Creative & Education Lexington, KY Pop. 322,570

Archivist Salary in Lexington, Kentucky

The median archivist salary in Lexington, KY is $54,535 per year, which is 7% below the national median and 6.9% above the Kentucky state average.

City Median
$54,535
vs State Avg
+$3,518
vs National
$-4,105
Cost of Living
93%

Archivist Pay in Lexington: What to Expect (2026)

Lexington offers a median archivist salary of $54,535, which is $3,518 above the Kentucky state average of $51,017. Compared to the national median of $58,640, Lexington pays below the national benchmark for this role.

Lexington's cost of living is 93% of the national average, meaning salary figures here closely reflect actual purchasing power. This makes direct comparisons to other cities straightforward.

The salary range for archivists in Lexington spans from $33,480 at the 10th percentile to $87,420 at the 90th percentile — a $53,940 spread. Entry-level professionals start around $35,340, while senior archivists with 8+ years of experience can earn up to $81,840. With a population of 322,570, Lexington is a mid-sized metro with a growing job market.

Archivist Salary in Lexington by Experience

In Lexington, an entry-level archivist earns around $35,340, while experienced professionals earn up to $81,840 per year. The local cost of living index is 93% of the national average.

Entry Level (0-2 yrs)
$35,340
$-2,660 vs national
Mid Level (3-7 yrs)
$55,800
$-4,200 vs national
Senior Level (8+ yrs)
$81,840
$-6,160 vs national

Salary Percentiles in Lexington, KY

Percentile Lexington
10th Percentile $33,480
25th Percentile $42,780
Median (50th) $54,535
75th Percentile $70,680
90th Percentile $87,420

Archivist Salary in Other Kentucky Cities

How to Become a Archivist in Lexington

Education

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

Find Archivist Jobs in Lexington

Browse open archivist positions in Lexington, KY:

Frequently Asked Questions: Archivist Salary in Lexington

How much does a Archivist make in Lexington, KY? ▼
The median archivist salary in Lexington, Kentucky is $54,535 per year, which is 7% below the national median of $58,640. Salaries range from $33,480 (10th percentile) to $87,420 (90th percentile).
How much does a Archivist make per hour in Lexington? ▼
Based on the median annual salary of $54,535, a archivist in Lexington earns approximately $26 per hour assuming a standard 2,080-hour work year.
How does Lexington compare to the Kentucky state average for archivist pay? ▼
Lexington's median archivist salary of $54,535 is 6.9% above the Kentucky state average of $51,017. The local cost of living index is 93% of the national average.
What is the cost of living in Lexington, KY? ▼
Lexington has a cost of living index of 93% compared to the national average. This means a archivist salary of $54,535 in Lexington has more purchasing power than the same salary in an average-cost city.
What qualifications do I need to become a archivist in Lexington? ▼
Most archivist positions in Lexington 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.