Creative & Education Great Falls, MT Pop. 60,442

Archivist Salary in Great Falls, Montana

The median archivist salary in Great Falls, MT is $51,603 per year, which is 12% below the national median and 7.4% below the Montana state average.

City Median
$51,603
vs State Avg
$-4,105
vs National
$-7,037
Cost of Living
88%

Archivist Pay in Great Falls: What to Expect (2026)

Great Falls offers a median archivist salary of $51,603, which is $4,105 below the Montana state average of $55,708. Compared to the national median of $58,640, Great Falls pays below the national benchmark for this role.

One of Great Falls's biggest advantages is its low cost of living at 88% of the national average. This means the $51,603 salary stretches further here — equivalent to roughly $58,640 in an average-cost city. This makes Great Falls an attractive option for archivists seeking strong real-dollar compensation.

The salary range for archivists in Great Falls spans from $31,680 at the 10th percentile to $82,720 at the 90th percentile — a $51,040 spread. Entry-level professionals start around $33,440, while senior archivists with 8+ years of experience can earn up to $77,440. Great Falls is a smaller market (pop. 60,442), which may mean fewer openings but also less competition for available positions.

Archivist Salary in Great Falls by Experience

In Great Falls, an entry-level archivist earns around $33,440, while experienced professionals earn up to $77,440 per year. The local cost of living index is 88% of the national average.

Entry Level (0-2 yrs)
$33,440
$-4,560 vs national
Mid Level (3-7 yrs)
$52,800
$-7,200 vs national
Senior Level (8+ yrs)
$77,440
$-10,560 vs national

Salary Percentiles in Great Falls, MT

Percentile Great Falls
10th Percentile $31,680
25th Percentile $40,480
Median (50th) $51,603
75th Percentile $66,880
90th Percentile $82,720

Archivist Salary in Other Montana Cities

Bozeman, MT
$67,436
Pop. 53,293
Missoula, MT
$59,813
Pop. 75,516
Billings, MT
$56,294
Pop. 117,116
Helena, MT
$55,122
Pop. 32,315

How to Become a Archivist in Great Falls

Education

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

Find Archivist Jobs in Great Falls

Browse open archivist positions in Great Falls, MT:

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Frequently Asked Questions: Archivist Salary in Great Falls

How much does a Archivist make in Great Falls, MT? ▼
The median archivist salary in Great Falls, Montana is $51,603 per year, which is 12% below the national median of $58,640. Salaries range from $31,680 (10th percentile) to $82,720 (90th percentile).
How much does a Archivist make per hour in Great Falls? ▼
Based on the median annual salary of $51,603, a archivist in Great Falls earns approximately $25 per hour assuming a standard 2,080-hour work year.
How does Great Falls compare to the Montana state average for archivist pay? ▼
Great Falls's median archivist salary of $51,603 is 7.4% below the Montana state average of $55,708. The local cost of living index is 88% of the national average.
What is the cost of living in Great Falls, MT? ▼
Great Falls has a cost of living index of 88% compared to the national average. This means a archivist salary of $51,603 in Great Falls has more purchasing power than the same salary in an average-cost city.
What qualifications do I need to become a archivist in Great Falls? ▼
Most archivist positions in Great Falls 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.