Jobs in Rockford

Browse open archivist positions in Rockford, IL:

Indeed → LinkedIn → ZipRecruiter → Glassdoor →

Frequently Asked Questions: Archivist Salary in Rockford

How much does a Archivist make in Rockford, IL? ▼
The median archivist salary in Rockford, Illinois is $48,085 per year, which is 18% below the national median of $58,640. Salaries range from $29,520 (10th percentile) to $77,080 (90th percentile).
How much does a Archivist make per hour in Rockford? ▼
Based on the median annual salary of $48,085, a archivist in Rockford earns approximately $23 per hour assuming a standard 2,080-hour work year.
How does Rockford compare to the Illinois state average for archivist pay? ▼
Rockford's median archivist salary of $48,085 is 13.7% below the Illinois state average of $55,708. The local cost of living index is 82% of the national average.
What is the cost of living in Rockford, IL? ▼
Rockford has a cost of living index of 82% compared to the national average. This means a archivist salary of $48,085 in Rockford has more purchasing power than the same salary in an average-cost city.
What qualifications do I need to become a archivist in Rockford? ▼
Most archivist positions in Rockford 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.