Creative & Education Durham, NC Pop. 283,506

Archivist Salary in Durham, North Carolina

The median archivist salary in Durham, NC is $55,708 per year, which is 5% below the national median and 3.3% above the North Carolina state average.

City Median
$55,708
vs State Avg
+$1,759
vs National
$-2,932
Cost of Living
95%

Archivist Pay in Durham: What to Expect (2026)

Durham offers a median archivist salary of $55,708, which is $1,759 above the North Carolina state average of $53,949. Compared to the national median of $58,640, Durham pays below the national benchmark for this role.

Durham's cost of living is 95% 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 Durham spans from $34,200 at the 10th percentile to $89,300 at the 90th percentile — a $55,100 spread. Entry-level professionals start around $36,100, while senior archivists with 8+ years of experience can earn up to $83,600. With a population of 283,506, Durham is a mid-sized metro with a growing job market.

Archivist Salary in Durham by Experience

In Durham, an entry-level archivist earns around $36,100, while experienced professionals earn up to $83,600 per year. The local cost of living index is 95% of the national average.

Entry Level (0-2 yrs)
$36,100
$-1,900 vs national
Mid Level (3-7 yrs)
$57,000
$-3,000 vs national
Senior Level (8+ yrs)
$83,600
$-4,400 vs national

Salary Percentiles in Durham, NC

Percentile Durham
10th Percentile $34,200
25th Percentile $43,700
Median (50th) $55,708
75th Percentile $72,200
90th Percentile $89,300

Archivist Salary in Other North Carolina Cities

How to Become a Archivist in Durham

Education

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

Find Archivist Jobs in Durham

Browse open archivist positions in Durham, NC:

Frequently Asked Questions: Archivist Salary in Durham

How much does a Archivist make in Durham, NC? ▼
The median archivist salary in Durham, North Carolina is $55,708 per year, which is 5% below the national median of $58,640. Salaries range from $34,200 (10th percentile) to $89,300 (90th percentile).
How much does a Archivist make per hour in Durham? ▼
Based on the median annual salary of $55,708, a archivist in Durham earns approximately $27 per hour assuming a standard 2,080-hour work year.
How does Durham compare to the North Carolina state average for archivist pay? ▼
Durham's median archivist salary of $55,708 is 3.3% above the North Carolina state average of $53,949. The local cost of living index is 95% of the national average.
What is the cost of living in Durham, NC? ▼
Durham has a cost of living index of 95% compared to the national average. This means a archivist salary of $55,708 in Durham has more purchasing power than the same salary in an average-cost city.
What qualifications do I need to become a archivist in Durham? ▼
Most archivist positions in Durham 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.